Have you looked through your Facebook pictures lately? If you've started untagging yourself from pictures, you might want to consider why. According to a poll by the American Association of Orthodontists , 47% of Americans ages 18 to 24 untag themselves on Facebook because they don't like their smile.

In fact, one-third of Americans are unhappy with their smile. However, not everyone wants to use braces, which can impact their overall aesthetic.

In order to avoid metal braces, more people are choosing Invisalign to straighten their teeth. With Invisalign, you can improve your smile and stop untagging yourself from photos. An Invisalign retainer is clear, plastic, and fits over your teeth.

They're designed with your teeth and needs in mind for a custom treatment. As a result, you can improve your smile the way you want to.

Interested in learning more about the Invisalign process? Does Invisalign hurt? Keep reading this guide to find out!

If you're considering undergoing the Invisalign process, it helps to know what to expect first. Here's a step-by-step glimpse of the process before your first Invisalign aligner.

The Consultation

Before you can receive your Invisalign retainer, you'll need to speak with your orthodontist. During this consultation appointment, your orthodontist will examine your teeth. This allows them to determine if Invisalign is the ideal treatment for your dental and oral health.

During the consultation, feel free to speak to your orthodontist regarding any questions or concerns. They can review the next steps of the Invisalign process with you and answer any questions. As a result, you'll know what to expect before your treatment officially begins.

X-Rays

Next, your orthodontist will require X-rays and thorough records of your teeth. Getting impressions of your teeth is also an important step. These impressions will help the orthodontist create a digital teeth model for your retainer.

The model also helps the orthodontist determine how your teeth will move throughout your treatment.

During your treatment, you'll need more than one set of Invisalign retainers. This will allow your orthodontist to make sure your teeth are properly moving into alignment.

Receiving Your Invisalign Retainers

After creating the impression of your teeth, your orthodontist will send your records to Invisalign. Soon after, you'll receive a set of your custom Invisalign retainer, which will help move your teeth into alignment.

Remember, you'll need to replace your retainers throughout the course of your treatment.

You'll also need to wear your Invisalign retainer for up to 22 hours a day for them to work. Otherwise, you might cause a delay in your treatment.

How often you'll need new retainers will depend on the current condition of your teeth, treatment times vary per patient. For example, if your teeth are extremely out of alignment, your treatment will last longer. This will also indicate you'll need to replace your aligners more than other patients.

Follow-Up

After receiving your first set of retainers, you can also schedule your follow-up appointments.

These additional appointments will help your orthodontist check how your Invisalign treatment is progressing. You'll likely need a follow-up appointment every six to eight weeks. During these appointments, your orthodontist may also provide you with a new Invisalign retainer.

Again, this depends on how your treatment is progressing. If your teeth aren't moving as expected, your orthodontist might need to adjust your retainer. They might also suggest a different course of treatment.

Receiving your retainers is only the first step. Once you have your own Invisalign retainer, you can start your treatment. However, wearing the retainers feels a little different for each person.

Here's what to expect as you begin wearing your retainer.

Speech

One of the first changes people notice when they start wearing their aligner trays is a change in their speech patterns. For example, you might begin to notice a slight lisp during the first few days of your treatment.

This occurs as your tongue tries to adjust to the retainer taking up space in your mouth.

As your tongue adjusts, the lisp will begin to fade.

Tenderness

Your gums and teeth may start to feel compressed when you first begin wearing your retainer. Don't worry; this is normal and occurs as your invisalign retainer works to straighten your teeth.

Make sure you wear your Invisalign retainer every day. Otherwise, you'll fail to give your mouth the proper time to adapt.

If you're feeling any tenderness, feel free to wear dental wax above the edges of your retainers. The dental wax will help you avoid scraping as your mouth adjusts to your retainers.

Maintenance

Make sure to remove your retainer before you eat.

Make sure to brush and floss after snacks or meals. You'll also need to clean your retainer to ensure they remain odorless and don't discolor.

Here are a few questions we often hear regarding Invisalign.

1. Is Invisalign a Better Option Than Braces?

There are many benefits of undergoing the Invisalign process.

For example, Invisalign trays are more appealing than wearing metal braces. Since the retainer is almost invisible, you won't have to feel self-conscious about metal brackets or wires.

You can also remove your Invisalign retainer whenever you'd like. While wearing metal braces comes with food restrictions, aligners give you a lot more freedom.

2. Does Invisalign Hurt?

Beyond a little tenderness, the retainers are usually comfortable. You won't have to worry about mouth sores or possible injuries.

3. How Long Does The Invisalign Process Take?

Each person has their own experience, so there's no exact duration. According to this research , Invisalign patients finish treatment faster than those with fixed appliances.

Duration depends on the severity of your teeth misalignment. You can speak with your orthodontist to determine the length of your treatment.

4. How Do I Clean My Teeth

Remove your Invisalign retainer. Then, brush and floss as you normally would. Don't forget to rinse your trays before putting them back on afterward.

Now that you know more about Invisalign, you can select this treatment option with peace of mind. Get started on your treatment and discover a straighter, beautiful smile! Talk with your dentist about monthly payment plans or insurance plans and find out what plan fits best into your budget.

Ready to receive your first Invisalign retainer?

Contact us today to request and schedule an appointment!