It comes as no surprise that patients across the country are curious about getting better looking, straighter teeth.
As one of Garden Grove’s leading Invisalign providers, we completely understand why so many patients are curious, and that’s because it’s exciting. Who wouldn’t get excited at the prospect of correcting an imperfection that has been nagging at your confidence for years?
Fortunately, for many patients the excitement is completely worthwhile – and Invisalign has been used to treat an incredibly diverse range of imperfections, resulting in straighter more even teeth without the wires, the pain, or the eyesore. But many patients still have questions, and today – we’re setting out to answer a couple of them.
“How old do I have to be for Invisalign?”
This is one question that our Invisalign dentists in Garden Grove hear quite a bit, especially from self-conscious teenagers who are a bit worried about the prospect of wire braces. Fortunately, we have good news (and maybe a little bad news for patients who had their hearts set on the clear, plastic retainers of Invisalign). The good news, is that Invisalign and options for teenagers make it a suitable treatment for a number of problems. The bad news, is that many teenagers aren’t good candidates for two reasons. The first, is that they aren’t mature enough to make sure they’re wearing the retainers at least 22 hours a day — leading to longer and less effective treatment. The second, is that Invisalign won’t work for everything. Severe bite problems and rotation are sometimes best solved by traditional braces. Fortunately for young adults and teenagers – there is ZERO stigma against braces in middle school and high-school, because so many students already have them.
“Is Invisalign really Invisible?”
Of course not. Let’s not be silly! But in most cases, people won’t notice your retainers unless you actually tell them they’re there. This is how clear and unnoticeable the retainers are.
This question does bring up another good topic – and that is, the importance of being careful about eating with your retainers and cleaning them thoroughly. If you start your day with a coffee and end it with a glass of wine, you might need to change your routine just a little bit. Not only should both indulgences fit into the two-hour time-limit for removing your retainers, but they should also keep you on your toes when it comes to rinsing and cleaning. This is because many foods and drinks can ultimately lead to your retainers gradually taking on a “less than clear” sheen which can make the Invisalign retainers much more noticeable. In order to avoid this, simply follow your dentist’s instructions for cleaning and rinsing your retainers every night.
“Are any foods off-limits?”
Not really. As long as your retainers are out you can eat and drink whatever you wan’t. However, let’s not forget they must be worn at least 22 hours a day. While it is more difficult to go out for a couple drinks (since this could lead to an extended period of time without your retainer), patients aren’t without options. Some simply get used to the idea of a travel toothbrush and promptly brush their teeth and retainers after enjoying a beverage — but remember, it is not-recommended to drink anything but water with the Invisalign retainers on. Others take their retainers off and stick to just one drink or two before brushing and putting the retainers back in. A third group cheats a little bit by sticking to neutral colored drinks that won’t stain, without forgetting to brush their teeth and their retainers.
Have more questions? Our dental team is made up of some of the area’s leading Invisalign providers get in touch with us today to learn how we can treat your teeth.