Adult Treatment, Featured, Invisalign, Invisalign Adult, Orthodontics

What is Invisalign?

Backed by more than two decades of innovation, Invisalign is the world’s most advanced clear aligner system. Using neither wires nor metal brackets, Invisalign aligners are removable and virtually invisible, creating a more discrete and comfortable journey to your ideal smile. Through a series of custom-made clear aligners, Invisalign is used to close gaps between […]

Through a series of custom-made clear aligners, Invisalign is used to close gaps between teeth, as well as treating overbite, underbite, open bite, crossbite, and overcrowded teeth.

Before we dive into who can use Invisalign, the benefits, what to expect when undergoing treatment, and what happens after Invisalign treatment is completed, let’s first understand the process of how these modern aligners work to transform your smile.

The Invisalign Process: A Closer Look

Every patient at Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics receives a thorough assessment and custom-designed treatment plan from a 3D scan of your mouth.
Once the Invisalign lab fabricates your clear aligners based on your custom treatment plan, you will pick up your first aligners and your doctor will examine your smile, ensuring everything fits properly.
For optimal results, you will wear your aligners all day, every day, except when you eat, floss, or brush your teeth. Because Invisalign braces are removable, you will be able to briefly remove them any time you need to throughout the day.
Your doctor will guide you to schedule face-to-face check-ups every few weeks to check your progress and pick up the next batch of aligners.

Who is Invisalign Suitable For?

The average age of patients undergoing Invisalign treatment is around 12 to 13; however, each patient’s smile is different and may result in earlier or later treatment. So whether you are a parent exploring orthodontic treatment for your child, or an adult who has put off treatment for years, Invisalign is an effective and discreet solution.

Advantages of Invisalign Over Traditional Braces:

Since these are clear aligners, most people won’t notice you’re wearing them.
The movement of your teeth is more precise with Invisalign than traditional braces.
It’s easier to maintain good oral health with Invisalign. You will remove the aligners when you eat, brush your teeth, and floss.
These aligners are much more comfortable than metal braces. They don’t irritate your teeth or gums.
Invisalign saves you time. Unlike braces that require more frequent office visits to change the arch wire and make adjustments, you will have fewer checkups with Invisalign.
There are no eating restrictions with Invisalign. Traditional wires and brackets have a long list of foods you unfortunately can’t enjoy because they can damage or get stuck in your braces; however, since Invisalign aligners are removable, there are no food restrictions at all.

What to Expect:

Treatment time: Many orthodontists will advise that Invisalign treatment can take between 6 – 12 months or more, depending on your case; however, you will start seeing results in a matter of weeks. There’s no one-size-fits-all for determining how long your treatment will last. That’s because every patient will have their own individual tooth and/or bite misalignment.

Discomfort: One of the best reasons to invest in Invisalign is how comfortable these aligners are to wear. Remember that your teeth are shifting into a new position, so you can expect to feel some mild discomfort as they move, especially with the first set of aligners. The pressure you will feel on your teeth when you first put on a new set of aligners will gradually fade over the course of a few days.

Speech: It may take a little while for your tongue to get used to having your Invisalign aligners in your mouth, and you may have a slight lisp for a few days. But this should disappear quickly.

What Happens After Invisalign Treatment Is Completed?

After any orthodontic treatment, whether it’s Invisalign or anything else, it is recommended that you wear a retainer. A retainer is designed to keep your teeth in alignment. Without it, your teeth can gradually move back to their former position. If your teeth start to shift, you may need to temporarily wear aligners again to reposition them.

Want to Learn More?

At Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics, we are Diamond Plus Invisalign Providers, meaning we treat more patients with Invisalign than any other dentist or orthodontist in our area. We are also consistently voted as the top orthodontist in our area! If you haven’t visited an orthodontist yet and want to find an Invisalign provider near Gainesville, Haymarket, Warrenton, Manassas, or any of Prince William County that is right for you, schedule a free consultation with us today!

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Featured, Invisalign, Invisalign Adult, Invisalign Teen

What To Expect During Your First Week of Invisalign

You had your first visit and our orthodontists created a personalized treatment plan for you from the 3D scan of your mouth. If you’re one of our Dunegan & Cole patients, we even showed you what your new smile will look like when you finish treatment on our Invisalign Outcome Simulator. Once the Invisalign lab fabricates your clear […]

So, what happens in the first week of Invisalign treatment? Here are 7 things you should know:

1. Mild Soreness is Normal

The good news is, you won’t feel significant Invisalign pain the first week, or at any time during your treatment. However, mild soreness or tenderness with Invisalign is to be expected when you start your first set of aligners and, occasionally, when you switch to a new tray. This is because your aligners are exerting continuous, gentle pressure to shift your teeth into place and align then. If you have a bit of soreness, it just means your aligners are working!

How long does Invisalign hurt for? Discomfort will go away in less than a week with your first Invisalign tray. With future trays, mild soreness usually only lasts for a day or two.

Managing Mild Invisalign Pain the First Week of Treatment

Stick with foods that require minimal chewing for the first few days. Smoothies, milkshakes, yogurt, applesauce, ripe bananas, oatmeal, soup, scrambled eggs, broth, protein shakes, and mashed potatoes are all excellent for sore teeth. You can jump right back into your usual diet when the tenderness improves.
Put your first Invisalign tray in at night. In fact, you might want to make it a habit throughout your treatment to always switch to new aligners before bed. This way, you’ll sleep through the initial hours of tenderness. By the time you wake up in the morning, your aligners will be slightly less tight and discomfort should be beginning to ease.
Swish with a saltwater rinse as often as needed. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Swish the solution around in your mouth for about 30 seconds, spit it out, and repeat until you finish the glass. This is helpful if you not feel the edge of the aligners rubbing against your lip or cheek.
Continue wearing your aligners. If your Invisalign hurts, it can be tempting to stop wearing them. But, the more you wear them, the more quickly discomfort will go away. Even if your teeth are sore, wear the aligners for the full 22 hours per day, or even more if possible.
If the tips above don’t help with Invisalign pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever (whatever you’d normally take for a headache).
If a rough edge on your Invisalign aligner is hurting you or causing sores or irritation, give our office a call. We can smooth it down or walk you through how to do it at home. A lot of times, a nail file will do the trick to gently remove an annoying spot on your aligner

2. Your Invisalign Aligners Will be Tight At The Beginning

Each set of Invisalign aligners is designed to achieve very specific tooth movements. When you put in your first Invisalign tray and when changing to a new set, the aligners will feel very snug. As you wear them, and your teeth shift, the aligners will loosen up.

To improve the way the aligners fit against your teeth, it’s recommended that you use your Invisalign Chewies for 10 to 15 minutes a day. This will help place the aligners onto your teeth for the ideal Invisalign fit.

3. It Might Feel Weird to Talk

It takes some time for you to get used to to having the aligners in your mouth. Some patients find they have a lisp during their first week of Invisalign treatment. Your best bet is to talk as much as you can. Read aloud to yourself, sing along to your favorite songs, or call a friend and talk on the phone. Temporarily being talkative will help you get used to your aligners more quickly and your speech will return to normal.

4. You Might Find Yourself Snacking Less Often

You’ll take your aligners out to brush and floss, eat, and drink anything aside from plain water. Afterwards, you’ll put your aligners back in so you can meet the recommended 22 hours of daily wear.

Because of the need to take your aligners in and out, it makes you much more aware of just how often you snack or sip on beverages throughout the day. A lot of patients are surprised by this at first and find they snack less during their treatment.

5. While You’ll Become a Pro at Inserting and Removing Your Aligners Soon Enough, but There is a Learning Curve

Speaking of the need to take your aligners out and put them back in, it might seem like a pretty simple thing to do. However, it can be a little bit challenging at first, especially if you have attachments bonded to your teeth. You will get the hang of it in no time and be able to do it quickly and discreetly.

To help, I’m sharing some pointers for inserting and removing Invisalign aligners.

How to Put In Invisalign Aligners:

First, make sure you’re putting the correct aligner on the correct arch (upper aligner is going on the upper teeth and lower aligner is going on the lower teeth).
Push the aligner over the front teeth and then apply gentle pressure along the length of the aligner all the way to the back, so that it snaps over your molars. When your aligner is in, use your thumbs to fully seat it.
Don’t force your aligners in or try to bite them into place. If your Invisalign fit seems off or like it’s not tight enough, use your chewies to massage them into place.

How to Remove Your Invisalign Aligners:

To remove your aligners, hook your finger over the edge of the aligner behind your back molar (on the tongue side) and pull it out and away. Repeat the process on the other side of your mouth. You can then hook your finger over the edge of the aligner behind your front teeth. Once the aligner releases, grip both sides and gently pull it all of the way out.
If you’re struggling, you can try to wiggle the tray a little to help get it off.
Never stick objects between the aligners and your teeth in an attempt to take them out because it can damage your enamel.

6. You’ll Need to Make Your Invisalign Case Your New BFF

The fact that Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible and removable is a huge bonus. On the other hand, it also makes them extremely easy to lose. Whenever you take your aligners out to eat and drink (or even to brush and floss if you have pets), put them in your Invisalign case. Setting them down on a napkin or a tissue is a surefire way to accidentally throw them away, and you don’t want to have to dig through the trash to find them. If you have trouble keeping track of your case, consider storing it in a larger case like a cosmetic or toiletry bag or adorning it with flashy stickers.

7. Cleaning Invisalign Trays is Easy And Necessary

As you wear your Invisalign aligners, spit and plaque will build up on them. To keep them clear and odor-free, clean them in the morning and before bed. It’s also a good idea to rinse them off before putting them back in your mouth after eating.

As for how to clean your aligners, there are Invisalign cleaning crystals and other products available for purchase. But the easiest way is to brush your aligners with a soft-bristled toothbrush (don’t use toothpaste because it can scratch the plastic) and then rinse them in lukewarm water. For a more thorough clean, you can also use a mild, unscented dishwashing soap along with your toothbrush.

Connect with Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics!

Now that you have the details on everything from how to manage Invisalign pain the first week to how to clean your aligners, I hope you feel confident about starting treatment. If you have any questions I didn’t answer, give us a call. Or, if you haven’t visited an orthodontist yet and want to find out if Invisalign is right for you, schedule a free consultation at Dunegan & Cole in Gainesville, VA today!

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