Invisalign is one of the methods included in invisible orthodontics, those chosen by people who do not want the treatment to interfere with their image.
This method not only has the advantage of aesthetics, but also because it is removable.
For this reason, Invisalign is one of the most comfortable systems, but it requires a greater commitment on the part of the patient than fixed orthodontics.
In this article, we explain what guidelines you should follow to achieve a functional and aligned smile.
We explain how often you should wear aligners, how often you should change them and what care should be taken into account.
Why does Invisalign require my collaboration?
Like all orthodontics, Invisalign performs dental micro-movements along the arches gradually until they reach the proper position.
Therefore, it has the advantages intrinsic to orthodontic methods.
However, as we mentioned before, it is important for the patient to cooperate.
Since the aligners are removed, they will have no effect on the teeth during the time they are not worn.
Therefore, it is essential that the person wears them for the daily hours determined by their orthodontist.
Invisalign splint
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INVISALIGN ALIGNERS
Advantages of Invisalign
In addition, Invisalign splints have specific features and benefits:
You can remove the aligners to eat
Unlike fixed orthodontic procedures, there are no restrictions on the food you must eat throughout your treatment.
With the splints in place you can drink water, but you must remove them from your mouth during meals or when drinking wine, coffee, tea or soft drinks.
Otherwise, the splints may become stained and, if you drink very hot beverages, they may become deformed.
Better hygiene
Wearing a fixed orthodontic appliance makes it difficult to easily access all the nooks and crannies of our mouth.
On the contrary, this is not the case with removable orthodontic methods: they therefore facilitate our oral hygiene.
However, this does not mean that we should neglect it.
Brushing after every meal and the use of complementary hygiene elements are mandatory.
Thanks to interproximal brushes and dental floss we can correctly remove food debris and bacterial plaque.
Does not interfere with the image
Invisalign is based on transparent splints, so they are only visible at very short distances.
Even so, and in a very punctual way, you can remove the splints from your mouth before a specific social event.
We must not forget that this practice must be an isolated event and cannot become a habit.
Otherwise, the duration of the treatment will be significantly extended.
Respect the times
Only by wearing the splints 22 hours a day and changing the sets will you achieve a functional and aligned smile.
How long a day should I wear the braces?
Each Invisalign aligner is capable of a movement of 0.25 millimeters.
That is, a movement of one millimeter will require the use of four aligners, since each set is changed after two weeks.
For each splint to perform the desired movement over a period of weeks, you must wear them for at least 22 hours a day.
Respecting these times is of vital importance to ensure the correct course of the procedure.
So much so that there is a version of this method designed for teenagers, Invisalign Teen.
Invisalign Teen
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INVISALIGN TEEN
The special feature of Invisalign Teen is that each splint has small blue colored compliance indicators.
These are positioned on the molars of the splints, so they are completely imperceptible at first glance.
As they remain in the mouth, they lose their color, so it is easier to control the time of use of the aligners.
Thus, the patient will reliably know when to replace one set of aligners with the next.
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How often should you change your aligners?
If you are responsible with the treatment and respect the recommended frequency, you should replace the aligners every two weeks.
Bear in mind that the orthodontist has already designed all the sets of splints you will need when planning your treatment.
Therefore, at check-ups, the dentist will give you several sets for your convenience.
Once you have changed your aligners, our recommendation is that you do not throw away the previous set of splints.
On some occasions, the orthodontist may recommend extending the use of the previous aligners if the course of treatment requires it.
Also, in case you lose them, you may wear the previous set to avoid unwanted tooth movement.
It is common that at first, after changing the splints, you may feel slight discomfort due to the pressure they exert in your mouth.
You should know that this is a very mild and temporary pain that will subside after a few days.
As you can see, the change from one splint to another is done quickly.
To keep the splints in optimal condition, you must follow a series of guidelines.
Invisalign splints tend to lose their transparency if you do not maintain proper hygiene or if you drink highly colored beverages.
What care should you take with your splints during these weeks?
One of the most common incidences, as we said, is the loss of the aligners.
Therefore, when you take them off, we advise you to always keep them in their case, whether to eat or brush your teeth.
Practices such as leaving them in a pocket or in a napkin can cause them to get lost, and if they are out of their case, they can break accidentally.
On the other hand, you should also be very careful with the hygiene of the splints.
Clean aligners not only preserve their transparency, but also prevent the presence of bacteria in the mouth.
If the aligner accumulates tartar, periodontal diseases and caries can appear.
To clean the splints it is enough to do it with a brush, water and neutral soap every time you take them out of your mouth.
Invisalign splint
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INVISALIGN SPLINT
In addition, once or twice a week you can use a specific product for cleaning removable orthodontics.
Finally, you should know that tobacco not only stains the color of the enamel of your teeth, but also the treatment splints.
Therefore, you should not smoke with the aligners in place, otherwise they will end up losing their transparency.
By following the guidelines recommended by your orthodontist, the treatment will be more effective, faster and easier to bear.
If you are thinking of starting orthodontic treatment with Invisalign and would like more information about it, we invite you to contact us by calling +1 619 372 5409 🇺🇸 +52 664 590 8321 🇲🇽 or through our web site.
