Our Surrey dentists weigh in with some important factors that each patient should take into consideration before choosing Invisalign orthodontic treatment.
1. It's a full-time commitment.
Invisalign aligners are removable, but they are still a full-time commitment, just like regular braces are. And when we say full time, that's 22 hours a day, every day, for the entire duration of treatment. The only time you should ever take your aligners out is for eating, brushing and flossing.
It can be very easy to just take a little break from treatment when your teeth are feeling especially sore. It can also be easy to forget to put the aligners back in. If you don’t think you’ll be able to be consistent, Invisalign may not be a good choice for you. On that note...
2. Invisalign may not be right for you.
Invisalign is a highly effective and convenient orthodontic treatment option for people who have minor to moderate misalignment. For more complex problems though, Invisalign could take a very long time, making braces a better choice.
3. You have to brush after EVERY meal.
It will probably come as no surprise that it's not a good idea to seal food particles in between your teeth and your aligners. It won’t feel very good, and can result in bad breath over time. But more importantly, it makes it easy for the bacteria that cause tooth decay to grow and thrive. For this reason, you'll always want to have a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss handy between meals.
4. The aligners can become stained and warped.
Invisalign aligners can get stained and can even warp when exposure to certain drinks. Dark coloured drinks like coffee and pop may cause discolouration, and hot liquids can make the plastic material warp. While it's not strictly necessary to take your aligners out to drink your coffee, it may be a good idea.
5. Those extra snacks may not be worth it.
During your Invisalign treatment, you’ll have to be strategic about your meal schedule. If you want a snack mid afternoon, remember that after you eat, you'll need to take the extra time to brush and floss your teeth, and to clean your aligners before putting them back in. For the sake of convenience, eating bigger meals less frequently may be for the best.