Maximising The Results of Invisalign Treatment

08 / 07 / 2024

Maximising The Results of Invisalign Treatment

Invisalign is well and truly on the map as the leading alternative to braces for straightening teeth. Thanks to a great deal of celebrity endorsement (Billie Eilish, Kathy Bates and Tom Cruise, to name just a few), and patient feedback that speaks for itself, Invisalign has become known for its predictable results.

But are the results permanent? And if not, how much onus is on the patient to prevent teeth from becoming crooked again?

We take a look at the mechanics of Invisalign, how to maximise treatment, and why you won’t regret choosing Ashbourne Road Dental when you look up ‘Invisalign Derby’.

How does Invisalign work?

Invisalign aligners are worn in a sequence. Each aligner is made according to the movements your teeth are predicted to go through throughout the 12-18-month treatment period.

It is essential that the patient wears the aligners in the correct order, as this will determine treatment time. Failing to wear your aligners for the allotted number of hours a day can also compromise the final result.

Maximising the results of Invisalign

So, how do you ensure you get the most out of investing in Invisalign? Here are a few of our top tips:

Wear your aligners consistently

Wear your aligners for at least 20-22 hours each day. Failing to do so could delay your treatment, and even change the outcome. Just as you wouldn’t fail to complete a course of medication prescribed by your doctor, you shouldn’t skip a single day of your Invisalign.

Don’t miss your check-up appointments

Your dentist will request that you come in for check-ups every 6 weeks. Failing to attend your check-ups could result in anomalies being missed by your dentist, which could affect the outcome of treatment.

It’s important that you come along to these appointments, as issues such as decay and gum disease can escalate quickly during a teeth straightening treatment.

When you come in for a check-up, we will be able to spot any issues early, and resolve these before they become serious. In failing to come in for 6-weekly appointments, you do yourself and your teeth a disservice.

Wear your retainer

Once you have finished wearing your Invisalign aligners, you will need to commit to wearing a retainer in the future. The retainer is the important element that ensures Invisalign results are permanent. Your teeth will be very prone to moving back into position, particularly in the first year after you have finished wearing your aligners.

We recommend wearing your retainer day and night for the first few months. However, as time goes on you will only need to wear your retainer during the night-time. Your retainer is custom-made, so you will find it comfortable and easy to get used to very quickly.

Attend regular hygienist check-ups

It would be a shame to put all your efforts into getting straighter teeth, and then neglect to care for them day-to-day!

One of main goals of Invisalign is to expose more of each tooth’s surface area. Not only does this result in a more symmetrical and natural-looking smile, but it benefits your oral hygiene too.

Once your teeth are beautifully straight, you will need to prevent plaque and tartar from collecting every few months. During your routine hygienist visits, the hygienist will clean the harmful bacteria from your tooth surfaces and in-between your teeth. However, you will need to reinforce this by flossing and brushing twice a day at home to prevent biofilm (plaque and tartar) staining and yellowing your teeth.

Wear a mouthguard

Don’t let contact sports be a potential risk to your teeth after Invisalign.

If you enjoy contact sports such as rugby, martial arts, and hockey, we can’t stress how important it is to wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth.

Mouthguards absorb impact when you experience a blow to the mouth, protecting your teeth from cracks, chips, and becoming loose.

Once a tooth becomes completely loose, it might be a case of needing to extract it. This would be a huge step back for Invisalign patients specifically, who would have to experience the onset of teeth misalignment all over again. This is because once there is a vacant area within the gum line, neighbouring teeth begin to drift into the gaps, undoing all of the hard work you would have put in during your Invisalign journey!

Of course, you have the option of replacing a tooth affected by dental trauma with a dental implant, bridge, or denture. However, it’s favourable to stop this from happening in the first place, by protecting your teeth with a custom-made sports mouthguard.

Enhance your tooth shade

Many of our patients love having the option to whiten their teeth after Invisalign, to make the results of treatment stand out even more. Teeth whitening can be really useful after a teeth straightening procedure like Invisalign, as tooth surfaces you could not previously reach with your brush will now be visible; it’s likely that these surfaces will be slightly discoloured as a result.

We offer two at-home whitening systems from renowned brands, Pola and Enlighten.

Improve your smile symmetry even more

Another cosmetic procedure that helps to maximise the results of Invisalign is composite bonding.

This process can address the width and length of individual teeth once they are no longer in a misaligned position.

Watch Ashbourne Road Dental’s Dr Hassan talk about the process behind Niall Horan from One Direction’s smile transformation using composite bonding, Invisalign and teeth whitening.

Invisalign Derby – Ashbourne Road is a reputable Invisalign provider

Our Invisalign dentists have performed hundreds of smile enhancement cases, so you’re in the very safest and most competent hands.

Why not book an Invisalign consultation by getting in touch with our reception team? You can also check out our Instagram page to get to know our dentists and practice a little better. We look forward to getting to know you and your smile.