Over the last couple of decades, more than 12 million people have been able to straighten their teeth with Invisalign clear aligners instead of awkward metal braces. With this increase in popularity, there has been a similar increase in the amount of misinformation about this treatment. If you’re interested in starting Invisalign in Cherry Hill, you should be well-informed about what to expect. That’s why your dentist has answered four of the most common Invisalign questions below!
1. How Many Hours a Day Do I Need to Wear My Invisalign Trays?
Typically, you’ll be told to wear your aligners for 20-22 hours per day, with 22 hours being ideal. You’ll basically only take out the trays when it’s time to eat, drink anything other than plain water, brush, or floss. Whenever you’re not wearing the aligners, your teeth will want to revert back to their original positions. If you want to complete your treatment quickly, wear your aligners as often as directed.
2. How Long Does Invisalign Take?
On average, Invisalign treatment takes about 12 to 18 months. However, most patients can expect a noticeable difference in the way their smiles look after as little as six months. Remember that even if this seems like a long time to wait for a straight smile, metal braces can easily take two or three years to deliver the same results – without the comfort and seamlessness of Invisalign!
3. Does Invisalign Treatment Hurt?
Like any orthodontic treatment, Invisalign works by exerting gentle yet constant force on your teeth. It’s normal to feel some temporary soreness and discomfort when you first begin treatment or when you switch to a new set of aligners. Most patients would describe it more as “pressure” than outright pain. In fact, it’s actually a sign that your teeth are moving in the right direction!
4. Will Invisalign Change the Way I Talk?
At first, your mouth may need some time to adjust to the aligners. Since the edge of the top aligner is right behind your two front teeth, your tongue may get “confused” when pronouncing sounds produced by touching that area. This means you might have a small lisp initially. Don’t worry, though! You can power through the adjustment process by practicing speaking out loud, especially words with lots of “s” sounds, like “Mississippi.” The more you practice, the sooner your speech will be back to normal.
Do you still have Invisalign questions? Don’t be afraid to reach out to your dentist and schedule a consultation to learn more about this revolutionary way to straighten your smile!
About the Practice
At South Jersey Dental Studio, we pride ourselves on providing personalized, stress-free dentistry for patients of all ages in the Cherry Hill, NJ community. Dr. Joe and Dr. Dara are dedicated to using the latest dental technology as well as gentle care in a judgment-free environment. As one of the only Invisalign providers in the area, we’d love to answer any Invisalign questions you may have. All you need to do is contact our office by calling 856-406-6570.
