Invisalign® FAQs

Invisalign uses a series of clear plastic dental aligners. You wear each aligner for one week before moving on to the next aligner. The pressure of the aligners gently moves your teeth into the correct position, resulting in a straighter smile.

Since the aligners move your teeth into place, there can be some discomfort. Most patients say that they feel pressure in the first few days of a new set of aligners, but most report that the pain is manageable.

You can take ibuprofen or another over-the-counter medication during the first few days of a new aligner to manage the discomfort.

You will need to wear your Invisalign aligners 20-22 hours each day for optimal results. We recommend that you only remove your Invisalign to eat and brush your teeth, though you may also choose to remove them for occasional, important events. One advantage is that since the aligners are clear, they are not very visible and do not interfere with everyday activities.

You can drink water with Invisalign. While the acrylic aligners are durable, you don’t want to wear them while drinking hot beverages. When wearing Invisalign, avoid drinking sugary drinks or dark drinks, like coffee or red wine. In fact, you will want to avoid drinking dark beverages like cola and then popping in your aligners since the dark color of your drink can stain the acrylic.

Invisalign is ideal for adults, and there are Invisalign aligners made especially for teens and even for kids. Since kids and teens are still growing, they may see straightening results sooner than adults. Patients can start using Invisalign if all their permanent teeth are grown in, but the right age for Invisalign varies from person to person. If you’re wondering whether Invisalign is right for you, contact Barbieri Orthodontics for a consultation.

Every patient is different, so the length of time can vary widely. Your age, how much alignment your teeth need, your oral health and other factors can all impact the results you see. Your orthodontist can help you understand how long the process will take and what kinds of results you can expect to see.