Invisalign® in Evanston

What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a method of orthodontic correction that uses thin, clear “aligners” to gently correct and straighten your teeth. Each aligner is worn for about 2 weeks, for 20-22 hours or longer per day. These virtually invisible aligners shift your teeth gently toward their ideal positions.

The Invisalign Process

After you’ve been approved for Invisalign, one of our dentists will take images and scans of your mouth, and develop a personalized treatment program for you. It takes about 4 weeks to manufacture your first set of aligners.

Once your aligners are created, your treatment will begin. You’ll come in about every 6 weeks afterward to pick up your next sets of aligners and have a quick oral exam to confirm that your treatment is progressing properly.

You’ll wear each aligner for about 2 weeks, and treatment usually takes about 20-24 sets of aligners, so most patients complete the process in under a year.

The Benefits Of Invisalign

Invisalign has a number of benefits, compared to traditional braces:

• Removable – Invisalign can be removed to chew, drink, play musical instruments, and before playing contact sports. This means there are no food or activity restrictions you need to worry about when using Invisalign.

• Invisible – Your aligners will be completely invisible to the naked eye, allowing you to get a straighter, more beautiful smile without the unsightly appearance of traditional metal braces.

• Comfortable and convenient – Invisalign exerts a more even, gentle pressure compared to braces, so there is not as much discomfort during the orthodontic process. Additionally, since you don’t need adjustment appointments every 4-6 weeks, you don’t have to spend nearly as much time in the dentist’s chair.

How Do I Keep My Aligners Clean?

We recommend brushing your aligners every morning after you wake up and brush your teeth. This helps loosen up plaque and debris that build up overnight, and keeps them clean. Use warm water, not hot water. Excessively hot water could warp your aligners.

Beyond this, you also should rinse or brush your aligners whenever you take them out to eat or drink. You also should brush your teeth after you eat or drink. This will help prevent food particles and bacteria from building up on your aligners.

Once a day, you should also clean your aligners with Invisalign crystals or denture cleaner. These products help sanitize and clean your aligners and keep them clear and bright. Most patients choose to do this at night before bed.

Are There Restrictions On What I Can Eat With Invisalign?

There’s only one restriction. You can’t eat anything at all while you’re wearing your Invisalign aligners. You shouldn’t drink anything either, except for water. Eating while wearing Invisalign will damage your aligners, and eating and drinking can also stain them.

But once you’ve removed your aligners to eat, there are absolutely no restrictions on what you can eat or drink, unlike with traditional braces. You can continue eating your favorite foods, including chips, bagels, popcorn, and other foods that you wouldn’t be able to eat with braces.

Will The Invisalign Process Hurt?

Yes. You will experience some pain or discomfort during the Invisalign process. Just like traditional braces, Invisalign moves your teeth. While your teeth adjust to their new positions, they can feel sore, tender, and painful. This is normal, and should be expected.

However, Invisalign is a lot more comfortable than braces. Your aligners won’t poke or irritate your mouth, and compared to braces, your teeth tend to move more gradually with Invisalign.

Discomfort will usually be the highest right when you switch to a new set of aligners, but there are a few things you can do to deal with this. For example, you can swap to a new set of aligners before bed so that your teeth move while you’re asleep, reducing discomfort.

Other steps include taking medication like ibuprofen, avoiding tough and crunchy foods for the first few days after you swap to new aligners, and drinking cold water or ice water to soothe your teeth. Dr. Paul Fischl at Fischl Dental Associates can provide you with more tips on caring for your mouth during Invisalign treatment.

Does Invisalign Affect My Speech?

When you first start wearing Invisalign, you may produce a lot of saliva, which can cause you to sound “slushy” when you speak. Don’t worry, though. This is temporary. Excessive salivation happens because your mouth isn’t used to your aligners.

Once it stops, you’ll sound completely normal when you speak. It usually takes about 3 days for excessive salivation to stop, but some people may experience this issue for up to 1-2 weeks.

You may also have to adjust how you speak and make certain sounds when you wear Invisalign, but this is quite easy to do. So don’t worry. You’ll sound totally natural and will be able to speak clearly while wearing Invisalign.

Call Today And Schedule Your Invisalign Consultation!

Invisalign® and Fischl Dental Associates take a modern approach to straightening teeth, using a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you. These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you wear over your teeth. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements we plan out for you. There are no metal brackets to attach and no wires to tighten. You just pop in a new set of aligners approximately every two weeks, until your treatment is complete. You’ll achieve a great smile with little interference in your daily life. The best part about the whole process is that most people won’t even know you’re straightening your teeth.

Ready to get started with Invisalign in Evanston? Schedule a consultation at Fischl Dental Associates today. Dr. Fischl can examine your mouth and determine whether you’re a good candidate. Get the smile you’ve always wanted by scheduling your appointment at (847) 448-1684. You can also stop by our office at 636 Church Street, Suite 200 W, Evanston, IL 60201. We’re always accepting new patients, so we hope to see you soon!