Over the last few decades, Invisalign has risen to become one of the most popular methods of straightening teeth for people of all ages and walks of life. Most people have likely met someone who has had Invisalign treatment, even if the discreet natures of the trays didn’t make it obvious.
However, if you’re interested in this style of orthodontics, you might realize that there’s a lot you don’t know about it. Here are answers to some of the questions you may have.
Does Invisalign Treatment Hurt?
As with any kind of orthodontics, there’s usually an adjustment period before you feel completely comfortable wearing your aligners. The ligaments connecting the teeth to the jaw will have to stretch for straightening your smile to become possible, which can cause a bit of tenderness. However, this should pass after a week or so of wearing your aligners, at which point the treatment should be completely painless.
How Long Does Invisalign Treatment Take?
One of the nice things about Invisalign treatment is that it can usually straighten the teeth faster than traditional braces. While everyone is different, most people complete the process in 12-18 months.
The exact timeline depends on a few factors, including the severity of your misalignment, the natural malleability of your teeth, and how well you adhere to the guidelines set out by your dentist. For example, dentists strongly recommend wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours a day, and how long you can manage to wear them over the course of a day heavily affects the amount of time that your treatment will take overall.
What Can You Eat with Invisalign?
One of the nice things about Invisalign aligners is that they’re removable. Unlike traditional braces, you’ll be able to take off your orthodontics before meals. As a result, you can skirt the dietary restrictions that ordinarily come with braces.
All this to say that you won’t be confined in what you can eat while undergoing Invisalign treatment so long as you commit to taking off your trays before meals.
As a note, you should make sure not to wear your trays while eating, as you could potentially damage them. Keep this in mind, and you can enjoy the dietary freedom that comes with Invisalign!
About the Author
Dr. Jessica Cohen is an expert in what makes a beautiful smile. She has devoted her career to helping people straighten and perfect their teeth and is always excited by an opportunity to use her deep understanding of orthodontics to help someone. Dr. Cohen received her Master of Science degree in Oral Sciences and Certificate of Orthodontics from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and her Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Case Western Reserve University.
If you have any more questions about Invisalign treatment, she can be reached at her website or by phone at (224) 427-6800.