Imagine you just completed your Invisalign® treatment. You’re removing your last set of Invisalign clear aligners and are ready to show off your beautiful, healthy smile. (You worked so hard for it, should be so proud!) you revel in the beautiful results that you, your Invisalign aligners, and our orthodontists created!
You look in the mirror and see sparkly straight teeth. (Is that Brad Pitt looking back at you in the mirror?) You feel like a superstar! You undoubtedly feel like a new person, and you can’t wait to share your new smile with the world!
But what happens now? And how can you keep your new smile?
Here’s what you can expect in your life with Invisalign changes!
Invisalign changes your appearance
Wondering if your face shape changes after Invisalign? Let’s talk about it. So it may seem obvious that your Invisalign treatment will improve the appearance of your teeth—this is absolutely true—but the effect Invisalign has on your appearance runs much deeper! Orthodontic treatments shift the teeth and in turn your jaw bones into healthy alignment, creating a more balanced facial appearance. This is called “dentofacial orthopedics”, the branch of medicine focuses on the structure of the teeth as associated with the appearance of the face. Many people who have poor bite conditions prior to their Invisalign treatment notice an apparent difference in their facial structure once their treatment is complete!
Invisalign changes functionality
As Invisalign works to move your teeth into healthy alignment, daily activites like eating, chewing, and breathing become easier! Sometimes we have obstructions in our airways, hindering us from easy breathing. In mild cases, these airway obstructions may not be obvious until the airways are opened through orthodontic treatment. When the airways are obstructed, people often begin ‘mouth-breathing’, which is commonly treated with orthodontic treatments that expand the mouth. Once you’re breathing easily through your nose again, you’ll realize how much air you’ve been missing out on. If you’re a snorer, chat with your orthodontist about our Sleep Solutions treatment too – so you can breathe easy during the day and at night!
Chewing and eating food might have been uncomfortable or painful for you before your treatment. If your teeth jaw bones aren’t aligned, this causes your teeth to be misaligned, which means your top and bottom teeth aren’t meeting each other evenly when you chew or bite. You may have frequently bit your tongue or lip when chewing because of this, Invisalign changes your bite for the better. Once the teeth are realigned and the bite is in a healthy position, you’ll be able to chew and eat food (painlessly) to your heart’s content!
Invisalign changes your smile and retainers help you keep it!
The days of Invisalign aligners may be over, but it’s imperative that you wear your new retainers diligently to keep your teeth from shifting out of place. Your removable retainers will be worn for an extended period of time following your treatment. Immediately after your treatment, you will wear your retainers for 24 hours; day and night. Once our orthodontists give you the “okay”, you are free to wear your removable retainer for nights only!
Many people receive a permanent, fixed retainer, to keep the bottom teeth in line. Very rarely, however, bite dependent, some patients MAY be a candidate for a fixed upper retainer as well. This retainer is a very small twisted metal wire bonded to the back surface of the bottom teeth.
If you have a permanent retainer, you must take extra care of your teeth, as the wire may come loose and you may be unaware! This is especially true IF you bite your fingernails! Use SuperFloss, GUM® Soft picks, or Platypus orthodontic flossers to remove any food or plaque that may lodge between the teeth and underneath the fixed wire retainer.
Life can be unpredictable, and retainers do get lost sometimes. Beware mistakenly wrapping your retainers in a napkin and throwing them in the trash can! Also, Dogs LOVE human saliva and will stop at nothing to seek out your retainer and dine on it!
Still have questions about Invisalign changes?
As a Diamond Plus Invisalign Provider, we’re ranked in the top 1% of all Invisalign providers in the world! No provider in the Tampa Bay area has a more thorough knowledge of Invisalign and a case experience as diverse as ours. We understand wanting to better your smile with ease, that’s why our orthodontists will always recommend the best orthodontic treatment that will meet your smile needs and allow you to look good. Because we believe when you look good. You’ll do good. And you’ll feel good.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions! We love to hear from you. At your first visit, our experienced orthodontists will craft a custom treatment and payment plan 100% for you or your child! Our team will tell you everything you need to know about life with Invisalign and how Invisalign changes your life!
Have you previously been told you’re not a candidate for Invisalign? Request a complimentary exam for you or your child with our experienced Invisalign doctors in North Tampa, South Tampa, East Bradenton, or Wesley Chapel!