Category Archives: Invisalign

Do you really have to wear Invisalign while you are asleep?

I want Invisalign and I am trying to find out as much about them as possible. I know you have to wear them all day, but do I really have to wear them while I am asleep? I really don’t like sleeping with anything in my mouth. Madison

Madison – Yes, Invisalign is worn while you are asleep. The aligners are removed when you eat and when you brush and floss your teeth.

Invisalign should be worn about 22 hours a day, if you remove them at night while you sleep, your teeth will slowly begin to shift back to their original position. Removing the Invisalign at night is an interruption of your treatment.

It may be helpful to think of Invisalign as invisible braces. Braces are not removed from your teeth while you sleep. Although you have the convenience of removing Invisalign when necessary, they otherwise need to stay in place to ensure that your treatment is successful.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Tomato sauce stained my Invisalign

I ate out 2 times in the past 2 days and both nights me and my coworkers went out for Italian food. I took my Invisalign out to eat and put them back in after. There was no sterile place for me to brush my teeth. We went out for drinks afterward dinner. Today I am noticing that my Invisalign is stained. I know it’s from the tomato sauce. Ugh! I just put the aligners in 4 days ago. Is there any way to get the stains out? It is so embarrassing because you can actually tell they are stained. – M.K.

M.K. – Invisalign® can be stained from certain foods and drinks. Foods like blueberries or tomato sauce create tough stains that are difficult to remove.

If you are not able to brush your teeth after a meal, it is important that you thoroughly rinse your mouth. Although it may not be so appealing, if you know that you won’t be able to clean your teeth and mouth properly after a meal, try to avoid foods and drinks that will stain your aligners.

If you have thoroughly rinsed your aligners and used the Invisalign cleaning system but the stains are still there, unfortunately, they will likely remain in your aligners.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

How much will Invisalign cost to correct underbite and crossbite?

I understand that Invisalign can correct underbite and crossbite. I would like to know the cost for these two corrections. Thanks. Amy

Amy – The cost of Invisalign® is determined by your individual case. The extent of underbite and crossbite will determine how many Invisalign aligners are needed to correctly align your teeth. No two cases are exactly the same, because each patient’s teeth require care specific to the shape and position of his or her teeth.

Your teeth need to be examined and x-rayed by an Invisalign provider. A treatment plan will be provided to determine what is required to progressively move your teeth to the correct position. After the dentist gathers that information, she or she will be able to provide you with the cost for your case.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Could Invisalign be making my lip numb?

 

I have worn Invisalign for 3 months. I haven’t had any problem with them, but this morning when I woke up the left side of my bottom lip was numb. It’s also slightly swollen too. I didn’t eat anything different and I was in town for the weekend, not exposed to anything unusual. Could Invisalign be causing the problem? Mikayla

Mikayla – It is unlikely that Invisalign is the cause of the problem.

Some of the causes of a swollen lip are a cold sore, an allergy, an insect bite, or an infection. You should make an appointment with your dentist to examine your lip. Your Invisalign aligners can also be examined to ensure that they are not irritating your lip.

Be sure to keep your regularly scheduled follow-ups with your dentist to ensure your progress with Invisalign is as predicted. Any problems with Invisalign can be detected during the follow-up visits.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Accidentally dropped upper Invisalign in my bird’s cage

I have 2 pet parrots. I was goofing around in the den and teasing the birds and taking my Invisalign on and off my teeth. I know I shouldn’t have been doing it because they should stay on unless I’m eating or I am cleaning my teeth. It was funny how the birds were looking at me when I took the aligners off. Any way I was laughing and dangling the top aligner over the cage and one of the birds startled me and I dropped the aligner in the bird cage. It was too gross in the cage for me to ever get them clean enough to put them back in my mouth. I just can’t do it. I was only 3 days into these aligners. Can I put the new set on early? – M.T.

M.T. – You should not put the new set of Invisalign on early. Call your dentist for a replacement set. If you have the former set of aligners, you can wear them for now. Your next set of aligners is based on the new position of your teeth that would result from the set that you dropped.

Premature placement will interfere with your treatment plan. Call your dentist immediately.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Will the superglue hold on my Invisalign?

I have Invisalign. This is the 3rd time that I either lost or cracked a set. I don’t want to tell my mom what happened or how it happened this time. I just want to fix it myself. Will superglue hold them together and still work with all of the saliva in my mouth? – Shayne

Shayne – Super glue is not for use in your mouth. You need a new Invisalign® aligner, and you should not switch in advance to the next set of aligners.

Tell your mom what happened so that you can see your dentist and get new aligners. It is best to get new aligners so that your treatment can continue as planned. We are sure that your mother would prefer you to get replacement aligners that to interrupt and prolong your treatment, or for you to experience bad effects from having super glue in your mouth.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Can my sister and me share Invisalign?

Both me and my sister have gaps between our teeth. Mine are a little more crooked than hers. She is 16 and I will be 18 next month. Our mom said we can get Invisalign but since we both have jobs we have to help pay for it. We are wondering if we can share Invisalign. If I start on it first then give the trays to her whenever I am finished with a set. That way both of our teeth will get straight for the price of one. Is this possible? thanks – Lillie

Lillie – You and your sister are not able to share Invisalign® aligners. The aligners are custom made for each person.

The aligners are made based on the shape and current position of your teeth, and the precise positions to which your teeth need to move to get them perfectly aligned. The required movement of your teeth will be different from your sister’s.

Your aligners will not fit your sister’s teeth and vice versa. Trying to make your aligners fit on someone else’s teeth will do more harm than good. Your dentist will have separate treatment plans and separate Invisalign aligners for you and your sister.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Can you smoke with Invisalign?

I am 19 yrs old. I need braces but I want Invisalign. I smoke. Not a chain smoker but I smoke 6 to 8 cigs a day. Can I get Invisalign or can I take them out while I smoke for a few minutes? Thanks in advance for not lecturing me about the dangers of smoking. f JT

JT – Invisalign® should only be taken out to eat or to floss and brush your teeth—that’s a wearing time of 20 to 22 hours a day.

Smoking while you wear Invisalign will cloud the aligners. They will no longer be invisible, and invisibility is the reason why most people choose them. If you want Invisalign to stay invisible, consider whether or not you want to stop smoking. If you will continue to smoke and you want Invisalign because the aligners are clear, you should consider braces instead.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

How much does Invisalign cost?

I am thinking about getting Invisalign, but I want to know how much it costs first. – Thanks – Teresa

Teresa – The cost of Invisalign® invisible braces varies, depending on your individual case. Several factors can affect the cost, including the complexity of your case, the length of your treatment, and where you live in the U.S. If your insurance provides orthodontic coverage, it may provide some coverage for Invisalign.

You will need to visit your dentist to have your teeth examined and x-rayed for Invisalign. A treatment plan will determine how long you will need the aligners. The longer your treatment time, the more aligners you will need.

You can also speak with the financial coordinator in your dentist’s office to find out if payment plans or financing are available.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.