Most people who have undertaken a standard fitted brace would have been aware of what they were going to experience. The brace was fitted and appointments with the orthodontic dentist were required to tighten or adjust the brace and therefore move the teeth. But if you are about to undertake invisible aligners from an online source, it can be tough to know what to expect. Here, some of the common queries about Invisalign London are answered.
Do invisible aligners hurt?
It is worth noting that invisible aligners are designed to move your teeth. Therefore, when they are newly fitted, they are tight and will apply pressure in order to move the teeth to the desired position. Many patients do not describe them as being painful, rather, tight and slightly sore. But each aligner is made from a polymer plastic, which has to be firm; this can cause it to rub against the inside of the mouth, against the inner cheeks or the tongue, which can be uncomfortable. This can be prevented with the use of dental wax or by gently sanding the aligner down. If you are experiencing excessive discomfort with your aligners, you need to seek the advice of your dental team.
Why do I need to keep them in?
You need to keep your invisible aligners in for them to work! Each aligner is a unique and predetermined shape, which when applied to your teeth, will move them. Hence, why the aligners need to be worn in a set order. But they also need time to work, and this is averaged at being every 22 hours out of 24. If you do not keep the aligners in for this period of time, they cannot straighten your teeth as planned and the orthodontic treatment may slow, or your teeth may revert to their former positions.
How do I clean them?
Clear aligners are easy to clean; you simply rinse them under a cool water tap and remove any debris with a toothbrush. It is worth understanding that these aligners are made from plastic, and therefore they are prone to warping if they are exposed to hot temperatures such as being run under a hot water tap, or placed near a radiator. So, while it may be tempting to use hot water to clean them, do not do this as it can cause them to warp out of shape.
How often will I need to see my dentist?
Generally speaking, you will need to see your dentist whilst wearing clear aligners every 6 to 8 weeks and, depending on the provider, you may be able to use a downloadable app to send selfies to your dentist. So they can assess how the aligner is working. If it isn’t, they may need to see you in their surgery, but they will inform you of this via the app.
Are they expensive?
Any adult orthodontic care is going to come with a price tag, which can deter many people from seeking it. However, most dental surgeries that are able to offer invisible aligners can also provide financing options for patients, helping them to spread the cost of their orthodontic care into affordable monthly payments.