How to make the Invisalign treatment easier
Our great President Jimmy Carter said, “If you have a task to perform and are vitally interested in it, excited and challenged by it, then you will exert maximum energy. But in the excitement, the pain of fatigue dissipates, and the exuberance of what you hope to achieve overcomes the weariness.” At times exuberance is what you need to get through the Invisalign Treatment. The trays may be uncomfortable for a while, if you have a bad malocclusion than it will most likely be painful, especially in the First two weeks. Many people think it is easy and simple. There are times when it hurts. So what can we do to make it not so awful?
Spend some of your time making a calendar or spreadsheet where you map out when you can take the aligners out. You are required to leave the aligners in 20 -22 hours a day for them to have any effect on straightening your teeth. If you don’t you will back-track in your treatment process and then spend more time on the treatment altogether. Losing your aligners can also result in not completing your treatment. Keep track of those things.
Speech is a large problem for many patients who have orthodontic treatment done. The aligners temporarily affect your speech, and you may get a lisp and salivate. It is ok, a lot of patients do. Most speech impediments will disappear in the first week, so be patient, your mouth will adapt. Some patients quit after the first week because they are annoyed with the lisp the aligners create. This is a mistake and you are still left with the problem.
There are other rare cases where a tooth will move into the wrong place and cause pain in that area because it has become lodged in its attempt to be moved. In this case see your dentist because the tooth may need to be removed. Invisalign’s ClinCheck is usually right on when it comes to creating the aligners, but problems can arise with the way your roots attempt to move. In this case new aligners may be needed to correct the matter.
Lastly, know that when you finish the treatment you have not reached the Promised Land of straight teeth just yet. Your teeth’s position at the end of the treatment may not be perfectly stable. Most patients must wear a retainer. It is still clear like other Invisalign products and cheaper than the traditional Invisalign cost. The Invisalign retainer you wear will significantly enhance the stability of your teeth. The same message stated earlier holds true for the retainer. The more you keep it on and in your mouth the quicker the process. How long you have to wear the retainer may be undetermined. The dentist will work with you to come up with a finished date, but it is not rare that a retainer may be a lifetime commitment.
If you have issues the Invisalign website is a great place to get answers, ask on forums, and look up frequently asked questions. Invisalign is a great way to straighten your teeth with very few bumps in the road. We have mentioned a few common ones that arise that you should be prepared for. No treatment comes without hurdles. With Invisalign it should be minimal and easy to remedy. Good Luck!