Invisalign and Clear Aligners Care
Congratulation on beginning your Invisalign (Aligners) treatment. It is important to wear your trays full time other than when you are eating, drinking, brushing and flossing. It is okay to drink only water while wearing your trays. Be sure to brush your teeth 20 min after each meal before placing the trays back in your mouth.
Following your orthodontists recommendation change your trays every 1-2 weeks. If the next tray is not seating properly, I recommend my patients keep their current tray in an additional 24-48 hours before trying in the new tray again. If the next tray is not seating after an additional 7 days please contact your orthodontist. Please use your chewies 3x day for 2 min each time to ensure proper fitting and adaptation of your trays.
If an attachment or button is to fall off do not panic. Continue to wear your trays and notify your orthodontist to see if it is necessary to rebond the attachment at your point in treatment. If you were to lose your trays or they were to crack please advance to the next aligner. If the trays are irritating your cheek you can use a nail file to gently file the rough edges.
To clean your trays I have 2 different methods. You can brush your retainers with a soft toothbrush and dish soap. It is important to use a different brush than the one you use to brush your teeth. Another method is to soak your retainers in a cup of cold water with a Retainer Brite tablet (you can find on Amazon). Only use cold water when cleaning your trays to avoid any warping.
It is important to get dental cleaning every 3 months while you are in treatment to ensure the proper care of your teeth.
A few products that I love for Invisalign are:
Invisalign FAQ
I just put my next Invisalign tray in and it does not fit
If this occurs it is best to stay on your previous tray for another 24-48 hours before moving on to the next tray. It is possible your teeth just need a little more time for the movements to express. If the next tray does not fit after an additional 7 days please contact your orthodontic provider.
How do I use chewies?
I recommend all my patient using Invisalign use chewies 3 times a day for 2 min each time. It is best to begin using the chewies from your back teeth (molars) on one side and chew until it goes to the other side. Continue this movement back and forth.
How often should I get cleanings while I have Invisalign
I recommend all my patients get cleanings every 3 months while they are in orthodontic treatment.
How much does invisalign cost?
Depending on the area you are in Invisialign (clear aligner) treatment cost anywhere from $5,000-$9,000 for a comprehensive case.
My orthodontist doesn’t use the invisalign brand for clear aligners, does this matter?
Invisalign was the first clear aligner to the market so it is well known. I like to compare this with the use of the word kleenex when it comes to tissues. It is not as much important what clear aligner company is used, but more that your provider is an expert and can correctly align your teeth using that system. This is why it is important to see an orthodontist when getting clear aligners.