With millions and millions of Invisalign patients around the world, there’s a good chance that a colleague, friend, neighbor, or family member of yours has straightened their teeth with clear aligners. As a result, you might already know a bit about this discreet orthodontic treatment, including what the trays look like. But how long does it usually take? What happens if you lose an aligner? Does the teeth-straightening process hurt? You can find the answers to these questions and more right here!
1. How Long Does Invisalign Take?
12-18 months is the average treatment timeline with Invisalign. Of course, it’s possible for yours to be shorter or longer. It depends entirely on factors specific to your case, including how many aligners you need. Your compliance with the treatment guidelines also plays a role, which is why we encourage our patients to do their best to meet the 20–22-hour wear time, clean their aligners consistently, and prioritize their routine check-in visits.
2. Can I Drink Coffee with My Aligners In?
Although you can drink coffee throughout your clear aligner treatment, you can’t drink coffee with your aligners in. Not only will hot coffee warp your trays, but the dark color will leave behind pigmented stains that turn them yellow. So, for the sake of the look and function of your trays, it’s crucial that you remove them before drinking coffee and other pigmented beverages, like wine, soda, and juice.
3. Why Do I Need to Wear My Aligners for 20+ Hours?
It’s common for patients to struggle to meet the 20-22 hour-a-day wear-time with Invisalign, causing them to wonder if it’s really necessary. The short answer is: it is! Remember, your aligners will only work if you wear them for the recommended amount of time each day. If you consistently don’t meet this goal, then the chances of delays occurring increase significantly.
4. What Should I Do If I Lose an Aligner?
If you lose an aligner, you might initially panic. However, this will only make it more difficult to find it. That’s why it’s important to take a few deep breaths and do your best to remember the last place you saw them. Then, retrace your steps. In the process, look in random places, like between your bed and your nightstand. If you don’t have any luck, then contact your dentist ASAP.
5. Does Invisalign Hurt?
One of the most asked questions about Invisalign is if it hurts. If this is something you’ve been concerned about, then you’ll be happy to hear that the most you’ll feel is some slight soreness from time to time as your teeth move into their properly aligned positions. Even this temporary discomfort can be alleviated with a few simple steps, like sipping on cool water and taking OTC pain medication.
About the Practice
With an exceptional, talented, and highly trained dentist leading the way, Dr. Arditti, our team at Pacific View Dental Group can help patients in Huntington Beach with everything from routine checkups to Invisalign! If you’re interested in the latter, then you’ll be happy to know that we offer several patient comforts, like complimentary beverages, as well as multiple financial solutions to ensure you have a smooth and stress-free experience. If you’re interested in speaking with a member of our team directly about Invisalign, then schedule an appointment with us via our website or by phone at (714) 592-4294.