Many people are looking to obtain that perfect smile. If you are interested in straighter teeth, a great option to consider would be aligner treatment such as Invisalign. It's important to understand what will take place before, during, and after aligner treatment to ensure the best results.
Before Treatment
Before you begin treatment, it is important that the overall health of your teeth and gums are in optimal condition. There are a few conditions we always recommend that patients have screened prior to starting their aligner treatment:
1. Gum Disease
It's important for your gums to be healthy before your begin teeth movement. Your hygienist should measure your pockets and you should have a healthy reading of 1, 2, or 3mm and no bleeding when brushing or flossing.
2. Cavities
You'll want to make sure you do not have any cavities before starting aligner treatment. Cavities can grow faster with aligners because the aligners cover the teeth most of the day and the cleansing effect of saliva is reduced as a result.
3. Root Canal Infections
A root canal infection should be eliminated prior to aligner treatment so it does not get exacerbated, cause additional bone loss, and possibly become symptomatic due to tooth movement.
4. Receding Gums or Risk of Receding
Teeth with receding gums or at risk or receding gums must be evaluated before treatment.
5. Loose Crowns and Fillings
Any loose fillings or crowns may become dislodged during aligner treatment so it is important that any loose or poorly fitting crowns be evaluated to be replaced.
6. Anatomical Interference in Tooth Movement
A panoramic radiograph showing the jaw bones and the teeth is usually taken to evaluate for obstacle, cysts or any jaw anomaly which will interfere or prevent a good outcome. For teeth to move they need space in the bone to wiggle themselves into the desired portions of an aligned smile. If there is an obstacle in the bone, such as an extra impacted tooth, or a sinus wall, the tooth will not move.
7. Root Shortening From Previous Braces Treatment
Braces tend to have a higher incidence of root shortening. If you had braces in the past, it is critical that the root length be evaluated for shortening before proceeding with aligner treatment as you don't want to cause further root shortening and possible loss of the tooth.
During Treatment
While going through aligner treatment, it is important to be aware of the care involved and to follow all of the instructions given to you by your dentist. We recommend the following process to ensure you are taking care of your aligners and that you will see optimal results from your aligner treatment.
1. In the Morning
Remove your aligner and brush with soap and water. Do not use toothpaste to clean your aligner. Place your aligner in a storage box and then brush your teeth as usual. We recommend using mouthwash with fluoride. Do not rinse with water after using the mouth wash. If you are using an active aligner, re-insert the aligner over the teeth.
2. Before Bed
Floss and brush your teeth as usual. Rinse your retainer and then and insert over teeth OR brush aligner with soap and water and re-insert aligner over the teeth.
3. Once Per Week or As Necessary
Use an aligner cleaner product to deep clean your aligner.
After Treatment
Once you have completed your aligner treatment, we recommend using a retainer. Because teeth are constantly shifting and tend to return to their original position, we are always concerned about the potential of orthodontic relapse. We recommend the following timeline for retainer use:
Month 1 and 2: Retainers are to be worn full-time. This should be a minimum of 22 hours per day and they should only be removed to eat, drink or brush your teeth.
Month 3 and 4: Retainers should be worn all the time while you are at home. This would be during the evenings, while sleeping, and on the weekends while you are at home.
Month 5-12: Starting in month 5, retainers only need to be worn while sleeping. They should be worn every night for a full year.
Month 13+: After a full year, retainers can be worn every other night as long as they are loose and fitting well. If they still feel tight you should continue to wear them nightly.