When you want to have your teeth straightened, there are many options available.

At this time, the most popular treatment that is suitable for as many as 95% of all adult patients is to have an invisible aligner fitted, with one of the most well-known and efficient aligners being Invisalign Hertfordshire.

But if you are considering going in for this kind of aligner, what are some of the things about the treatment that you need to consider?

Timing

For the aligners to work, you need to wear them for 22 hours a day.

This means that you will need to keep them in when you go to bed and that you should only take them out when eating food or drinking hot beverages, or drinks that are not water.

If you do not adhere to this timing each day, then it is possible that your teeth may fail to move or that the process may revert, causing your teeth to move back to where they were before treatment began.

Maintaining the aligners

Invisible aligners are easier to maintain than fitted braces, but they do require a bit of effort to keep them intact and functional.

This means that you will have to clean them at least twice a day, keep them safe in the carry cases provided, and you should avoid putting the aligners into warm or hot water, even for a brief period of time. This will prevent warping and will ensure that the realignment process goes as planned.

Ordering replacements

When you wear fitted metal braces, there is little to no need to worry about them becoming damaged. However, as clear aligners are made from clear plastic and are prone to warping when exposed to hot or warm water, there is a higher chance of them becoming damaged. So, if this should occur, you will need to order replacements, which can be done either via the app or by contacting your dental team directly.

If you do not, and move on to the next aligner in the series, this can cause the realignment process to go awry and may worsen the underlying misalignment.

Staying in touch

Invisible aligners come with an associated, downloadable app for smartphones that allow you to stay in touch with your dentist. You will need to send them photos of your smile once a week, with and without the aligners, so they can assess whether or not the aligner is working as planned.

This makes the process easier to fit around a busy schedule, but does mean that you will need to be dedicated to taking the photos and staying in touch with your dentist or orthodontist.

Managing discomfort

Many people assume that wearing invisible aligners will be a walk in the park, especially compared to metal braces.

However, you have to consider that when it comes to wearing any orthodontic tool, this is a device designed to move your teeth. So, you should expect there to be some discomfort, especially when you change between aligners. This discomfort should be manageable, however, with over-the-counter pain relief, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. If you find that this is not sufficient, you should talk to your dentist.