Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment option great for adults and teens with minor misalignments who are ready to move into their best, straightest smile! As shown in this interview with a patient who wore braces in her teens and Invisalign in her early 30s, this treatment can be simple and easy way to re-straighten any teeth that may have shifted moved back after finishing braces.
Q: How long did you wear the aligners for, and how often did you need to switch to a new set?
A: I wore them for 8 months from July 2022 – March 2023. I switched the trays once per week.
Q: Were there any challenges you faced during your treatment with Invisalign? If so, how did you overcome them?
A: When I got to the last tray, I wasn’t happy with the placement of a couple of teeth. The dentist re-scanned and ordered another 6 weeks’ worth of trays to correct it so the treatment ended up being a bit longer than initially planned. To me this was not a big deal because I would rather the results be as close to perfect as possible than finish unhappy with the results.
Another challenge was that I tend to clench and grind when under stress, and there were times when I would almost wear a hole right through the trays from clenching. The trays did not offer as strong of protection against night bruxism as I needed, but I had to wear my trays through the night to meet the 22 hours minimum wear time.
Q: How did the aligners feel when you first started wearing them, and did you experience any discomfort during the treatment process?
A: When I first started wearing them, I often felt nauseous but that feeling went away after a few days. The most discomfort I had was from the attachments they put on my teeth, which bothered my gums and made it difficult to bite down properly.
Q: In your opinion, what are the main benefits of Invisalign compared to other teeth straightening options?
A: The benefits are equal to braces, except Invisalign was much less painful.
Q: If you wore braces, how did Invisalign compare?
A: I wore braces for 18 months when I was a teenager. Braces were significantly more painful, however this could have been because the movements of teeth were more significant than the slight movements I wanted to achieve with Invisalign. Invisalign did not hurt the soft tissue in my mouth the way braces did; the wires used to poke out at the back, or the brackets would cut my gums.
Q: Did you have any concerns or reservations about choosing Invisalign over other options like traditional braces or clear aligners? If so, how did you address those concerns?
A: I considered Invisalign competitors which offer a similar treatment for less cost, and also less support and guidance from a dental professional. After some research I was clear that getting Invisalign via my own dentist was the best choice. I had to have 2 fillings done before I started the treatment. If I had gone with a cheaper provider not via my dentist, those cavities would have surely worsened during the treatment.
Q: How did your dentist or orthodontist monitor your progress throughout the treatment process, and were you happy with the level of support you received?
A: I saw my dentist once every 6 weeks and was happy with the follow ups.
Q: Did you need to make any lifestyle adjustments while wearing the aligners, such as changes to your diet or oral hygiene routine? If so, how did you manage those adjustments?
A: I did find that I would snack less throughout the day because it was such a pain to have to brush my teeth every time. I got a lot better at flossing as I was told twice daily flossing would be essential while I was wearing the trays.
Q: Why did you decide to undergo Invisalign treatment?
A: I had been having a lot of TMJ issues and the tension had started to shift 2 teeth out of place. Over time it would have certainly gotten worse, and I needed a retainer for nighttime anyway, so I opted to do Invisalign now while it wasn’t too major of a correction. I had also bumped up my insurance coverage to have some of it covered, and I do not plan on keeping that sort of coverage going forward so I sort of had a window.
Q: Looking back on your Invisalign journey, is there anything you wish you had known before starting the treatment?
I wish I knew that I would have to wear the retainers for 6 months after the treatment. It wouldn’t have changed anything, but it would have been nice to know that as I wasn’t made aware of this until after the treatment was done.
Consult with the Invisalign Dentist at BLOK Dental
To find out if Invisalign is right for you and get any questions you may have about the treatment process, schedule a consultation with our experienced Invisalign dentist.
