3 Things You Ought to Know About Invisalign Before You Begin

Invisalign aligners promise all the benefits of traditional metal braces in a convenient, discreet package. Not only will people not be able to tell you’re straightening your teeth, the fact that your aligners are removable means that you won’t have to make any changes to your diet.

That said, there are some things you should know about Invisalign before you begin treatment. This will help to assuage some common concerns, but also to let you know what you’re in for so that you can be prepared. Here are some of the most important things you ought to know before beginning Invisalign treatment.

1. They’ll Feel Different Than Braces

If you’ve had braces in the past, you might remember a fair amount of discomfort when wearing them. Invisalign aligners can also be a little unpleasant at first, but not nearly to the extent of traditional braces. You’ll likely feel more of a tightness coming from your aligners, and this should fade within a few weeks, or a few hours of switching to a new aligner.

2. Your Coffee Habit May Change

If you’re drinking anything except room-temperature water, you’ll need to take out your aligner. If you don’t, heat could cause your aligner to warp, or your trays could become discolored. However, you’re also going to want to wear your aligner as much as possible, at least 20-22 hours a day. If you like to spend a few hours drinking coffee in the morning, that may need to change.

Of course, you won’t have to completely abandon caffeine; you’ll just have to drink it a bit faster. You can always switch to espresso or cold brew if that’s a bit easier.

3. Gooey Molds are Unnecessary

You might have unpleasant memories of biting into a gooey mold to take an impression of your teeth. Thankfully, that’s not usually necessary for Invisalign; many providers use 3-D scanners to create impressions of your teeth, making physical molds outdated. If you’ve been dreading biting down on a ball of goo, you shouldn’t have to worry.

As you can see, Invisalign requires commitment, but it offers many benefits you won’t get from metal braces. Not only that, you’ll still be able to reap the rewards of a straighter smile.

About the Author

Dr. Bob Heil is an experienced dentist with well over 20 years of experience, and he takes great pleasure in being able to guide members of his community to incredible oral health. Dr. Heil received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Minnesota, and he has since completed advanced dental training in all areas of general care.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (920) 235-0320.