Month: July 2023

Invisalign is a wonderful way to straighten your teeth, as the clear aligners are invisible to others. They are aesthetically pleasing and highly effective, and you can complete your treatment anywhere between twelve to eighteen months, based on the complexity of your case. Moreover, these aligners can be removed as and when you wish so that you can eat all your favorite food and also enjoy playing various sports by taking out these aligners.

But the treatment comes with its own set of rules, and if not followed properly, you might not get the desired results, or your results might revert. You need to wear these clear trays for at least twenty to twenty-two hours a day, and after the treatment your orthodontist will provide you with a set of retainers, which are supposed to be worn as directed by your doctor.

So what happens when I lose my retainer? Do I get a replacement, how do I manage my teeth from not shifting back into their place, many such questions might be swarming your mind if you are on Invisalign treatment.

Read on to learn the importance of retainers in your orthodontic journey and what to do if you lose or break them.

Why Should I Wear Retainers?

Retainers prevent your teeth from shifting back to their original position once you have achieved your desired results after the treatment.

⦁ Initially, you might be reluctant to wear another oral appliance after Invisalign, but you must understand that without retainers, all the good work might go to waste.
⦁ You might not notice initially, but by not wearing retainers for a long time, you will start noticing changes in your bite and teeth alignment.
⦁ Your retainers would feel tight and uncomfortable if not worn regularly, and you might have to go for another set.
⦁ Some of the changes in teeth positions might be corrected by getting another set and wearing them regularly, but if you have not worn them for quite some time, your teeth are almost as crooked as they were, to begin with, and you might have to restart your Invisalign treatment.

What Happens if I Lose My Retainers?

We are all humans which makes us vulnerable to mistakes such as losing retainers. But do not panic if you have lost or broken them. This is something orthodontists have seen happening quite often, and you would surely be able to find a resolution.

⦁ Call your orthodontist immediately – The first thing you would do is call your doctor and inform him or her about losing your Invisalign retainers. Your doctor would be able to guide you regarding the next course of action and also help in ordering new retainers.
⦁ Move back to your previous aligner – You must always keep your previous aligners and retainers with you so that you do not lose all the work that was done until the point you lose your retainer. Start wearing your previous aligners till the time you get to meet your dentist. The replacement retainer might take some time in production, so you must ensure your teeth do not shift back.
⦁ The retainer would be ready in two to three weeks – Typically, an Invisalign tray takes two to three weeks to be made and delivered. On your appointment day, your dentist would take digital impressions of your teeth using advanced 3D printing technology, which is then sent to the laboratory for manufacturing your trays.
⦁ Broken retainers – If you have broken them, you first need to assess the damage before taking action.
⦁ Cracked – If the tray is only slightly cracked, it is most likely fine to keep wearing them, as these aligners hold together fairly well even after a crack. But you must be careful while inserting and removing them because any harsh action can cause them to break or crack further.
⦁ Split – If the tray is split and even slightly bending it alters its shape, it’s best to discard them. Wearing such a retainer would not provide any benefit. Do not attempt to use any form of glue to stick them together, as the adhesive has toxic chemicals that can go inside your system.

It is normal to lose your Invisalign retainer, but you must take the necessary steps, like talking to your dentist and shifting back to the previous aligner, if you do not wish to lose the perfect alignment of your newly aligned pearly whites.

Orthodontics enable people to achieve a perfect smile and beautiful teeth giving them self-confidence. But wearing braces for a year or two puts off people from getting the imperfections in their oral setup corrected.

Invisalign is a revolutionary way to straighten your teeth where you do not have to wear bulky metal braces and look and feel awkward till the treatment ends. They are clear aligners that come as trays and are custom-made to fit on your teeth and gently shift them to their desired position. 

Invisalign can treat crooked, gapped, or misaligned teeth in a convenient way where you do not require metal braces and bands. These flexible and clear aligners are almost invisible in your mouth (hence the name) and you could also remove them when you want to. Another advantage of these trays is that you do not need to give up any of your favorite foods since you would remove them when you want to eat.

So, how long would Invisliagn take to correct misaligned teeth? Let us read on to find out. 

How Does Invisalign Work?

It is important to understand the process of these aligners to know how much time it would take for the treatment.

• Each custom-made clear tray moves your teeth gradually and gently to their place.
• The aligners can move your teeth vertically, and horizontally, and even rotate them if needed.
• The way these trays are engineered puts the right amount of pressure, in the right place, at the right time.
• As and when you change the trays every week or two weeks (as recommended by your dentist), your teeth progressively become straighter.
• Each aligner tray moves the teeth minimally.
• As your teeth shift gradually, your gums reform around each tooth, and once your teeth have reached their desired position, your gums would snugly hold your teeth in place.
• The best thing about these aligners is that they are made using 3D models of your mouth. This way, you can see a time-lapse series of pictures showing you the exact movement of your teeth during the treatment.
• Mild to moderate misalignments are best treated with Invisalign. It could also treat some severe cases such as crowded teeth, underbites, overbites, crooked teeth, open bites, and gapped teeth.

When will Invisalign results be visible?

Since Invisalign is so subtle, people might have doubts about the efficacy and duration of the treatment period. But the treatment time for these clear aligners varies greatly, depending on the condition. Each day, as you keep wearing your aligners, your teeth are changing positions slightly into their desired place.

• In general, you should be able to notice the results in twelve to eighteen months.
• You need to wear the aligners for at least twenty-two hours a day to be on track with your treatment plan.
• Results in younger patients are observed sooner than in adults.
• If you have complex or more severely misaligned teeth then you would notice changes a little slower than those with minor imperfections.
• Invisalign works gradually so that you do not experience any discomfort but it is very precise in its movement. Do not expect changes in one or two weeks.
• Though the speed of results varies from patient to patient, most patients can see a subtle difference in ten to twelve weeks.
• To see visible results soon your trays must be well-fitted. If your tray is adequately tracked, you might experience slight pain in your teeth and jaw and feel tightening in that area. This is normal.
• You must determine that your trays are working properly. If there is any gap or your aligners move when you talk, it is indicative of an ill-fitted aligner. You must visit your dentist to get this fixed as soon as possible else it will delay your treatment.
• During the treatment, you would need to visit your dentist every four to six weeks to get your progress monitored.
• For crowded teeth, you would take around twelve months to straighten them, whether it is the upper or lower dental arch.
• For gapped teeth up to six millimeters, Invisalign would take close to twelve months. But if the gaps are small, they can be corrected in as little as six months.

What is the Best Way to Determine If Invisalign Works?

When you are wearing your aligners, have a look out for the following things to determine if your Invisalign is working or not:

• You will feel slight discomfort or pain if your aligners are working.
• If you have crowded teeth, you will start noticing a gap between your teeth which the clear aligners have created to push your teeth into their proper positions.
• If in the second or third week of your treatment, you feel that your aligners have become loose it means your teeth have moved and the aligners are not working anymore.

Invisalign is a painless and effective solution for treating misaligned, crooked, or crowded teeth. They are not conspicuous as metal braces, and their treatment time varies from patient to patient based on the condition of their teeth. Typically, you will finish your treatment within twelve to eighteen months but with more complicated cases the treatment time could go up to twenty-four months.

Dental crowns can assist with normal meal chewing. They can also restore your natural smile. Due to the state of their teeth, many people struggle with poor self-esteem, but dental crowns can help with this problem. However, you must take exceptional care of dental crowns to ensure they last long. 

This blog discusses some expert tips to help your dental crowns last longer. Read the full blog to discover some pro tips.

Sticky and hard foods should be avoided

Even while dental crowns are sturdy and long-lasting, they are susceptible to damage, much like natural teeth. Eating food items that are hard or sticky, such as ice or hard sweets, can cause your crown to chip, crack, or shatter earlier than expected, necessitating a replacement. In addition to causing damage, sticky foods can become lodged between the gum and crown. 

Furthermore, because crowns are made of porcelain, which resists discoloration of dental crowns, they cannot be whitened like natural teeth. It is advisable to have a professional whitening procedure before having a crown placed to ensure that the color of your crown matches the shade of your teeth. In this way, even after subsequent teeth-whitening procedures, your dental crown will still match the color of your teeth.

You should brush and floss when you have dental crowns

Even though your crown is a man-made structure, it is still crucial to preserve the health of the tooth it is affixed to by practicing regular dental hygiene. To keep the crown in good shape and remove any plaque accumulation, it must be lightly brushed. Additionally, flossing is essential because bacteria and food fragments can still get wedged between the crown and the gum or another tooth. Care must be taken not to disturb a temporary crown when flossing around it, but once a permanent crown is in place, routine flossing is permitted. Even with a crown, sensitivity to hot or cold meals is common.

If you suffer from pain, using toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth is advised. To ensure that the crown and supporting tooth remain healthy, it’s also crucial to stay away from hard or sticky foods that could harm the crown and go for routine dental examinations.

A night guard can be used for dental crowns

Even though you might be able to control your teeth grinding and clenching during the day, doing it at night is more difficult, and many people aren’t even aware they are doing it. Although it might not first seem to be a serious problem, grinding and clenching over time can harm your teeth. 

Normal biting exerts 200 pounds of pressure per square inch, but clenching and grinding can increase this pressure, making your crown more prone to harm. So the crown is protected.

Can a dental crown get altered if it doesn’t fit well?

After receiving a dental crown, it’s crucial to get it corrected as quickly as possible if you feel pain or discomfort. It is particularly true if the dental crown differs in length or width from the neighboring teeth, which can cause jaw pain or harm nearby teeth. A person’s bite may alter over time, which can potentially lead to discomfort in the crown. 

Visit a dentist if you experience difficulty speaking or chewing. Additionally, it’s crucial to have the crown reattached if it breaks loose for any reason to prevent infection or harm to the tooth underneath.

Practice excellent oral hygiene when you have a dental crown

Practice good oral hygiene to keep the dental crowns in top shape. It is advised to floss everyday and clean your teeth twice a day. To avoid plaque buildup, which can harm the dental crown and surrounding teeth, it is especially crucial to floss between teeth.

Avoiding foods high in sugar and acid can help prevent tooth decay and the development of plaque-causing bacteria. Plaque accumulation can be avoided so that the tooth’s root remains healthy and the dental crown doesn’t get loose or become infected.