At Icon Orthodontics, our goal is to empower and equip our patients with best practices from day one of treatment until the glorious final appointment of active treatment. But starting off well is often a huge part of this success. What can you expect when you begin treatment with clear aligners? Let’s take a closer look.
The Clear Aligner Compromise
Any office that offers options like Invisalign, Spark, and U-Lab aligners must obtain special certification to do so. Dr. Sun and Dr. Sarpotdar are experts in all three of these brands and also go the extra mile by offering a more economical 3D-printed option in the office.
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- Clear aligner treatment is developed around detailed 3D digital scans of the teeth and consists of around 18-30 slightly different sets of clear trays to guide your smile into place.
- Depending on the complexity of your misalignment, treatment duration will span anywhere from 6 to 18 months or somewhere in the middle. Everyone is different.
- Clear aligners are not a good fit for kids but are a perfect option for many teenagers and adults.
A Better Beginning
Hopefully, you can take some encouragement in the fact that millions of patients have successfully completed clear aligner treatment since their inception more than two decades ago. With advances in technology, this has become an incredibly common and reliable option. Here are a few ways to get off to a strong start:
- Figure Out Removal and Insertion: You may imagine this will be very simple at first, but taking your aligners in and out can take some practice. Try using a gentle rocking motion from the back teeth as opposed to the front. You can even use a special tool like an aligner hook to help get them off when they’re particularly snug.
- Be Patient with Eating: It’s always a little jarring when something as routine as eating is changed for you. The act of eating isn’t too different since you’ll reomve your clear aligners when you eat. But you’ll need to clean your teeth after every single meal you eat during the day.
- Sensitivity: Sometimes, after you have a new set of clear aligners, you will have a short adjustment period of discomfort. The initial tightness is actively shifting your teeth, so it might be smart to stick to soft foods like yogurt, soup, smoothies, and pasta in those initial days of a new set.
- Keep Them in a Case: Much like you’d keep your driver’s license safe and secure in your wallet, or your keys in your purse, you should store your clear aligners in their designated case when they aren’t in your mouth. We very strongly discourage leaving them out on a table or anywhere else, as this is how accidents and loss usually happen.
- Treat Dry Mouth or Soreness: If you’re experiencing dry mouth pretty often, keep sugar free mints or water with you to sip. Orthodontic wax can be applied to any areas of your aligners that cause irritation. Please let us know if you feel any sharpness, as we can usually adjust this in our office.
- Experiment with Cold Water: This can be a way to offset the tightness of a new set. Drinking cool water helps reduce the feeling of pressure and numb initial discomfort.
- Be Gentle with Cleaning: Always be sure to use a soft brush and gentle soap (not toothpaste!) to clean your aligners every day. Using anything too rough can damage your aligners or cause them to become cloudy.
- Practice Speaking Private: It is incredibly common to experience some type of speech alteration when you start clear aligner treatment. This is usually in the form of a lisp or difficulty enunciating certain sounds. If you’re concerned about this in a social setting, practice speaking at home or with a trusted friend.
- Create a Calendar: When it comes to clear aligner treatment, expect a tight schedule that you’ll need to adhere to. Our team at Icon Orthodontics provides you with a treatment plan in the beginning, to show you how your smile will change—but this can be delayed if you miss start dates, lose aligners, or forget to change. Use an app or a calendar to help with time management.
An Optimal Outcome
If no one else tells you this, we will: You’ve got this. Don’t be nervous or discouraged when you begin clear aligner treatment—instead, be hopeful and optimistic. You are in incredible (and iconic) hands with our practice. Our Surprise and Glendale offices cannot wait to join you as you start your treatment! Contact us to schedule your free consultation with our team today!