Tag Archives: Lafayette Invisalign

Invisalign

Can I Use My Invisalign Aligner Instead of My Retainer?

I’m finishing up my Invisalign treatment. I was scared I wouldn’t like it but it’s been awesome. Only the friends I told knew I wore the aligners. They were really comfortable. My friends always complained about how their braces hurt, but mine never hurt. I’m supposed to get a retainer, but that’s going to be metal. Can I just wear the last aligner instead of getting the metal prison?

Lisa L.

Dear Lisa,

I”m glad you enjoyed your Invisalign treatment. Most patients love it. I wouldn’t recommend using your aligner in place of a retainer though. It’s not that it will hurt your teeth. And, it will keep your teeth in place, but it isn’t designed for long-term use. Two things are going to happen. First, it’s going to get a little “used” feeling and you’ll want to switch it out. Then, it will also start to wear down.

So you know, you’re no longer relegated to metal tooth prison with retainers anymore. There are more options these days. There are retainers which are clear plastic, like your Invisalign and wrap around your teeth. Others can cover the top of your mouth. They can even customize them to have different colors or designs.

Another option is a lingual retainer. It is metal, but it goes behind your teeth so no one will see them.

The key is to talk to your dentist. Let him or her know why you’re not wanting to wear the retainer. They can make sure you know all your options and help you make a choice you’ll be completely comfortable with.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Invisalign

Am I Too Old For Invisalign?

I’d like to get my teeth straightened. I’d always wanted to but my husband kept insisting he liked me the way I was. I appreciated the sentiment, but they still bothered me. He passed a couple of years ago. I’ve decided I’m going to do it now. Otherwise I’ll always regret not following a dream. I’ve always heard adults prefer Invisalign. If I’m over 60, am I too old?

Eva – Montana

Eva,

You’re definitely not too old for orthodontics, including Invisalign. You’re right that most adults prefer Invisalign. It’s more comfortable than traditional braces. You don’t have to worry about your oral hygiene. With braces, brushing and flossing is quite the challenge. With Invisalign, you simply remove the aligners then brush and floss as normal.

It’s great that you’re not letting your dreams pass you by. While your husband’s sentiment is sweet and romantic, you may find with a corrected bite you feel better. Sometimes our bite can throw off our hinge joint enough to cause TMJ. It can cause everything from jaw pain and migraines to complete lock jaw.

We’ve also had seniors live out their dreams of a total smile makeover. You’re never too old to do anything!

Make sure you have a dentist you’re comfortable with because you’ll need to change out your aligners every couple of weeks, though most dentists don’t make you check in that often. The point is, you’ll be seeing the dentist a little more than usual.

You won’t have to see an orthodontist, though. Many general dentists are Invisalign certified and will do a fantastic job.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Invisalign

Can I Run My Invisalign Aligners Through the Dishwasher?

I’m a germaphobe. I hate the idea of putting my aligners in my mouth with bacteria in them. All that spit that got on them (and yes I know it’s my spit) gives me the heebee-geebees. I was thinking of running them through the dishwasher as a means of disinfecting them. I do that for all my dishes and silverware. The heat gets rid of the bacteria.

Kate – San Antonio

Kate,

I understand how you feel. I’m a salmonella-phobe. You should see all the precautions I take when I’m cooking chicken. However, using the dishwasher to disinfect your Invisalign aligners is a bad idea. The heat, which admittedly does disinfect, will also distort the aligners. That can derail your treatment.

Your dentist should have given you instructions on how to properly clean your Invisalign. Additionally, the Invisalign company makes a special kit you can order. If you are still concerned, you can do a vinegar soak. Vinegar is a natural and potent disinfectant. However, I would only let them soak for 30 minutes about once a week. Don’t forget to rinse them after the soak or you’ll have a nasty taste.

You may also consider asking your dentist if you can get your teeth whitened simultaneously with your Invisalign treatment. The aligners can double for teeth whitening aligners as well. Peroxide (used in whitening gels) is also a disinfectant. This way you can feel better about killing bacteria, while doing something proactive about your smile at a reduced cost. I’m all for multi-tasking (and saving money).

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Invisalign

Warped My Invisalign Aligners

I took out my Invisalign aligners in order to brush my teeth. I didn’t realize that I’d laid them down where they were touching my curling iron. Now part of them is melted and warped. What do I do?

Nesibe A. – Houston, TX

Nesibe,

Accidents happen and your dentist has seen every kind of accident imaginable. Don’t wear the warped Invisalign aligners. It will set back your treatment. Instead, call your dentist. He’ll make new aligners for you.

If you’re toward the beginning of this particular two-week block, he’ll just start that block over, making the exact same aligners. If, however, you’re closer to the end of your two-week block, then your dentist will likely just move you on to the next set.

It’s safe to do that once or twice, but you wouldn’t want to do it too often. It won’t be great for the roots of your teeth. Generally, your teeth need the full two weeks to give the roots time to stabilize and bone to re-form over the new position.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Invisalign

Getting Back Into the Dating Scene

I’m recently divorced, after a 17 year marriage. My husband decided to start a new life with his high school sweetheart. Now I’m stuck trying to navigate a new life. I’m thinking about diving into the dating scene again, but I think my teeth will hold me back.  I’m too old for braces, but can’t afford porcelain veneers. Is there something between the two?

Amanda – Kentucky

Amanda,

They say our smile is the first thing people notice about us, so if you’re not happy with your smile, it’s great that you’re being proactive.

You don’t have to have a mouth full of metal or spend a fortune on porcelain veneers. Invisalign will allow you to straighten your teeth without anyone knowing. It uses clear aligners.

I’d talk to your dentist to see if you’re a good candidate for the procedure. It has a high patient satisfaction rate. Just bear in mind, that while porcelain veneers can completely remake your smile, Invisalign, just straightens your teeth. Kind of like braces, but without the metal.

Good luck in the dating world!

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Invisalign

Can Invisalign Substitute for A Sport’s Mouthguard?

I’m on the football team and just got invisalign. My coach said I can’t practice or play without a mouthguard. Can I use my invsalign as that because I don’t think I’m supposed to take them off?

Tommy H. – Denver

Tommy,

You can’t subsitute your Invisalign for a mouthguard. It doesn’t absorb the shock for your teeth like a true sport’s mouthguard does. You’ll have to get one.

It won’t hurt your treatment, as long as you only take them out for practice and eating. Much more than that and you could have a problem.

It shows responsibility that you were concerned about taking them out and you had the foresight to check if they’d work in both situations.

I have confidence that you’re going to do very well with your treatment, and with football.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Invisalign

Why would I need to do two procedures to get pretty teeth?

I want to have my teeth much whiter. I also have one front tooth that is a little crooked. Not much. I was told by a friend that porcelain veneers would take care of both of these things, but my dentist wants me to have ortho done and then veneers. Why would I need two procedures?

Jermaine – San Jose, CA

Jermaine,

You question leaves me wondering if there’s something unique about your bite that your dentist is recommending both procedures; because, you’re right, generally you would either do porcelain veneers or invisalign, not both.

Invisalign will straighten your tooth and ensure your other teeth are in proper alignment. You could also whiten them simultaneously. Your invisalign trays can double as whitening trays.

Porcelain veneers are a better option if you want to change more about your smile than just color or crookedness. For instance,  if you wanted to change there shape as well, I’d definitely recommend veneers.

If I were in your place I’d get a second opinion by a highly experienced, artistic cosmetic dentist. Ideally, you’d want someone who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). If you don’t have one of those nearby, you can go on the mynewsmile.com website. They recommend expert cosmetic dentists by area.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Invisalign

Can a 12 year old use invisalign?

I have a daughter that recently turned twelve. She has all her permanent teeth. Is it possible for her to get invisalign?

Sara  L. – Pennsylvania

Sara,

It may be physically possible for your daughter to use Invisalign at twelve, depending on her specific case. However, I want to caution you about a couple of things.  There are some great advantages of invisalign over traditional braces.  One of the biggest for teens is the ease of oral hygiene. Many teens have a lot of trouble getting their teeth clean enough with all those metal and wires.  Even those who had never previously had cavities, often end up with decay problems with braces.  Because Invisalign is removable, it makes it ideal for keeping their teeth clean easily.

That advantage is also a problem. They’re removable. It is a rare twelve year old who will not lose their aligners. You also have to consider compliance.  She’ll have to keep the aligners in for 22 hours out of the day for the treatment to be effective.

If you think she can handle that responsibility, then Invisalign may work for her.

This blog is brought to you by Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

Invisalign

Can you kiss with Invisalign?

I’m getting Invisalign teen and am wondering if I’ll still be ale to kiss my boyfriend.

Keisha T. – MIssissippi

Keisha,

It’s perfectly fine to kiss with your Invisalign aligners. Most have no issues with it. Occassionally, I hear of a patient who said it took a little getting used to. That doesn’t mean you will.

Invisalign has one of the highest satisfaction rates.   One of the things I have noticed with teen patients sometimes  is forgetting  to put the aligner back on after meals.

It’s very effective, but only if you keep the aligners in for the amount of time required to wear them.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

Invisalign

Travel and Invisalign

I have an opportunity to leave the country for a month and a half in France. I’m about 4 weeks into my invisalign treatment. What do I do if I’m supposed to go to my dentist’s every two weeks for new aligners?

Mary Anne K. – Richmond, Va

Mary Anne,

It’s perfectly fine for you to travel as long as your Invisalign treatment is proceeding normally. Your dentist can simply provide you with the number of aligners you’ll need while you’re away.  Be sure he or she  clearly labels the order your aligners should be worn.

If you find you run into difficulty while you’re away contact your dentist and he can give you further instructions.

I’ll try not to be jealous of your trip.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.