5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Invisalign Treatment

There’s a lot to love about Invisalign®. Since it was approved in the mid-1990s as an alternative to the metal bracket-and-wire braces for mild-to-moderate alignment issues, it’s been a game-changer in the orthodontic industry. 

Instead of metal, Invisalign uses a series of removable, clear aligner trays to shift your teeth into their correct positions, and unless someone’s looking closely, no one will know you’re having work done.

At Greenwich Dentistry in Cos Cob, Connecticut, Dr. Sean Sutton and Dr. Mark Sutton are pleased to offer Invisalign to their patients who need orthodontic treatment. While most patients find them easy to use and wonderfully clear, they come with a few rules you need to follow to make the most of your treatment.

Here are five ways you can get the most out of your treatment.

1. Be responsible

Metal braces boast a 100% compliance rate, since you can’t take the hardware out. Invisalign, though, is designed to be removed when you eat and when you brush your teeth. That means you have to remember to put the trays back in when you’re done.

In addition, to get the results you want in the treatment period your dentist specifies, you need to wear your aligners 20-22 hours each day, even when you’re sleeping. You need to be responsible enough to keep to the schedule to get the job done.

2. Follow your treatment plan

In most cases, you’ll get a series of several trays at each office visit. You wear each set in the series for about two weeks, then switch out to the next set. We provide you with written instructions.

Following the instructions and swapping out trays at specific times are integral parts of your treatment plan. Each tray places the precise amount of force your teeth need at a given time to make them move. After you’ve reached the end point for that set, though, leaving them in longer won’t do anything to help your bite. Use the trays as directed and in the proper order to reach the maximum adjustment.

3. Just say “no” to stains

As we’ve mentioned, you need to take your aligners out when you eat and drink. Not only is that to prevent damage to the trays, but it’s also to prevent food and drink from causing stains in the plastic. Once the stains are there, you won’t be able to get them out, and your aligners will no longer be clear.

Yes, it’s tempting to grab a coffee on the run or gobble down your Chinese take out with extra soy sauce, but think before you act and remove the aligners first.

4. Practice good oral hygiene

With metal braces, there are so many nooks and crannies where the brush can’t go and where the floss gets stuck. With Invisalign, you remove the trays before brushing and flossing, so you can get everywhere. Remember to clean the aligners at the same time, so bacteria don’t build up between the material and your teeth.

5. Take good care of your aligners

Aligners aren’t toys, and if you’re going to invest time and money into these oral appliances, you should invest in their care as well. Make sure to brush, rinse, and let the office know if any part is rubbing too tightly.

If you need orthodontia and are thinking of going with Invisalign, it’s time to come into Greenwich Dentistry for a consultation with one of our dentists. To get started, give the office a call at 203-869-2066, or contact us online today.