Summertime means time spent outdoors, social gatherings, vacations, and plenty of opportunities for photographs. But if you’re not confident in your smile, the summer can bring about unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Thankfully, Invisalign® can provide a solution for transforming your smile ahead of the warmer months. Invisalign® is a discreet, efficient way to straighten teeth, allowing you to see noticeable results before all those summer photos end up on social media.
In this article, we’ll break down how Invisalign® works, its advantages over traditional braces, and tips for how you can get the most out of your Invisalign® once it is installed.
Why Consider Invisalign® Before Summer
In just a few months, many Invisalign® patients see noticeable results. With the summer quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to invest in a new smile and try Invisalign®.
Clear aligners like Invisalign® are virtually unnoticeable, helping you build a better smile without any noticeable realigners like traditional braces. Additionally, Invisalign® provides minimal disruption to your daily life, allowing you to continue to eat your favorite spring and summer foods without the major life adjustments that are needed with braces or wires.
How Invisalign® Works
Before deciding to go with Invisalign® to transform your smile, it’s important to first understand how it works, and what’s needed from you to ensure it’s working to its fullest effect.
The Customized Clear Aligners
Invisalign® is a series of customized plastic trays that gradually shift teeth into their desired position. Your orthodontist will work with you to ensure the molds are fitted exactly to your mouth and are as comfortable as possible.
These trays are worn for around two weeks at a time, where they move teeth slowly into their new position. While this may provide some small discomfort, it should subside within a few days after wearing each new tray.
This process continues until all of your teeth have been aligned into their new position to create a more aligned smile.
Monitoring Progress
While you’re wearing your Invisalign® trays, you’ll make routine trips to your orthodontist so they can monitor progress, ensure the trays are being worn correctly, and make adjustments if needed, especially if you’re experiencing any discomfort. However, you will not need to return to see a dental office every time you switch trays.
Advantages of Invisalign® Over Traditional Braces
- They are removable, making it easy to brush, floss, and maintain strong oral hygiene.
- No metal brackets or wires which eliminates the risk of poking or cutting the inside of cheeks.
- A discreet, clear appearance helps those who want an understated approach, especially for events or photos.
- They are easier to clean than traditional braces.
- They typically require fewer orthodontic visits than traditional braces.
Tips for a Successful Invisalign® Experience
While Invisalign® is an efficient and effective way to reform your smile, there are some things you need to do to ensure they’re producing the best results.
Wear Aligners as Directed
When wearing your aligners, aim for between 20-22 hours a day to keep the treatment on schedule. Remove the aligners only when eating, and when brushing your teeth and flossing. Wearing them throughout the day helps keep you on schedule and reduces the overall length of time you’ll need to wear your Invisalign®.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
It’s also important to continue to practice good oral hygiene during the period of time you’re wearing Invisalign®. This means brushing and flossing regularly, including after each meal and snack to prevent bacteria from getting trapped against the aligners.
You should also be sure to clean the aligners daily with warm water and dentist-recommended cleaning products to avoid discoloration and odors. Talk to your orthodontist about how to keep your Invisalign® clear and bacteria-free.
Keep Track of Aligner Changes
Finally, you’ll need to be sure to keep track of your aligner changes and switch trays when needed.
Set calendar and phone reminders to ensure timely switching to the next set of trays, based on the schedule that was laid out at the beginning of your treatment. Adhering to the correct timeline prevents treatment delays and ensures you’re staying on pace for a summer-ready smile.
Additional Cosmetic Dental Options
Pairing Invisalign® with other whitening treatments can further enhance your smile and provide straighter, whiter teeth heading into the summer months.
Options for combining treatments may include veneers and dental bondings to fix gaps and cracked teeth and at-home trays or in-office dental procedures to whiten teeth.
Talk to your orthodontist to see if it makes sense to combine Invisalign® with another cosmetic dental option to complete your smile transformation.
What to Expect Post-Treatment
After your Invisalign® treatment is over, you should begin to notice results right away. However, you will still need to follow some aftercare steps to ensure your results are long-lasting.
To prevent your newly aligned teeth from shifting back, you’ll need to wear a retainer after you’ve finished your Invisalign® treatment. Your orthodontist will go over how long you need to wear one and for how many hours a day, as it will differ depending on the severity of your original misalignment.
You should also continue to make regular visits for post-orthodontic maintenance. During these visits, your orthodontist will check the stability of your results and prescribe any further aftercare treatments if necessary.
Get Your Summer Smile At Your Local Ideal Dental
Invisalign® is an efficient, painless way to reform your smile ahead of the busy summer months. By consistently wearing Invisalign® and continuing to practice good oral hygiene, you can enjoy a straighter, more confident smile without the need for invasive metal braces or wires.
If you’re ready to begin your journey toward a happier, healthier smile, contact your local Ideal Dental office today to schedule an appointment.