Are you eager to straighten your teeth but want to know a bit more about the orthodontic options available?
When you come to Harley Street Dental Clinic for orthodontic work, we can offer you a wide range of treatments, including Invisalign W1.
Here, our team at Harley Street Dental Clinic offers a brief guide to Invisalign W1 so that you can learn a bit more about this aligner.
What are invisible aligners?
In short, Invisalign W1 or invisible aligners physically resemble mouthguards that are worn by people who play contact sports.
These aligners are made from clear plastic and will fit over your teeth snugly as they can be custom-made to move only your teeth. They usually come in a pack of about 14 aligners, which will have to be worn in a specific order to achieve your goal.
Due to their visual discretion, clear aligners are exceedingly popular with adult and teenage patients.
Daily use (basics)
When you use invisible aligners in your daily life, there are a few key points to remember.
Firstly, you need to remove them before you eat or drink; this will help to keep them clean and intact.
When you have finished eating and are about to put the aligners back in, you will need to brush your teeth to remove any food debris; this will keep your teeth healthy since pressing food debris against your enamel or gums with an aligner is likely to cause problems with hygiene.
And finally (well, not finally but our team can fill you in on other bits!), you will need to keep your aligners in for as long as possible each day to see the effects; we recommend 22 hours.
Potential issues
It is unlikely that you will experience any issues due to the use of invisible aligners, but we feel we need to mention potential ones just in case.
An issue you may experience is discomfort with both the movement of your teeth and the aligners rubbing against the soft tissues of your mouth. Concerning the first issue, over-the-counter pain relievers should suffice at resolving this, and if it doesn’t, then please book an appointment to see our team; aligners are not meant to be uncomfortable.
Should you notice that the aligners are rubbing against your inner cheeks or tongue and causing sores, we recommend that you invest in dental wax. Placing this wax on the parts of the aligner that rub against your soft tissues will create a buffer and prevent any secondary issues from occurring whilst also being comfortable.
Treatment time
On average, invisible aligners take between 3 and 6 months to straighten teeth.
However, this is not set in stone, and many patients may get their teeth straightened sooner or may need to wear the aligners for longer. It is also worth noting that as these aligners are removable, it can be tempting to leave them out for longer periods than recommended; this can hinder the realignment process and may cause your teeth to revert to their former positions. So, to keep your treatment on schedule, keep your aligners in.