If you're considering Invisalign orthodontic treatment, you may be wondering if it's painful. Here, our Mount Pearl dentists explain how the clear aligners may take some getting used to, but are ultimately a comfortable option for straightening your teeth.
Comfort can be a big part of your decision when considering options for orthodontic treatment to straighten your smile. For most of our patients, Invisalign clear aligners don’t cause any pain. Instead, they described it as a slight discomfort that you eventually get used to and forget about.
Read on to learn what you can expect when wearing Invisalign:
Smooth, Comfortable Construction
Invisalign aligners are made with USP Class VImedical-grade, high molecular weight, polyurethane resins. The BPA-free plastic creates a smooth, comfortable option for straightening your teeth.
The aligners are similar in appearance to custom whitening trays, and are easy to insert over your teeth and remove during the treatment process.
Custom-Fitting Aligners
Using an intraoral camera, your dentist will take extremely accurate digital 3D impressions of your bite. The impression is then sent to Align Technologies so that the aligners can be created just for you.
This means that your Invisalign aligners are designed to fit your smile.
No Regular Orthodontic Adjustments
Since Invisalign aligners require no adjustments – you simply switch to the next set of aligners about every two weeks – you don't need to visit your dentist for regular tightening like you do with traditional braces, which can be painful.
Instead, your dentist will schedule brief appointments with you every four to six weeks to check in on your progress.
Getting Used to Your Aligners
The whole point of Invisalign is to shift and straighten your teeth, so aligners have to put pressure on them, which may mean slight discomfort.
You may only experience this feeling for the first few days of wearing a new aligners, but it eventually wears off and before you know it, you'll barely notice you're wearing them!
In some cases, the aligners may also irritate your gums and cheeks until you become accustomed to them. But after a little while, the soft tissues of your mouth will toughen up and you'll no longer feel any discomfort.