When you were a teenager, you spent two long years wearing braces. It was all worth it when you saw beautifully straight teeth smiling back at you in the mirror. However, after a few years, you stopped wearing your retainer. Now your teeth are back to that same level of misalignment they were at before you got braces. You wish you could have straight teeth again, but you feel like you’re too old to wear braces again. Fortunately, adult Invisalign can help. Let’s learn what it is and how it can benefit you.
How Does Adult Invisalign Work?
Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign is discreet and comfortable. It involves you wearing a set of clear plastic aligner trays that will exert a gentle pressure on your teeth to gradually shift them into a more aligned position. You’ll switch to a new set every couple of weeks or so. Each set is designed to shift a small portion of your smile until the whole thing is wonderfully straight again. You’ll be expected to visit your dentist about once every six weeks to make sure your treatment is going smoothly.
In order for your aligners to work properly, you’ll have to wear them for at least 22 hours a day. This means that you’ll essentially only remove them to eat, brush, and floss. In addition, you’ll have to brush your teeth before you place your aligners back in. Otherwise, bits of food could get stuck in between your aligners and your teeth and cause tooth decay and/or gum disease.
What Are the Benefits of Invisalign?
Adult Invisalign has many advantages over traditional braces, such as:
- Discreetness. As the name implies, your aligners are just about invisible. No one is likely to even notice you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment.
- Comfort. The brackets and wires of braces may poke the soft tissues in your mouth. Your aligners, however, are designed with your comfort in mind and won’t cause pain.
- Removability. Because the aligners can be removed when you eat, Invisalign comes with no dietary restrictions.
If you neglected to wear your retainer, hope is not lost for having a straight smile again. Ask your dentist or dentist about adult Invisalign to get your smile back on the right track.
About the Author
Dr. Dalia Georgy earned her doctorate degree at the University of Oklahoma. She has been treating smiles in Glenpool, OK for seven years and counting. There’s nothing she loves more than having positive, warm interactions with her patients. If you forgot to wear your retainer and want a straight smile again, contact Dr. Georgy via her website or call (918) 201-1414.