What to Know When Going Through Invisalign Treatment

Eating and Drinking

Our Victoria BC Dental office advises that you should not eat anything while the Invisalign trays are in your mouth. Eating with the trays in can bend, distort and break the trays, resulting in undesirable tooth movements. You can drink plain (unflavored) water with your trays in, but NOTHING else. If you have anything other than water with your trays in, you can trap bad bacteria around the tray leading to cavities. You will need to brush and floss your teeth before you place your trays in, EVERY TIME.

Tray Maintenance

Clean your trays with your toothbrush, a small amount of toothpaste and water. Brush the trays and rinse them thoroughly every day. Do NOT soak them in mouthwash or denture cleaner. These can break down and distort the trays, resulting in poor performance of the trays.

Tooth Maintenance

Maintain your regular dental hygiene maintenance appointments. Ensuring good gum and bone health will help the progress of Invisalign treatment. Your dentist will also be able to check to ensure that you are maintaining things well and not developing any cavities. Do not use any whitening products during Invisalign treatment. There will be attachments placed on your teeth which will not lighten, and which will not allow the covered portion of the tooth to lighten. This will lead to a ‘patchy’ appearance of teeth. It is VERY important for your to brush and floss your teeth before you place your trays in, EVERY TIME. This will ensure that there are no bacteria trapped around your teeth, which can lead to cavities. That is why your teeth, gums and trays must be kept as clean as possible.

Tray Storage

Do NOT store your trays in a napkin. Napkins get thrown out, and sometimes trays do too. That is why it is always a good idea to keep your trays in case we provide you when they are not in your mouth. This case will also help keep them safe from pets. Pets will be attracted to the scent of your saliva in the trays and will tend to chew them up, making them unusable.

General Tips

Wear the trays as much as possible. The most effective tooth movement comes from 20-22 hours of wear a day. That means they should be only taken out to eat, brushed and flossed and then put back in. You must wear your trays at night. Also, keep your previous set of trays. If something happens to your current tray, it will give you something to wear to keep your teeth from moving until a replacement set can be ordered.

Getting Towards the End of Treatment

There are multiple phases of treatment. The first phase gets us close to our desired outcome (about 80% of the way). The second (and possibly third) phase will finish the case. The fourth phase is the retainers. Retainers of some sort must be worn after the treatment is complete. This will make sure that the teeth stay where we have placed them so that they do not relapse. If they relapse, orthodontic treatment may be required again in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a candidate for Invisalign?

If you have crooked or crowded teeth that are embarrassing or otherwise prevent you from achieving optimal oral health, Invisalign could be the solution for you. Visit your Victoria Invisalign dentist for a complete consultation to determine if you could benefit from clear orthodontics.

What should I expect during my Invisalign treatment?

You will wear your aligners nearly all the time, except for about two hours per day. Invisalign treatments in Victoria are different for everyone, but most patients can achieve their ideal smiles within one to two years. During that time, you can expect to make occasional dental visits to monitor your progress.

Will I need any post-treatment care?

Following your treatment in Victoria, you will no longer need to wear Invisalign trays. However, you will need to wear a retainer every night to help protect your new smile. It is also important to continue visiting your dentist for routine check-ups and twice-yearly cleaning.

How long will treatment take?

Treatment time will vary based on the individual needs of each case. Most cases require 9-14 months of active treatment. However, with the new treatment technology available at our dental clinic, we can cut treatment time in half.