Comprehensive Invisalign treatment  for a Healthier Smile

Invisalign and Braces are both forms of orthodontic treatment catered towards providing patients with a newer and straighter set of teeth. There are several similarities, differences between the two systems.

You can check out our dedicated article on Invisalign vs Braces treatment to understand more about the pros and cons of each system.

You can resume your normal daily activities right after the treatment without pain or much discomfort.

Speech may be affected initially as some patients take a day or two to get used to the aligners in the mouth. The Invisalign clear aligners are generally more comfortable than conventional braces.

You may experience a general feeling of tightness as teeth are being shifted. The edges of the aligner should not cut you. If they do, please inform our dentist.

Retainers are an essential portion of any orthodontic treatment. Retainers hold newly shifted teeth in place by preventing teeth from relapsing.

There are 2 main types of retainers available after Invisalign treatment; fixed/permanent retainers and removable retainers. Depending on your dental needs, requirements and lifestyle. Your dentist will recommend the retainers for you.

Generally, patients will be changing their aligners once every 10 days. Patients on the Dental Monitoring system may be able to change their aligners once every 7 days.

Generally speaking, there aren't any age restrictions when it comes to Invisalign treatment.

The Invisalign system is an ideal solution for patients of all ages (children, teens, and adults) who are looking to get their teeth straightened discreetly.

The only caveat when it comes to Invisalign treatment is the patient compliance necessary regarding the wearing of aligners. Patients who undergo Invisalign treatment must wear their aligners for 22 hours every single day throughout the entire treatment process for the aligners to work effectively.

Although the Invisalign system can treat patients of all ages, our dentists usually recommend conventional braces instead of Invisalign for patients who are unable to wear the aligners as instructed. Alternatively, an 'aligner wear' indicator dot can be specially placed on teen aligners, for parents to ensure that their child is wearing their aligners for enough hours every day.

Moreover, there is an Invisalign system that's specially designed for children under the age of 12 to help improve their smiles as they grow. This system is called Invisalign First.

Tooth extractions are typically only needed in cases where there is severe crowding of teeth. Generally, our dentists typically avoid extractions unless it's absolutely necessary, or in cases where extraction will provide patients with a significantly better final result. Our dentists will advise you accordingly based on your needs and requirements during your initial consultation.

The removal of wisdom teeth is highly dependant on the current condition of your teeth and the treatment plan laid out by your dentist. Some patients may require a wisdom tooth removal when their wisdom teeth have become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, oral health problems and even obstruct the movement of teeth if not removed.

Alternatively, patients who have fully erupted and well-positioned wisdom teeth will not need to have them removed. In some cases, wisdom teeth may even be used as an anchor to help align other teeth during the course of Invisalign treatment.

The length and duration of Invisalign treatment solely depend on specific needs and complexity of each case. As such, the duration of the treatment will be determined by your Invisalign accredited dentist. In general, treatment for the average Invisalign case is between 12 and 18 months.

Make sure to take care of your aligners and they'll take care of you.

• Brush your aligners with a toothbrush followed by rinsing with cool water
• Use denture cleaner tablets such as Polident and Brite
• Use an ultrasonic cleaning machine; soak the aligner in the machine for 3 minutes. 

You should always aim to clean your aligners at least twice a day for hygiene reasons.

• Do not soak the aligners in hot water as it will cause the plastic to distort.
• Always carry the containers with you. Keep your aligners in their containers when not in use to prevent losing them, breaking them and from distortion.

We have a dedicated article that dives deep into the daily routines that our dentists recommend our patients follow in order to optimise their Invisalign journey.

You’ll be provided with enough aligners to last between visits to your doctor (usually 3-4 sets at a time). Your doctor will review your progress every 6-8 weeks and new aligners will be given to you at these appointments. It’s best to speak to your doctor about how many aligners you will be provided with between visits.

Invisalign has the ability to effectively address a wide range of orthodontic issues such as  – Spacing (such as diastema), Crossbite, Open Bite, Crowding, Excessive Overjet and Deep Bite.

Invisalign can address complex cases as well. However, depending on the severity of the case, conventional braces may be a more suitable option as it provides dentists more flexibility in controlling the movement of teeth at every stage of your treatment.

In order to check your suitability for Invisalign treatment, please consult one of our Invisalign accredited dentist for a proper Invisalign assessment.

Our dentists prefer to schedule patients for a physical review once every 6-8 weeks, depending on the patient's progress, case complexity, and compliance with their dentists' instructions. These physical checkups are done to ensure teeth are moving as intended and to address any potential oral health issues.

Alternatively, patients who have opted for the Dental Monitoring system are generally only asked to come in for visits once every 8 - 10 weeks. As the Dental Monitoring system will allow our dentists to track your progress through the A.I. powered system.

For patients who have had dental crowns/implants/bridges done. Invisalign treatment may still be possible, but it depends on the amount of restorative dentistry that's already been done and the complexity of the case.

It would be best for you to speak to one of our Invisalign accredited dentists to better understand your suitability for Invisalign treatment. Alternatively, our dentists may recommend other treatment options that may better suit your needs and requirements.

When done correctly, Invisalign treatment should not cause patients to suffer any severe pains. However, it should be noted that there might be some discomfort during the course of the treatment. As such, minor discomfort is to be expected by patients that are undergoing Invisalign treatment.

We've got a separate article that dives deep into the topic of Invisalign pain - read more.