As more adult dental patients turn to adult orthodontics, more adult and teenage patients have questions about the procedure. Not to mention the aligners or braces themselves!
Luckily one of the most popular aligners Invisalign Wagga is used by most dentists who are hoping to straighten the smiles of their adult or teenage patients. So there is a wealth of experience and knowledge surrounding this aligner.
In the following article, FAQs about this invisible aligner will be answered so you can determine if this aligner is the one that will help you straighten your smile. Enjoy!
Do the aligners hurt?
It is hard to say if invisible aligners are comfortable or not, as every person has a pain threshold that is unique.
However, many patients who have worn fitted metal braces earlier in life do state frequently that invisible aligners are more comfortable to wear and do not interfere with their inner cheeks or tongue in the same way.
But you must remember that while comfortable, aligners have a job to do; they need to move your teeth! And so some force or pressure will be required for the aligners to achieve this especially when you switch from an old aligner to a new one.
If you do experience discomfort whilst wearing your aligners, take over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
How do they work?
Unlike traditional braces, aligners store the force required to move teeth in their shape.
They are customised to fit your teeth, and using computer technology, a set of them is designed each with a unique form to move your teeth gradually. Each aligner needs to be worn for around 2 weeks at a time to achieve this and when they are first put in, they may feel tight.
As they move your teeth, they will start to feel looser and when it is hard to keep them in place, you need to move on to the next one in the series.
What should I do if I lose one?
If you lose an aligner, you need to contact the dentist who is overseeing your care.
Many dentists have a policy with aligner companies to replace missing or damaged aligners promptly, to ensure that any progress made is not lost
You should not under any circumstances jump to the next aligner in the series, as this may cause any progress that has been made to be lost.
How long will I need to wear them for?
Invisible aligners are typically worn for around 3 to 6 months for correcting mild to moderate cases of misalignment.
Each day you will need to wear them for around 22 hours, in order to get your teeth straightened in the desired time. As you may have guessed, failure to keep your aligners in can result in delays to the realignment process and can cause your tooth to revert to their former positions.
Are online aligners as good at straightening teeth?
In a word, no, they are not.
Online aligners have several issues when compared to aligners used by dentists, with the key one being the mould-taking process which the patient themselves is invited to do rather than a dental professional.
If you want to have your teeth straightened as an adult, you should always seek the advice of a dentist or orthodontist.
DISCLAIMER OFFSITE
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.