It’s not uncommon for a patient to be impatient. Dentists and doctors know all too well that treatment takes its time to show results, but many people want quick-working solutions in the here and now.
Invisalign is one such treatment that takes time to work, meaning some commitment is required from the patient. Often, though, you might wonder whether your aligners are working correctly, and whether there’s anything you can do to speed the Invisalign process up.
There are ways of accelerating your treatment, yes. Generally, though, you’ll give your Invisalign trays the best chance of working effectively if you just follow the guidelines set by your dentist and take good care of your teeth. For more information on how to speed your Invisalign process up, check out our article below.
What happens if I speed up my Invisalign?
In short, speeding up your Invisalign process will lead to quicker results and a shorter overall treatment time. It does not mean that you’ll avoid wearing retainers after your Invisalign treatment, however, as this is a necessary part of post-treatment.
You may experience additional pain, but this only shows the treatment is working. Ensuring your retainers are tight means they have the best chance of working effectively and speeding the process up. It also means, however, that regular pain and discomfort might be more frequent, as your teeth will move quicker. Pain should never be excruciating over long time periods, though, so contact your dentist if it gets too bad.
How to speed up the Invisalign process
Generally, the length of your Invisalign treatment will depend on your specific case and your unique teeth and bone structure. Speeding up the process is possible, but it’s usually a case of taking better care of your aligners and following the guidelines more rigidly. This ensures your Invisalign functions in the most effective way possible.
You might, then, be wondering how to tell if Invisalign is tracking correctly. Essentially, pay attention to the fit of your retainers: they should feel tight around your teeth. If they don’t, your trays aren’t working effectively and you most likely need new ones. For more information on how to ensure your retainers work effectively and to speed up the process, continue reading the guide below.
Wear your aligners for at least 22 hours daily
The most fundamental thing to remember is to actually wear your Invisalign aligners. It goes without saying that they’re the most important part of the treatment, so neglecting to wear them will certainly slow the process down. Dentists recommend you keep your aligners in for around 20-22 hours each day, but 22 hours gives you the best chance of accelerating the process.
Many complaints about slow-working treatment stems from patients not wearing their Invisalign for the required length of time. You are allowed to remove your trays to eat, drink, and brush your teeth, but at any other time your retainers should be left in.
Ensure you clean your aligners
Cleaning your aligners will rid them of any harmful bacteria that can cause damage and erosion. This ensures they remain well-fitted to your teeth, allowing the process to happen more effectively and quickly.
Rinse your aligners with lukewarm water and soak them in specific cleaning solutions. Using a toothbrush can often be too abrasive for your retainers, so it’s best to purchase a tailored Invisalign soaking solution.
Take gentle care of your aligners
Similarly, avoid rough handling of your retainers, misplacing them, or leaving them exposed to potential damage. As time elapses, you’ll start to become used to your retainers and might begin to treat them with less care as you did when you first acquired them. Always ensure you treat your retainers like a highly valuable possession, because that’s what they are, after all.
Avoid eating and drinking with your retainers in, even if it may seem convenient. Discipline is a big part of the Invisalign process, but once you get into a routine you’ll find that it’s not too hard to care for your retainers.
Use your chewies regularly
Chewies are small foam cylinders that are used alongside the aligners to make the whole Invisalign process work more effectively. Patients – while wearing their retainers – place the chewie in between two teeth and bite down for around 60 seconds, switching teeth after every minute. This removes air bubbles in the Invisalign and causes the trays to fit tighter around the teeth.
Using your chewies regularly, therefore, is an easy way to speed up the Invisalign process. By making your aligners tighter and encouraging your teeth to move, you’ll find the whole treatment time to be dramatically reduced. These little foam cylinders are reusable as well, so there’s little excuse for not chomping on your chewies every day.
Always clean your mouth before putting the aligners back in
Our mouth is constantly exposed to all sorts of bacteria and plaque that build up to create a distasteful environment. If you accumulate enough harmful bacteria, it will reduce the effectiveness of your Invisalign trays. Bacteria can break down the lining of your retainers and change their shape, leading to a looser fit over your teeth. Loose aligners mean they aren;t working properly, and you’ll need to get new ones from your dentist.
Rinsing your mouth out and maintaining good oral hygiene can make all the difference to the speed of your Invisalign treatment. By giving your retainers the healthiest environment possible, they’ll be able to work their magic on your teeth most effectively. What’s more, poor oral health can lead to additional dental problems – like tooth decay – which will delay your Invisalign treatment further.
Get attachments if they are recommended
Attachments offer enhanced methods of fixing crooked teeth and have improved the Invisalign process over the years, without the need for extra aligners. Many patients often wonder: “how many Invisalign aligners do you need?” It’s usually around 20, but this varies depending on the severity of the case. With Invisalign attachments, however, this number can be reduced, as can the length of your treatment.
Attachments work by applying extra pressure to specific teeth, allowing more severe cases to be treated more effectively. This can vastly reduce the treatment time needed to fix crooked teeth, as the increased pressure causes teeth to move into better positions faster. Attachments – also called buttons – aren’t recommended for everyone, though, so it;s worth checking with your dentist to see if you’re eligible for attachments like Acceledent.
Speak to your dentist
If, for whatever reason, you’re unhappy with the speed of your Invisalign treatment, speak to your dentist or orthodontist. They can offer professional advice on ways you can speed the process up and might recommend some of the methods mentioned above. Discussing your treatment with your dentist may also reveal areas for improvement, such as your oral hygiene and discipline, which can affect the speed of the treatment.
Your dentist can identify just how fast your Invisalign is working. Since everyone is affected at different rates, it’s not uncommon to see slow or gradual changes, particularly in older patients. The average length of Invisalign takes around 6-12 months, but cases of 18-24 months are also possible. Again, if you feel like the process is slowing down, get in touch with your dentist.