Fifty-seven percent of Americans admit to covering their teeth when they laugh. Why? Because they feel self-conscious about their smiles.
Perhaps you’re one of the many people who would beam brighter if you had a straighter smile. If so, you may be weighing your teeth-straightening options, and Invisalign has risen to the top of the list.
Still, you have a lot of questions about the process. Namely, how soon will you see results from Invisalign? Here’s the answer to that and other questions about this teeth-straightening treatment.
How Does Invisalign Work?
You probably have a general idea as to what Invisalign is. If you choose to straighten your teeth this way, you will wear clear plastic aligners that shift your teeth into the proper position.
But that’s a very broad view of how Invisalign actually works. It begins with a visit to your dentist or orthodontist, who will scan your teeth to ensure aligners fit and will move your teeth into place over time. Some scanners can give you a preview of the latter—you’ll get to see how your teeth will look at the end of the process.
Next, your aligners will be made, and you’ll check back in with the dentist to try them on for the first time. You won’t come in every time you swap out your aligners for a new set. But, the first time, they will want to ensure that the aligners fit Invisalign standards.
After that, you’ll visit your orthodontist or dentist every six to eight weeks to pick up new aligners. Each set will expand upon the progress of the previous, slowly shifting your teeth toward their final, straightened destinations.
In the end, you’ll have the straight teeth you’ve wanted without having to wear traditional metal braces. But when can you expect to get that picture-perfect smile?
When Will I See Results From Invisalign?
There’s no one answer to this question. Every smile is different, and every patient’s Invisalign results will come on their own timelines.
In general, though, many patients will notice that their teeth have moved in the few weeks after they get their first set of aligners. Some have said they can see a change after 14 days.
Others will have to wait a bit longer to pinpoint little encouraging changes. Still, you should be able to tell a difference within weeks. If it has been months and your teeth don’t look any different, you should call your dentist or orthodontist for an appointment to get your aligners double-checked.
It’s not just about initial results and changes, though. You also want to know when you can expect to see the final results from your Invisalign retainers.
Again, this depends on what your aligners are meant to be fixing. So, if you have slight crookedness to your teeth, it’ll be faster to fix that than, say, a more involved orthodontic issue. But some previous patients have finished the Invisalign process with perfectly straight smiles after a mere six months, although most need 12 months to complete their straightened smile.
Is There Anything I Can Do to Get Invisalign Results Sooner?
So many people opt for Invisalign retainers because they’re much more flexible than braces. If you get the latter, you won’t be able to eat certain sticky or crunchy foods, as they can damage the metal brackets and wires.
You don’t have to change your diet with Invisalign since you can slide them on and off of your teeth. But this flexibility comes with a caveat—you have to be responsible about wearing your retainers as much as you possibly can.
Invisalign experts suggest that you wear the retainers for 20 to 22 hours each day. Teenagers’ Invisalign will come with indicator strips to ensure they wear them enough.
And, of course, you can and should take them off while you eat and drink, but you’ll have to put them in as soon as you can afterward. Make sure to brush your teeth before slipping the aligners back into position.
Diligently wearing your Invisalign retainers for the recommended amount of time will ensure you get your results as quickly as possible. Slacking off can stall your results or reverse your progress, so make sure you’re committed to wearing the aligners before you sign up for such a treatment.
Am I a Candidate For Invisalign?
Now that you know the answer to your question, you may be sold on Invisalign. But before you get your heart set on this teeth-straightening treatment, you’ll have to ensure you’re a candidate for it.
Invisalign is adept at fixing the following issues:
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Open bites
- Crowded teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Crooked teeth
Invisalign can also work for patients who have a combination of permanent and baby teeth, too. Of course, your best bet is to speak to an expert—your dentist or orthodontist—to ensure you’re a candidate for the Invisalign process.
I’m Ready to Try Invisalign
You now know the answer to your question regarding results from Invisalign. And you know the type of cases it can treat, as well as the ways you can improve or even hasten your results.
With all of this information in mind, you’ve made a decision—you’re ready to try Invisalign. All there’s left to do is call your dentist or orthodontist and get started. Soon enough, you won’t be scared to show your smile when you laugh; instead, you’ll be beaming because you’re proud of your straightened, sparkling smile.
And don’t forget to check back with Digital Trends Report the next time you need advice or news on the latest healthcare treatments.
