People who wish to make their teeth straighter and enhance the beauty of their smile, opt for Invisalign. This treatment helps to move the teeth into the desired position with the help of clear plastic trays that can be easily removed.
These aligners are quite similar to traditional braces in the sense that there exists a certain period of adjustment for which these trays will stay inserted over your teeth. Once the adjustment period is over, the dentist will remove these plastic trays from your teeth.
We bet now you must be thinking how long does it take to complete this treatment. Well, the adjustment period varies from one patient to another and it is dependent on the degree of adjustment needed.
If you are also looking forward to getting a healthy and straight smile with the help of Invisalign braces, check out https://www.mynazarethdentist.com.
Table of Contents
Is This Process Painful?
Source: stomatologija.me
The dentists make use of numerous orthodontic equipment to carry out this process successfully. One of these devices is used to move your teeth back while applying a constant pressure on them. This pressure helps to stretch and compress the ligaments near your teeth and as a result promote bone remodeling.
It will be unfair to say that this process is painless. A certain degree of pain is guaranteed. However, the dentists try to numb the pain as much as possible. As a result, a majority of patients only complain about mild pain or soreness during the first few days of the treatment. Moreover, the pain gets milder with time.
The best part is that the side effects can be easily managed with the help of some pain relievers that the dentist will recommend to you. Also, any pain or discomfort will get diminished within the first few days of the treatment.
How to Reduce Soreness?
If you are feeling pain or discomfort after using Invisalign, follow the below mentioned steps:
- Take a pain reliever like ibuprofen. Such medicines can be easily found at any drug store.
- Insert the aligners at bedtime. A majority of the pain occurs during the first few hours of insertion. This will ensure that when the pain sets, you will most likely be asleep.
- In the morning, make sure to remove your aligners and soak them in water for at least an hour. Place them back over your teeth as soon as you take them out of water.
- Use a cold compress and press the bag over your jaws and the areas where you are feeling sore. Try this method for ten minutes, at least two to three times a day.
- When the pain sets in, do not remove the aligners. Doing so will only delay the adjustment period and your teeth will take more time to get adjusted to your new aligners. The longer you wear these aligners, the faster you will finish this treatment.
Initial Period of Adjustment
Source: andoverorthodontics.com
Once you get your aligners, the dentist will provide you with a set of instructions on how to use them. You will have to take proper care and maintain them to ensure that they last long. You need to wear these trays for a minimum period of 22 hours per day. Also, make sure not to remove them while brushing your teeth or eating your food.
We understand that it must be quite tempting to remove them to help subside the pain. However, that will only do more harm than good. Make sure to wear them for the recommended period and use the above mentioned methods to get relief from the pain.
In case, the soft tissues in your mouth get irritated, you can opt to apply an orthodontic wax on the affected region. With time, your teeth, mouth, tongue and lips will become accustomed to the aligners.
Generally, it takes about two weeks’ time to get completely accustomed to the aligners. However, the time differs from one person to the other.
Switching Your Trays
You need to switch your trays periodically. The dentist will guide you on this process and will teach you how to switch the aligners. Generally, you need to change your aligners within two weeks of use.
When you change your aligners, you might feel some pain and soreness like you did the first time around. Moreover, when you are not wearing your aligners make sure to store them properly. Keep them in a hard silicone or plastic box and keep the box away from extreme heat.
Will My Speech Get Affected?
Source: pacificnwsmiles.com
In certain circumstances, you may find that your speech is getting affected after using these aligners. Well, there is nothing to worry about. It is a side effect of this treatment that generally subsides within the first few weeks.
The aligners are made up of super thin materials and they are designed in such a way that they sit quite close to your teeth, leaving little or no gaps. As a result, the space that your tongue needs to say words, may get restricted. However, if you notice that your speech is getting affected even after wearing these trays for a long period, consider getting a re-evaluation done. This should solve your problem. In case the problem still persists, seek advice from another dentist.
Final Word
Well, there must be a reason why you opted for Invisalign when you had so many options to choose from. This option offers you clearer and better aligners as compared to the traditional braces. The pain you withstand is just a small price that you need to pay in return for your beautiful smile.
Keep this thought in mind whenever you feel pain or discomfort while wearing your braces. Also, make sure to follow the methods we have mentioned above, in case you face any discomfort or pain during the first few weeks of using these trays.
