Does Invisalign hurt?

In fact, of the most commonly used orthodontic treatments (metal brackets, sapphire and Incognito lingual brackets). Invisalign is the one that causes the least discomfort.

Having said that, it is useful to explain why Invisalign is the least painful orthodontic system.

Most commonly, there is no pain, but there is discomfort that lasts for a couple of days each time you put in a new set of aligners.

Why is Invisalign less uncomfortable than other treatments?

To understand why Invisalign produces less discomfort than other methods, it is necessary to understand what the treatment consists of.

First of all, Invisalign is based on transparent splints that are removable and are changed every two weeks.

Their composition means that they do not have wires or brackets that can stick or rub against your gums, lips or tongue.

Therefore, they do not cause the typical sores or wounds of brackets.

Braces pain
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ORTHODONTICS WITH BRACES

For example, when wearing braces, it is relatively normal for the metal elements of the appliance to rub or for the wires to come loose and dig into the gums or lips.

In addition, when wearing lingual brackets -placed on the inner side of the tooth-, they are in permanent contact with the tongue, which suffers a lot from continuous friction.

To mitigate these possible frictions, discomfort and pain in the lips and tongue, we usually resort to what is known as orthodontic dental wax.

Although after a period of adaptation the patient gets used to any method, it is true that with braces this time is longer.

Secondly, Invisalign aligners are changed every two weeks and work by making micro-movements in the teeth, so they move very slightly.

This results in minimal discomfort as well.

How many days of discomfort does Invisalign last?

Since the splints are changed every two weeks and each one is different from the previous ones – to adapt to the new position of the teeth – it is normal to feel a sensation of pressure with each change of aligners.

This pressure sensation with each new splint is normal, lasts a couple of days approximately and is perfectly bearable.

However, as the days go by, the discomfort disappears and you hardly notice that you are wearing the aligners.

In that sense, it is essential not to confuse discomfort with pain.

In fact, it could be said that initial discomfort is a sign that the aligners are working well. Gradually moving the teeth and helping the patient to achieve the desired final result.

However, if the discomfort does not seem bearable or persists as the days go by, we recommend consulting the orthodontist about the possibility of taking pain medication.

In case of discomfort, consult your dentist.
This way he/she can supervise every step and decision that may affect the development of your orthodontics.

In the event of possible discomfort, can the aligners be filed?

As mentioned above, patients who suffer discomfort during orthodontics with brackets can combat these small frictions with orthodontic wax.

However, on rare occasions, the edges of clear aligners can also cause minor chafing.

In this case, the most effective solution is to file the aligners.

Always under the supervision of your orthodontist. A file can be used on the edges that rub to avoid injury and discomfort.

Do attachments hurt? – Does Invisalign hurt?

Sometimes clear aligners need to be accompanied by attachments to make the procedure more effective.

The attachments (also known as attachments) are small composite reliefs that adhere to the teeth. So that the aligner “grips” better to the tooth.

Invisalign Attachments
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INVISALIGN ATTACHMENTS

A priori, some patients think that the attachments are going to generate the same discomfort as brackets.

However, there is nothing to do with this because the brackets do not cause pain.

However, there is usually an adaptation period of 2-3 days in which it is normal to experience slight discomfort. Until the mouth gets used to living with these elements.

But it is usually completely painless, both at the time of placement and during the time they remain in the oral cavity.

In addition to being painless, does Invisalign have other advantages?

Invisalign is a very complete orthodontic treatment that has treated millions of patients worldwide.

This is mainly due to the comfort it offers to the people who wear it.

In addition to the fact that the adaptation period is very short and that only slight discomfort is felt for a couple of days every two weeks (when the set of aligners is changed), the main advantages are:

Aesthetic

Although the aligners are not completely invisible, they are virtually unnoticeable.

In fact, many people won’t even notice you’re wearing them, even for short distances.

Removable

This is one of the reasons many patients choose Invisalign over other orthodontic treatment: it is removable.

This allows the patient a lot of flexibility if they have to attend a social event without the aligners, for example.

Therefore, it can be said that Invisalign is an ideal esthetic orthodontic treatment. For those patients who are looking for a treatment that is practically imperceptible to the human eye.

Hygienic

Since the splints are changed every two weeks, they remain in perfect condition if the patient takes care of them.

In addition, since the aligners must be washed every time they are removed and taken out to eat and brush teeth, they are very hygienic.

In order for the splints to maintain the transparency that characterizes them, it is essential both to preserve our own oral hygiene and to clean the aligners correctly.

You can eat

Since Invisalign is removed to eat, the patient can eat whatever he or she wants.

However, with braces you can not eat very hard nuts such as hard peanuts, hard shell sandwich or apples to bite, for example.

If you wear your aligners, you should only be careful about eating chewing gum and drinking hot beverages, as they can deform the aligners or damage them.

Eating with Invisalign
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EATING WITH INVISALIGN

You can speak

As soon as treatment begins, some people feel that the aligners affect their speech.

However, this sensation usually lasts for a couple of days and only occurs at the start of treatment. Not with the change of splints.

As you can see, the use of Invisalign has more advantages. In addition to the fact that it does not hurt and does not cause the characteristic sores or wounds typical of braces.

That is why many patients who come to our office for treatment only consider Invisalign and discard all other orthodontic methods.

Read our Invisalign Guide

You will be interested in > My Invisalign Smile: the app to follow the evolution of your treatment

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Invisalign General Concepts

Does Invisalign hurt?