Hi there. Your question is probably pretty common among Invisalign patients. In my practice, during active Invisalign treatment, we ask our patients to wear the aligners 22 hours each day and leave two hours to eat, brush and floss with the retainers off. We do not recommend eating with the aligners or retainers because it can cause damage to your teeth, your gums, and also the retainers. After the active treatment is complete, we ask our patients to wear the retainers just at night, to prevent teeth from shifting. If your retainer is broken now, go back to the doctor that made them for you and get a replacement. There may be a cost for it, depending on how long you've had them.Thanks for your question,Dr. Michael Gorlovsky, DMD, MSOrthodontist
Great question! The way this system works is by programming a small amount of tooth movement into each set of aligners. So the first set took your teeth from point A to point B, while the second set will take your teeth from point B to point C. A new set of aligners should feel tight and your teeth might even get sore after you wear them for a day. This sensation should wear off as the teeth move closer to their point C position and the programmed tooth movement in that set of aligners becomes exhausted. From what you're saying, it sounds like the first set of aligners did not get your teeth to point B and ready to accept the second set. This is why the second set is not fitting tightly. Also, the more attachments you have on your teeth, the better the aligners will "snap in". If you don't have any attachments or just one or two, you may have loose fitting aligners. If future aligners do not fit well, talk to your orthodontist about it. Good luck!
Invisalign is a very "sophisticated" orthodontic treatment modality. It uses clear aligners to move teeth instead of the traditional braces and wires. I love using this treatment option on most patients because of several factors: 1. The aligners used in this system are removable, so you can have access to floss and brush your teeth better than you would with regular braces and wires. This minimizes gum swelling/bleeding and the risk of cavities/white marks on teeth after treatment. 2. You take the aligners out to eat, so you can still enjoy all the same foods you're used to. With traditional braces, you have to modify your diet to avoid hard, crunchy and sticky foods. 3. Since there are no brackets and wires used in the Invisalign system, there's nothing to break, which means no emergency appointments and that save you time. If you're thinking about orthodontic treatment, definitely consider the Invisalign option!
Hi, the crowding that you have seems to be on the moderate level, based on the photos. Invisalign can correct this crowding by aligning your teeth and making them a little less wide by slightly re-contouring the sides of several teeth on top and bottom. It's also important to see how your upper and lower teeth come together, which your photos do not show. A thorough exam would be indicated to give further details about your orthodontic treatment options, but Invisalign should definitely be one of them! Good luck!
