A lot of people think Invisalign is just for slight problems, but that’s simply not true at Current Orthodontics in Roseburg. Since Invisalign came into existence in 1997, the technology has come a long, long way.
Dr. Jon Petersen of Current Orthodontics has a great deal of experience treating orthodontic problems, both big and small, with Invisalign in Roseburg. In either case, the team at Current Orthodontics sees amazing smile transformations in Invisalign patients.
Many patients are surprised to hear that they are candidates for Invisalign and don’t realize that even complex cases can get outstanding treatment outcomes with Invisalign. Therefore, we thought it was time to sort the fact from fiction in this month’s blog post.
1) Invisalign is only for people with slight orthodontic problems. FALSE.
Invisalign doesn’t just fix minor overbites and underbites, or those few teeth that have crowded together. With an experienced Invisalign orthodontist like Dr. Petersen, it can fix more than that. The key is to understand the severity of the problem you want to fix and determine whether it’s right for you.
At Current Orthodontics, most cases can be fixed with Invisalign. At your complimentary consultation, Dr. Petersen will discuss your particular case and recommended treatment options.
What Invisalign can fix:
- Gaps in your teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
2) Invisalign doesn’t have an age limit. TRUE.
Invisalign is perfect for anyone at almost any age. It’s great for teens because it’s virtually invisible, helping with their self-esteem. Let’s face it, with dating, prom, sports and active social lives, getting metal braces probably isn’t at the top of your teen’s list of things they want to do.
It’s great for adults because it’s discreet and allows them to smile confidently, without feeling awkward. Plus, it’s great for older people who want to get their smile back to where it was 20 years ago. After all, our teeth will shift throughout our lives, and we can only keep them in the right position through treatment and retention.
The only group Invisalign is not (currently) recommended for is children, due to their developing jaws. Other than that, it’s a picture-perfect solution for many of our patients at Current Orthodontics.
3) Remembering to wear the trays is going to be hard. FALSE.
For Invisalign to work its magic, you need to wear your aligners for 22 hours a day. That’s 2 hours to eat, drink, floss and brush. A lot of people worry that they won’t have what it takes to wear their aligner trays for 22 hours every day, but we know you can do it. Truly, you’ll hardly notice them after the first hour. Think of them like contacts. Once they’re in place, you don’t even notice them.
As for your teen, Invisalign has taken every step to ensure they stay on track with treatment. Invisalign Teen aligners come with “compliance indicators,” – little blue dots on the aligners that gradually fade if the aligners are being worn full time. Some of us like to keep these little blue dots a secret until the first appointment. 😉
4) The aligners will make me talk with a lisp. (mostly) FALSE
It’s normal to have a lisp for the first few days of wearing your Invisalign trays. However, you should remember that the human body and the mouth in particular have amazing adapting abilities. Learning to talk with Invisalign is very quick and easy. You’ll be talking normally in no time!
5) You can see the results happening right before your eyes. TRUE.
So, it’s not going to happen overnight, but it does happen rather quickly. In fact, most of our patients at Current Orthodontics see visible results within the first 3 months of wearing their trays. Plus, since they’re clear, and you won’t have all that metal in your mouth, you’ll notice a difference easily!
6) I won’t be able to eat whatever I want. FALSE.
This one is completely false. With Invisalign, you can eat and drink anything you want. The key is to just take out your aligners first and make sure you brush, floss, and rinse your teeth before you put them back in. So, who’s ready for some corn on the cob or popcorn? With Invisalign, you can eat it, drink it and have seconds. Just remember to put your aligners back in right away!
7) I can take them out for special occasions. TRUE.
Weddings. Prom. Homecoming. Board meetings. Interviews. Whatever the reason or occasion, the beauty of Invisalign is that you can remove your aligners anytime you want. If you have a big event coming up that you don’t want to wear your aligners for, then don’t.
You’re free to take them out and put them back in after. It’s literally that simple. With regular braces, that’s not the case. You need to wear them until your treatment is finished. We urge our patients to stick to the 22 hours a day recommended wear time to get the fastest results possible, but it’s good to know that if you need to take your aligners out for a major life moment, you can!
8) Invisalign costs much more than braces. FALSE
You may be surprised to hear that in most cases, Invisalign costs the same or very close to the cost of braces. Oftentimes, if you have orthodontic insurance, Invisalign is covered the same as braces!
So, stop waiting, stop by Current Orthodontics, and let’s talk Invisalign. Who knows, you could have a completely different smile in 6 months to a year if you do.
