Invisalign treatment is a great way to move towards having a confident new smile. Many people are starting to turn to Invisalign instead of standard braces because Invisalign is so much more convenient. Because the aligners are clear and can be removed, they help people move through their day without a large interruption in work or social activities, and even let you eat what you choose.
But with the convenience of removable aligners comes responsibility. Patients actually have more responsibility with Invisalign treatment because aligners are removable. Unlike braces, which cannot be altered or removed and thus move at a constant pace, Invisalign treatment is actually up to the patient — or, at least, a portion of the responsibility.
DentaAesthetica sees a lot of excited new patients from Delhi who have chosen Invisalign treatment, and most of these patients have great results. Some have a more difficult time reaching goals, and many of them have actually made avoidable mistakes that we see all too often.
Most of these mistakes are fairly easy to remedy, and knowing what to avoid most likely means that you will be on the right path to the end of your treatment and the goal of a new smile.
Not Wearing Aligners for Enough Time
This is the most frequent mistake made during treatment by the patients.
The most common reason for patients to stray from their treatment is the belief that they can just keep their aligners in for most of the day. Some even think they are equivalent, when in fact the suggested number of hours with the aligners stays in the mouth is 20-22 hours.
Because they are easily removable, some patients develop bad habits, taking their Invisalign out for long periods during mealtimes, social gatherings, and even at home.
Invisalign requires commitment and consistent effort. Think of Invisalign as a gym membership: simply signing up does not get you fit, and similarly, you do not get results from Invisalign unless you wear your aligners as instructed.
In just a few hours of missed time, your treatment can be affected.
Removing Your Aligners Too Often
Being able to remove your aligners is a great convenience; however, many patients start to abuse this convenience.
Most patients will remove their aligners to watch TV, attend meetings, or eat quick snacks during the day.
The more time the aligners spend out of the mouth, the longer your treatment is going to be.
One patient even claimed their aligners spent more time in their pocket than in their mouth.
The aligners can only do their job, move your teeth, while they are being worn.
Not Switching Your Aligners on Time
Invisalign treatment is done on a strict schedule.
The movements of your teeth are done in a series; each aligner only does its job for a small part of the overall movement and is needed for the next step to be done.
Many patients get comfortable with one set of aligners and forget to switch to the next set at the correct time.
Some patients even delay switching aligners because they are travelling or they simply lose track of time.
While a few delays are not the end of the world, they will easily add time to your treatment if they are done consistently.
Using the alarms on your mobile device can be a great way to form habits.
Eating Drinking with Aligners
Invisalign has the benefit of allowing for the outer layer of trays to be removed while eating. For some patients, the convenience factor leads to a time-saving behaviour of eating while wearing the trays. This leads to a multitude of issues.
Eating with the trays can lead to the trays being damaged, stained, and unhygienic. Certain drinks can lead to staining the trays and making them more noticeable.
It is best to remove the trays while eating or drinking something other than water. This can help the trays remain clear and clean.
Neglecting Oral Hygiene
Invisalign leads to a relatively close fit of the trays around the teeth. This fit can lead to the prolonging of food particles and plaque on the teeth, resulting in a negative effect on your oral hygiene.
Some patients remove the trays while eating, but do not brush their teeth before putting the trays back in. This can lead to a variety of oral issues. With the help of the DentaAesthetica Dental Clinic team, a patient can achieve great oral hygiene and maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Not Cleaning the Aligners
The aligner trays should be cared for as well. Some patients think that rinsing the aligners with water is enough.
Over time, aligners accumulate plaque and bacteria, and like most things that get dirty, aligners get odorous, cloudy, and less comfortable to wear.
Daily cleaning using proper aligner cleaning techniques keeps bacteria and plaque away.
Many patients are surprised because they didn’t really believe that cleaning them would make them much more comfortable.
Skipping Follow-Ups
Another mistake people make is skipping their follow-up appointments. Most patients think that regular checkups are not needed because the aligners are removable and the treatment is relatively straightforward.
This is not true because check-ups are important for the doctor to monitor and make sure the treatment is on the right path.
Usually, teeth do not move in the expected way, and the doctor will have to make an adjustment in order to make sure the treatment stays on the right path.
If the checkup is skipped, the doctor is unaware and makes things worse for the treatment.
Losing Aligners
You probably already assumed this, but losing aligners is a common problem we see.
Some patients purposely remove their aligners and wrap them up in a napkin to make them more hygienic, but we have actually seen people throw away those napkins.
Some people leave them on tables, in pockets and in bags, and are surprised when they realize they have lost them.
The easiest way to avoid losing aligners is to always keep them in a case and make the case your go-to place to keep your aligners when you remove them.
Not Using Retainers After Treatment
After the treatment phase is done, many patients make the mistake of not using their retainers.
Typically, people are so excited that they forget that their teeth can still move without them in.
Teeth shift more with time. Retainers help prevent this movement by holding teeth in their new positions.
Neglecting to wear retainers shifts teeth again. Progress is reversible with time.
This is why retainers are a crucial step in the process.
Avoiding Self-Comparison
All Invisalign journeys are different and should be treated as such.
Some people are discouraged in their processes because they make comparisons to the processes of their friends, family, or people on social media.
Everyone’s timelines and treatment processes are different because of different goals, different treatment cases, and simply different bodies.
Most importantly, have patience.
The best results come from following the plan and listening to the professionals.
Conclusion
The Invisalign system is an incredible way to quickly and comfortably get a straight smile. Receiving your aligners is not the end of the process. Success relies on your habits and consistency during treatment.
Remove the common treatment errors from your process to get the best results. These mistakes are easy to avoid when you understand what to avoid.
At DentaAesthetica Dental Clinic, we give our patients continuous support and personalized treatment. Avoiding these common errors and following our guidelines will smooth your treatment process and give you your dream smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What will go bad if I do not wear my Invisalign aligners for the prescribed 22 hours a day?
Not wearing your aligners for the prescribed time means the aligners will not move your teeth as predicted. This can lead to longer treatment times and aligners that will not get you the perfect smile.
2. Is it okay if I drink hot beverages, like coffee or tea, with my Invisalign aligners?
It is mandatory that you take Invisalign aligners out before drinking coffee or hot beverages. The aligners will be stained and foggy.
3. What is the significance of the follow-up appointments during the Invisalign treatment?
The follow-up appointments give your dentist the opportunity to see if the aligners are still working to move your teeth and to see if any bugs need to be worked out of the treatment process. Your dentist can adjust the treatment plan if necessary.
