It has been about a
year since I first put on my Invisalign aligners. Although I have already
posted some of the less known aspects of the treatment, I would like to share a
couple of other things that I have learned along the way. I know I would have
welcomed this knowledge, when I was making the decision and would have loved to
know all the details about the effects of the treatment and any additional
expenses that may need to be incurred as the result of opting for Invisalign.
- The importance of flossing
As
part of the Invisalign deal you have to brush and floss after every meal or
snack. You have to make sure your teeth are perfectly clean before you confine
them into a moist environment, prone to the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.
This has made a world of difference for the health of my mouth. I have numerous
crowns that used to inflame every chance they got - several times a year. Now
that I have been brushing and flossing after every meal that has not occurred
since the start of my treatment. Please floss - it makes a world of difference.
- Extra cleanings
You
will have to do cleanings about every 3 months. Keep in mind, most dental
insurance plans only cover 2 cleanings a year. Thus, you will probably end up
paying for the intermittent treatments out of your own pocket. But you will
definitely need them. You will feel and see the tartar and other deposits
collecting in your month.
- Staining
The
staining is horrendous. Even the extra dental cleanings cannot do anything
about the stains building up around the bonding attachments on your teeth. I
always feel self-conscious when I remove my aligners, because my teeth look so
ugly. However, my hygienist said that the whitening treatment that you get at
the end of the Invisalign treatment will take care of them.
- Toothbrush wear & tear
The
attachments cause excessive wear on your toothbrush bristles. I have to change
the head on my electric toothbrush about every 1.5 months. And that can get
pretty pricey.
- Interproximal Reduction (IPR)
Sometimes
the dentist has to file down the enamel to make space for all teeth to align
perfectly in a row. Only a fraction of a millimeter is removed of the 4
millimeter total thickness of the enamel. The process is mildly unpleasant, but
it is super fast. My Invisalign girl said that they just do whatever the
Invisalign tells them to do. Do not fall for that. Be the judge of your own
mouth. Based on some very unfortunately experiences with one of my prior
dentists, I make sure that I thoroughly understand what they are planning to do
in my mouth and be the primary decision maker to ensure that I do not have
anything done other than what is absolutely necessary. However, it was obvious
that one of my bottom teeth will not fit, but after the IPR it moved right in
to align in a perfect row with the rest of the teeth.
- Additional dental work
Invisalign
has caused some additional issues. Some of my old fillings were chipped during
the process of adding/removing attachments to the teeth. Also, the aligners are
so tight, they pulled off one of the crowns and it had to be re-glued back. On the
positive side, I did not have any cavities at the last check up and any dental
work is being put off until after the Invisalign treatment is complete.
- What's next?
Although
my teeth already look so much better, I still have several months to go. I
suppose the worst part of the process is behind me. After the last set of
aligners, you have the final consultation to ensure that you are happy with the
results. The retainers will be ordered based on the last set of aligners. Only
after the retainers are received, the attachments are removed, teeth are
polished and whitened.
Bottom line: Right
now I can just feel myself hating these braces more and more. They are high
maintenance and tend to interfere and complicate some areas of my life. I will
definitely be happier when this process is all over with.
Be sure to contact
me, if you have any questions. And stay tuned for the conclusion of my
Invisalign journey.
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