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Life with Invisalign® FAQ

We’re here to help you transition into your new life with Invisalign!

We’ll explain everything you need to know about Invisalign when you start treatment with us, of course. But for now, take a look at some of the most frequently asked Invisalign questions to familiarize yourself ahead of time, or reference throughout your treatment period.

We want to ensure that you have all of the information you need during your Invisalign treatment, your teen’s Invisalign Teen treatment, or your child’s Invisalign First treatment!

If you still have questions about your Invisalign treatment at any time, before, during, or after your treatment, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

If you are a child, teen, or adult, and you have crooked teeth, crowded teeth, a misaligned bite (overbite, underbite open bite, cross bite), or you’re self conscious about your smile, chances are good that you’re a candidate for Invisalign!

Our orthodontists’ expertise enables us to treat a wide variety of complex orthodontic conditions with Invisalign technology. In fact, we are the most experienced Invisalign practice in North and South Tampa!

When you visit us for your complimentary exam, our orthodontists will assess your teeth and bite, and discuss your smile goals and lifestyle preferences with you to help you determine whether Invisalign is right for you. We provide you with the information you need to help you make the best decision for your smile!

The better question is “what can’t you eat with Invisalign?” When you choose Invisalign clear aligners, your diet won’t be restricted or limited! Before you eat, you get to remove your aligners and place them in your carrying case. Eat and drink anything you want when your aligners aren’t in your mouth!

Once you finish eating, you can rinse your aligners with lukewarm water, give your teeth a quick brushing, then place your aligners back in your mouth and continue your treatment. Because Invisalign doesn’t use brackets or wires, you won’t have any lingering food particles stuck in your smile after you eat.

 

To achieve the best possible results from Invisalign, you must wear your aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours each day. You’ll remove your aligners to eat, drink (beverages other than water), brush your teeth, and floss your teeth.

If you don’t commit to wearing your aligners for 20 to 22 hours each day, your treatment will likely take longer than we initially estimated.

You can remove your aligners for special occasions, like dates, job interviews, or sports games, but it’s important that you keep them in for the remainder of the day and night. Many people keep their Invisalign in place during special occasions, because clear aligners are virtually undetectable. It’s your choice!

 

Teeth wiggling can be a strange sensation, but this is actually normal! The point of orthodontic treatment is to shift your teeth into a new position. With this shifting comes some minor wiggling.

If you notice wiggly teeth during your treatment, know that this isn’t a cause for concern. Once your teeth adjust to their final position, and you wear your retainer as instructed, your teeth will eventually stabilize. If your teeth are wiggling considerably and you feel concerned, please give us a call. We want to alleviate your worries and ensure that your smile is on the right track.

 

You sure can! Many patients choose Invisalign for this reason. Sports players may get hit in the face by a ball, fall on the ground, or bump into another player. It happens! Having metal brackets and wires in your mouth during sports can be risky.

With Invisalign, you can remove your clear aligners during your sports game and temporarily replace your Invisalign with a protective mouthguard. Protecting your teeth from impact is absolutely critical during sports games or practices, no matter which orthodontic treatment you choose! Always wear your mouthguard.

When we create your treatment plan, it’s personalized for you. We don’t do “one-size-fits-all” treatment plans, because there isn’t one treatment plan that suits all patients.

The length of your Invisalign treatment will depend on a few factors, including the severity of your condition and your diligence in wearing your aligners each day.

Treatment periods will be longer for complex cases than for minor cases. For example, correcting a severe bite condition will require a longer treatment period than correcting minor crookedness.

Once your orthodontist completes your complimentary exam, we’ll tell you your expected treatment period. It’s important to remember that if you don’t wear your aligners as frequently as your orthodontist advises (at least 20 to 22 hours a day), you’re likely to require a longer treatment period than initially estimated.

Just like the length of your treatment period, there is no fixed number for the cost of Invisalign. The cost of treatment will depend on the length of your treatment period, your insurance coverage, and the payment plan you choose.

At Blue Wave Orthodontics, we believe everyone deserves access to affordable, high-quality orthodontic treatment! We offer a number of affordable payment plans to suit your budget, and we accept a wide range of insurance plans to help you manage the cost of braces.

 

Invisalign and the Invisalign logo, among others, are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc., and are registered in the U.S. and other countries.