What is Invisalign? The definition is in the name! Invisalign is clear (invisible) aligners, meant to align, or straighten your teeth. The easiest way to think about Invisalign is that they are clear, removable braces. You may be considering having your teeth straightened but don’t want to wear traditional braces due to age or esthetic reasons, Invisalign would be a great option for you! The trays are custom fit to your mouth and you receive a sequence of trays in order to wear at home, making it a great option for busy adults. The aligners move the teeth slowly, correcting them over the course of your treatment time. Typically, Invisalign trays are worn 24/7 and only taken out when you eat/drink while in active orthodontic treatment.
You may be wondering, is it possible to speed up the Invisalign process? While there isn’t really a way to cut down on the amount of trays you need, there are some things you can do to help accelerate the process as much as possible. Wear your trays for at least 20-22 hours a day. Ideally, you should only be taking your trays out to eat and brush. The more you wear your trays, the better and faster your treatment will be. Switch your aligners as directed by your orthodontist. Most patients change their trays every 1-2 weeks. The fastest pace option is 1 week, but some treatment requires more. Your orthodontist will review your progress periodically to check to see how the treatment is progressing. You may be able to change from wearing trays from 2 weeks to 1 week if you are tracking well and your orthodontist recommends it. Your orthodontist may also recommend getting attachments. These are clear “buttons” that are bonded to your teeth temporarily while in treatment that speed up the process by putting more pressure on a specific tooth to help move it faster. Make sure you are keeping up with your appointments and staying on track.
The best thing you can do for yourself to make the Invisalign treatment go as smoothly and quickly as possible is make sure you are keeping up with your appointments, following your orthodontist’s instructions, and staying on track with wearing and changing your trays.
If you are in the Pensacola area and are interested in getting Invisalign, please contact us at Sims Orthodontics! Dr. Sims and our lovely team would be happy to serve your orthodontic needs!
