FAQs
We have created a large FAQ section as our experience has shown us that patients have many questions about this new and innovative way of moving teeth orthodontically.
Crowding: uneven, crooked and overlapped teeth. Spacing: When there are gaps or spaces between teeth. Deep bite: Extreme overbite when the upper front teeth cover the lower teeth. Cross bite: When the upper back teeth fit inside the lower teeth. Open bite: When the teeth don’t quite close together. Over bite: When the upper jaw and teeth overlap the bottom jaw and teeth. There are obviously many more tooth positioning problems that the system can fix, these are best discussed on a case-by-case basis with a qualified Invisalign dentist.
The teeth obviously look better. Eating: the way the teeth incise and chew food will be improved. Gums: The teeth are simply easier to clean when they are straight and lined up. Speech: in some cases, minor speech problems like lisps resulting from poorly positioned teeth can be improved. Less wear of tooth structure: When the teeth are in the correct position load is better distributed to the teeth and they wear more evenly.
Our current average treatment time is about eleven months, but this can vary from five to twenty months or more depending on the simplicity or complexity of the case.
The cost is comparable with other types of orthodontic treatment, the cost of Invisalign is heavily dependent on the complexity and length of treatment of each patient’s case. But remember, Invisalign is 15% faster at treating teeth than conventional orthodontics.
You are never too old to begin Invisalign treatment. Whilst there is an advantage in beginning treatment early, there is no real contra-indication to beginning treatment later in life.
Invisalign can be used for adults and adolescents, for younger patients from about 7 – 14 years children there is the Invisalign First system.
We see Invisalign patients every 6 – 8 weeks depending at what stage we are in the treatment. We check the fit of the aligners, how treatment is progressing and perform any necessary tasks, then we dispense the next set of aligners in the sequence.
The fact that wisdom teeth actually cause crowding is a myth. The lower front teeth naturally become slightly crowded teeth at around twenty to thirty years – the same time the wisdom tooth start to erupt into the mouth. Invisalign though can treat lower anterior tooth crowding wonderfully and make those teeth look beautiful.
Well planned retention is essential at the end of the treatment, we recommend a combination of both fixed and removable retention with Vivera retainers and fixed tooth coloured lingual retainers bonded to the inside of the teeth. The various forms of retention have advantages and disadvantages, we’ll discuss with you what is best for your situation, every patient is different and outcomes vary.
The system has Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in the United States and has the “CE” mark of approval for use as a medical device in the EU.
Aligners are a certified medical device, orthodontic insurance benefits vary significantly from policy to policy, each patient should review their coverage. However, if a patient has orthodontic coverage, treatment using Invisalign should be covered to the same extent as conventional braces.
Aligners should be worn for as much of the day as possible i.e 20-22 hours per day, removed only when eating, brushing and flossing. This is easy to achieve as the aligners are so comfortable.
If you smoke, the smoke and tars will discolour the aligners, this may be a great incentive in helping you give up smoking!
No, gum will stick to the Aligners. BUT we have had reports that some patients carefully chew special denture wearers’ chewing gum which is designed to not stick to dentures – be careful.
Brush your aligners with toothbrush and toothpaste rinsing them in tepid water. Amazon sell excellent small ultrasonic baths which are brilliant at cleaning the aligners with no effort.
Invisalign don’t discuss this possibility on their site. But, we have whitened many patient’s teeth using the aligner to apply the material and we get good results.
Invisalign may well help to improve your jaw joint complaint, generally for you each case of temporomandibular joint More conservative approaches should be tried first on consultation with your dentist.
Garfield says “No pain, no gain!” But seriously, most people experience very low-grade tooth soreness for a day or so after changing to the next aligner. This is normal, it is a sign that the Invisalign aligners are working and sequentially moving your teeth to their final destination. You can if you like take a minor pain-killer on aligner change days.
Aligners very, very rarely cause patients to have speech problems for a few days , patients with some types of minor speech defects can find their problems improved.
You should contact your dentist as soon as possible, for advice on what to do. Generally you can jump forward one aligner or flip back one, if needed a substitute aligner can be ordered quickly over the internet, they usually arrive in four to five days.
In the unlikely event that your new aligner doesn’t “click fit” onto your teeth, you should immediately contact your dentist, for advice on what to do.
No, there may be an initial period of adjustment, but no problems have been reported. In fact, clarinet players say the aligner makes it easier to play the instrument. You can also take the aligner out – unlike a fixed appliance.
Bridges link two or more teeth together, like implants they cannot be moved with Invisalign, your dentist will advice you on how to work around this problem on a case-by-case basis.
Crowns on natural teeth can be moved with Invisalign treatment, just like ordinary teeth.
Invisalign, with its low forces and ability to carry out gentle multiple movements in three dimensions simultaneously is ideal for compromised teeth and can be used for moving moderately periodontally involved teeth AND best of all this makes oral hygiene a whole lot easier.
