Invisalign – Austin, TX
The Clear Path to Straight Teeth
Without Metal
Not only do many people find crooked teeth to be less attractive, but crooked or misaligned teeth also make it more difficult to keep up with your oral care. If the thought of wearing traditional metal braces makes you cringe, then you’re going to like Invisalign’s clear aligner technology. With Invisalign, straightening teeth is as simple as wearing your clear aligners every day over the span of several months. To see if Invisalign in Austin is right for you, give Dr. Ifraitekh a call today!
Why Choose Snow Dental for Invisalign?
- Requires a Fraction of Treatment Time Compared to Braces
- Removable for Easy Oral Care and Meals
- Fully Transparent Qualities Prevents Changes in Appearance
How Does Invisalign Work?
When you begin your Invisalign treatment, you’ll be given a full series of clear aligners. Each pair is designed to represent a different stage of your realignment. You’ll wear each pair of aligners for about 22 hours per day, only removing to practice oral care or eat meals. Once you’ve worn a specific pair for about two weeks, you’ll move on to the next pair in the series until you’ve worn all of them. Overall, Invisalign treatment takes between 8 and 12 months to complete.
What Are the Benefits of Invisalign?
If you don’t like the idea of wearing metal brackets and wires for at least two years at a time, Invisalign offers a fair alternative to straightening teeth and realigning uneven bites. Its clear appearance ensures that no one around you will be aware that you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. And, because the aligners are removable, you don’t have to sacrifice your current diet or oral care habits just to accommodate them.
Living with Invisalign Aligners
Living with Invisalign requires knowing what to do to make sure your aligners stay in the best shape so that your teeth will move in the right direction over time. The last thing you want is for a delay to occur, so learning how to take care of your braces as well as the dos and don’ts of wearing them is essential. Fortunately, our team at Snow Dental is here to go over the following tips to make the process easier.
Wearing Your Trays 20-22 Hours a Day
Abiding by the 20-22-hour rule is not a suggestion if you want to keep your treatment on track. Instead, you’ll need to wear your trays for this amount of time each day to ensure your teeth continue to move into their proper position. Apart from taking them out to eat, drink, and give them thorough cleanings, your aligners should remain in your mouth.
This is what makes them different than traditional braces that are affixed to your teeth. Invisalign comes with greater responsibility and commitment – something you’ll want to make sure to consider before agreeing to start treatment.
Cleaning Your Aligners
Invisalign aligners can attract a lot of harmful bacteria, dried saliva, and food particles throughout the day. As a result, keeping them clean is vitally important not only for their longevity but also for your oral health.
Each morning and night, you’ll want to clean your trays using a soft-bristled toothbrush, lukewarm water, and clear soap. You can also invest in Invisalign Cleaning Crystals if you prefer. This can remove plaque accumulations, keeping your aligners healthy day after day.
It’s also helpful to soak your aligners once a day in a denture cleaner for a deeper clean.
Eating & Drinking
There are no food restrictions that come with Invisalign, which is a significant benefit for most patients; however, the one thing you must remember to do is to remove your aligners before eating or drinking. Water is the only thing you can have while wearing your trays, but you’ll need to make sure it is not hot, as it will warp the material. Everything else can be harmful or stain your braces, so your trays must come out.
After finishing a meal, you’ll want to make sure to brush and floss your teeth (or at least rinse your mouth with water) before reinserting your trays. Giving your aligners a quick rinse is also helpful.
Losing or Damaging a Tray
When receiving your Invisalign aligners for the first time, you’ll find it advantageous to purchase one or two protective cases. These are designed to protect your trays so that they do not become damaged over time.
Losing or damaging one or both of your aligners can cause a setback in your treatment timeline. It’s too easy to place your trays in a napkin while eating, only to accidentally throw them away or walk off and forget them. Instead, place them in their case and into your purse or pocket so that they remain protected in a secure location.
You’ll also want to be mindful about not leaving your aligners within reach of small children or pets.
Routine Check-Ins
Throughout treatment, our Snow Dental team will require that you come in for regular follow-up appointments. Although you’re unlikely to spend much time in our office, these visits allow us to review your progress and ensure everything is moving along smoothly. If we detect any changes or believe you are not wearing your aligners as often as you should, we may need to make adjustments before moving forward.