Invisalign®

You should wear your aligners for at least 22 hours per day, only removing them to brush and floss your teeth and to eat and drink.

The length of your treatment will depend on your specific needs and will be determined by your Invisalign-trained dentist. Some Invisalign® treatments can be completed in a few months but depending on the complexity of your case your Invisalign® treatment could take longer, with treatment times often ranging between 12 and 18 months.

Many people are suitable, but not everyone. Suitability is assessed individually, and it is important to check with your dentist. Cases that are difficult or unsuitable for aligner treatment may include:
• Up-righting severely tipped teeth
• Not all the permanent teeth have erupted
• Multiple missing teeth
• Unsuitable periodontal (gum) condition
• A wish to change your facial profile

While Invisalign® treatment is usually covered, it may be considered as "major dental." We highly recommend that you ask your fund directly. Invisalign® treatment is claimed under number 881 - orthodontic treatment. This is for the entire treatment course.

Most people experience temporary discomfort for a few days at the start of each new stage of treatment, usually described as a feeling of pressure. This is normal and it is a sign the aligners are moving your teeth, and it generally settles a couple of days after you insert a new aligner. Some people find it more uncomfortable than that. If you notice sharp pain or significant discomfort, please contact us immediately.

No, you can usually eat what you want while in treatment because the Invisalign® aligners are removed when eating or drinking. Thus, there’s no need to refrain from your favourite foods and drinks. Except for cool water, we recommend that you don’t drink any other beverages while wearing the aligners. This is to avoid cavities and stains forming on your teeth or warping your aligners with hot beverages.
It’s recommended that you floss and brush your teeth after each meal and prior to re-inserting your aligners to maintain proper oral hygiene.

No. It’s important that you follow the treatment plan developed by your dentist to ensure the best outcome. Your dentist will determine the recommended treatment duration for you depending on several considerations, including the spacing between your teeth and the need for retention.

You will usually change your aligners every 2 weeks. However, if you are using the V-pro™ you can change every 5-7 days.

Like other orthodontic treatments, the Invisalign® aligners may temporarily affect the speech of some people for a day or two. However, as your tongue gets used to having aligners in your mouth, any misarticulation or minor speech impediment caused by the aligners should disappear. Please speak to your dentist about ways to help you get used to your aligners more quickly.

Depending on your specific treatment, some of the movements may require either “attachments” or “ridges” to help the aligner grip the teeth. These bumps or wells are where the aligner grips the attachment the doctor places on your teeth. The attachments are small pieces of composite the doctor affixes to your teeth that are then gripped by bumps on your aligners. The ridges are slim indentations in your aligners. Your Invisalign-trained doctor will use one or both features to achieve the desired movement.

Invisalign® attachments are small pieces of tooth-coloured bonding material fixed to some teeth to help the aligner grip and guide the movement. They are tooth-coloured rather than invisible and depending on where these attachments need to be placed, they’re usually noticeable up close. You can make Invisalign® attachments less noticeable by avoiding staining food and drinks and remembering to brush and floss often.

Invisalign® can close and fix most types of tooth gaps, whether they are on the top row or the bottom. However, keep in mind that larger gaps may take longer to correct. In these instances, patients may need to wear the Invisalign® aligner for up to two years.

Yes! Invisalign® aligners are incredibly effective and will straighten teeth perfectly. While Invisalign® aligners aren’t right for every orthodontic situation, they are a great choice for most smiles. For more severe cases that Invisalign® aligners cannot be used for, we will recommend braces.

Sometimes, but it is a clinical decision rather than a preference, and for a younger patient the starting question is whether orthodontic treatment is needed at all — not which method to use.

If your child does need treatment, several things determine whether aligners are an appropriate option:

Development. Aligners generally suit children whose baby teeth have been lost and whose adult teeth are through. Where jaw growth is still underway, some problems are better addressed early with a different appliance, and others are better left until development has matured. We would rather wait than start something at the wrong time.

The nature of the problem. Some misalignments respond well to aligners. Others need fixed braces, or aligners combined with elastics or other appliances. We will tell you which category your child falls into and why.

Wear time. Aligners must be in for 20 to 22 hours a day, taken out to eat and to clean teeth, and put straight back in. That is a significant ask of a child or teenager, and it is the most common reason a case does not finish as planned. It is worth an honest conversation at home before the assessment, not after it.

Oral health. Teeth and gums need to be healthy before any orthodontic treatment begins, and cleaning must be consistent throughout. Aligner treatment on teeth that are not being cleaned properly carries a real risk of decay and permanent white marks on the enamel.

We assess children the same way we assess adults: we look properly, we explain what we find, and we tell you plainly if treatment is not needed, or if something other than aligners would serve your child better. A parent or guardian is part of every appointment and every decision.

It happens. ClinCheck is a projection, and teeth do not always track exactly as modelled. If that occurs, we reassess, and the options are usually refinement aligners, a revised plan, or changing to a different treatment. Refinements and additional aligners may carry an additional cost, and we will discuss that with you before going ahead.

In practice, yes. Teeth move throughout life, and retainers are what hold them in their new position. You will need to wear them on an ongoing basis and replace them when they wear out. Retainer replacement is an ongoing cost worth factoring in before you start.