Invisalign FAQ

Invisalign is a start-of-the-art orthodontic technology  that correct teeth alignment and establish ideal bite by exerting controlled force on the teeth. Invisalign is as effective as traditional braces. A precise 3-D  scan of your teeth is used for the doctor to gently move your teeth to the final position via  a series of Invisalign aligners, which you’d be recommended to wear for 20 to 22 hours every day. For more details on how Invisalign works, please see this page.

People often experience minor soreness of their teeth  during their first few days of wearing Invisalign aligners, which will go away after a few days of consistently wearing aligners. This mild discomfort   is a sign that your treatment is working, and your teeth are gradually moving to the right position.

Invisalign aligners  are made with a transparent plastic material that covers over all of your teeth. It would take trained eyes in close distance for people to notice that you are wearing your aligners.

Please do not smoke while Invisalign is being worn on your teeth. The cigarrett smoke will stain your Invisalign aligners, (just like how it damages your lungs!), it’ll get discolored and the stains will  be noticeable.

Invisalign doesn’t stop you from munching your favorite meal or snacks. Eat all you can. But ensure to remove your aligners and then brush your teeth before replacing your aligners.

Chewing gum while wearing your aligners is not a good idea because the gum will stick to them, and you will likely damage your aligners in the process. Please ensure to remove your aligners before chewing gum, or you may chew it after mealtime.  

For the best results, you are recommended to wear your aligners for a minimum of 20 to 22 hours every day. Translation:, you should only remove it when it’s time to eat or brush. 

Only for the first few days. With aligners on, many don’t usually experience hindrances in their speech. However, you may notice a slight difference. It takes a few days before getting used to speaking fluently with aligners on your teeth. But once you get used to it, it won’t affect your speech anymore. In fact, orthodontist often use this as a gauge of how much patients are wearing their aligners. If you are still talking funny after wearing aligners for a few weeks, chances are you are not wearing them enough.

We recommend cleaning your aligners everytime when you are cleaning your teeth. Simply brush your aligners with your toothbrush and rinse with warm water. You do not need to use toothpaste. That’s enough to clean your teeth aligners.

Our orthodontists will inform you when to come for appointments. Because the whole sequence of movement for your teeth were planned out at the beginning of the treatment, we only need to see   you every 8-12 weeks for checkups to ensure the treatment is going as planned. Nowadays, we offer virtual appointments for our Invisalign patients where you can submit photos of  your teeth with the aligners in for us to check the fitment. This allows us to identify problems virtually and schedule you to come in earlier as needed.

Since its inception in the 1990’s, Invisalign has been working closely with orthodontists to continually improve its efficiency as a tool. Today, we are confident in using Invisalign to treat almost all kinds of malocclusion.  Having said that, as every patient is unique and special, there is no one solution that will fit everyone. That’s why at Pacific West Dental Group, we start every  treatment with a detailed consultation and diagnostic process. This way, we will not only get the chance to evaluate if Invisalign is the perfect option for your condition, but also discuss how we can tailor the treatment with your busy schedule.