I’ve been thinking about getting Invisalign but keep getting confused with all the information out there. It seems many patients absolutely love it, but then I’ll read something like, “It’s only for teenagers” and “You get more cavities” and am not sure. I’m certainly not a teenager anymore but the idea of invisible braces appeals to me. Am I still a candidate? Does it cause cavities?
Marcy
Dear Marcy,
Invisalign has a high patient satisfaction rate
While the internet is an incredible tool and I couldn’t imagine productivity without it, you pick a topic and I can find you misinformation about it on the internet. To help you with your decision, I’ll touch on some of the top myths going around so you can get the real scoop instead of the “fake news”.
Invisalign Myth #1: It’s for Teenagers, Not Adults
In reality, Invisalign was originally started as an orthodontic treatment for adults. Invisalign Teen was added later because parents wanted those same benefits for their children. It is a way to straighten your teeth without having to wear distracting and painful metal wires and brackets.
Most adults needing orthodontics worried wearing traditional braces would hurt their career. But, they’re equally worried an unattractive smile has a negative impact on their career as well. Invisalign is a solution to both those concerns in one fell swoop.
Invisalign Myth #2: Braces are Faster
This is just not true. In fact, the opposite is true. Invisalign is not only invisible, it often works in half the time of traditional braces.
Invisalign Myth #3: You’ll Get More Cavities
Whether or not this becomes a reality is totally up to the patient wearing them. If you take care of your teeth the way your supposed to— brushing after each meal, you shouldn’t have a problem. One area where people do run into a problem is when they drink sugary drinks with their aligners in. When you do that, it pools in the aligners. Then the sugar eats away at the enamel of your teeth bringing a hive of bacteria with it.
If you’re going to drink sugary drinks, make sure you take your aligners out and brush your teeth when you’re done. Problem solved.
Invislign Myth #4: Not Many People Can Use Them
In the beginning of its release, this was true. It worked on a limited number of cases. Now, however, it can handle all but the most complicated of orthodontic issues. Most patients can wear Invisalign.
Invisalign Myth #5: You Can’t Eat Whatever You Want
Actually, this is another case of the opposite being true. With traditional metal braces, you are limited in what you could eat. That is because things would get stuck in the brackets. Because you simply take out your aligners at meal times, with Invisalign you can eat anything your heart desires. When you’re done, brush your teeth and pop the aligners back on. Easy peasy.
I hope this helps clear up some misinformation going around. Most patients absolutely love Invisalign. They have one other “sneaky” benefit. The aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. This allows you to straighten your teeth and simultaneously whiten them as well. It’s like getting a mini smile makeover.
This blog is brought to you by La Jolla Dentist Dr. Stephen Doan.