If you’re considering Invisalign to help you achieve a healthier, straighter smile, you may be wondering if the clear aligners hurt. Our Surrey dentists offer some insight and answers.
How will Invisalign aligners feel in my mouth?
You want to straighten your teeth and have a healthier smile, but let’s be real: comfort is a must for your orthodontic treatment. After all, you’re thinking about committing the next one or two years of your life here.
Let us put your worries to rest. Many of our patients who have used Invisalign tell us that while they felt slight discomfort when they first got their aligners, this sensation gradually disappears over time until you don’t notice it anymore.
You know what it’s like to go shopping for new dress shoes for the last work or social event you attended; over time, you become more comfortable as you keep wearing them. Though the aligners may cause some discomfort at first, you should “break them in” gradually and will get used to having them on your teeth until you’re no longer bothered.
How long will it take to get used to wearing my aligners?
When you meet your dentist for your Invisalign consultation, he or she will examine your teeth to determine a number of things, including precisely how much pressure the aligners need to apply to your teeth to shift them into their corrected positions, along with the duration of your treatment.
With all orthodontic treatment options, some amount of this pressure will need to be applied. It’s this pressure that may cause some discomfort at the beginning of your treatment and for the first few days after putting in a new set of aligners. This is referred to as the ‘adjustment period’. Be patient with yourself and your aligners, and give yourself time to get used to the feeling.
After you’ve worn that new set of aligners for the first few days, any discomfort should gradually wear off until you change to your next set of aligners.
Unlike braces, your Invisalign aligners won’t come with any wires or metal brackets that will rub against your mouth’s soft tissues. However, keep in mind your mouth could still become irritated when you first start your treatment.
If you do experience some discomfort inside your mouth as a result of this irritation, try to be patient - after a while, your cheeks and gums will adjust and toughen up. That’s when the aligners should start to feel more comfortable.