Common questions about invisible braces answered

When you are an adult who has misaligned teeth, even a slight spacing or crowding of the teeth can make it difficult to smile for photographs and when meeting new people.

Luckily, there is now a way for you to get the straighter smile that you want without the use of fitted, metal braces; Invisalign. A clear aligner that is custom fitted to slot over your teeth, Invisalign can provide you with an easy and quick way to straighten your teeth, without any adjustments or tightening being needed.

When you come to our team at Spa Dental, we would be happy to discuss your suitability for invisible braces Sydney or Invisalign and can advise you on every aspect, from daily wear to the use of accessories like Invisalign chewies and rinses.

But you may have some questions going in, and here, our team answers common ones that we receive about invisible braces Sydney.

Who is suitable for Invisalign?

99% of patients who visit our team about having invisible braces Sydney fitted are suitable for Invisalign.

If you have a mild to moderate misalignment that does not involve your molars, then you are an ideal candidate for this aligner. You also need to be over the age of 18 (teen-based aligners are available) and you need to be dedicated to the process, as very little of it will be done in our surgery.

How long will it take for the aligner to straighten my teeth?

On average, dental aligners like Invisalign take between 3 to 6 months to straighten a patient’s teeth. But this will vary based on how severe the misalignment is, and whether or not you adhere to the guidelines set down by our team concerning appointments and daily wear of the aligners.

Will it be uncomfortable?

Unfortunately, even in 2022, there is no such thing as a completely comfortable orthodontic tool. This means that yes, your invisible aligners may cause a bit of pressure and soreness when they are worn, especially if you have just switched to a new one in the series.

To mitigate the discomfort, we recommend to our patients that they take over-the-counter pain relief, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. If this doesn’t work, or the discomfort is getting worse, then please contact our team for an assessment.

Can I take them out whenever I want to?

Technically, we cannot stop you from taking the aligners out whenever you want. But we advise most of our patients to wear their aligners for around 22 hours per day and to only take them out when they are eating food or brushing their teeth.

Failure to follow these guidelines can result in your teeth not moving correctly, or they may even begin to move back to their original positions, making the entire endeavour an expensive waste of time. So, keep them in!

Will I need to wear a retainer?

Yes, irrespective of the orthodontic tool that has been used, you will need to wear a retainer.

This is because even after they have been moved, teeth are very good at moving back to their original positions. So, a retainer will need to be worn to ensure that this does not happen, and our team can advise you on how long you will need one.

DISCLAIMER

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.