Invisalign Care BLOG

This blog is for Invisalign users from Dental Clinic @ WorldTower, Sydney Australia.

You have chosen the futuristic way of Orthodontic treatment and it is essential for you to understand and follow our Invisalign Care Instructions to lead to the satisfactory Invisalign treatment.

Please visit International Invisalgin Users' Facebook on

http://www.facebook.com/invisalign

1. How to take care of Invisalign Aligners

Please follow our recommendation of keeping the up-to-date method of aligner storage.

This will be the most effective way of minimizing confusion in keeping the Invisalign aligners.

< HOW TO KEEP ALIGNERS FOR BOTH HOME AND COMING TO THE CLINIC>

We must have issued both Blue and Red Case for aligner storage.

1. The blue aligner case is for the current set of upper/ lower aligners

2. The red case is for the most recent previously worn set of upper/ lower aligners.

3. It is important that you keep all the used aligners in the aligner bag with correct aligner number. From time to time, we may need to use the old aligners if there is any unforeseen problem rises.

4. Please bring both Blue and Red cases along with your each visit to our clinic but bring them empty ( by putting the old aligners into each dispatch aligner bag).

< HOW TO CLEAN >

Keep aligners away from hot water and harsh chemicals

· Rinse new aligners with cold water prior to using them.

· Never rinse aligners with hot water as they will get distorted upon heat.

< HOW TO IDENTIFY AND MINIMIZE CONFUSION >

· It is essential to check to ensure that they are correct aligners before use.






- Each aligner contains the invisalign logo and a number which identifies the patient’s case number and treatment stage. Wearing wrong aligner can interfere with teeth movement and it can can damage any attachment or auxillary buttons which were bonded on some teeth.

· Keep aligners out of reach of young children and pets as they can become distorted upon pressure/ chewing.

· Always store aligners in a cool/ dry place.

· Replacement for lost aligner can be reproduced upon your request at a cost of $ 200

< WHAT TO DO IN EATING / DRINKING >

· Keep the aligners out while you are having a meal or hot drink e.g. coffee/ tea/ hot chocolate

· However, do not leave it out for 1 hour. Also, you need to have aligners placed covering teeth for minimum 22 hours per day.

· If the aligner does not fit your teeth anymore for any neglect, we need to take the mould again for a new set of aligners at the cost of $ 900 ( Mid-course Correction treatment)


< HOW TO PROPERLY SIT ALIGNERS ONTO TEETH >

· Do not try to sit aligners by clenching upper and lower teeth as it can distort the aligners

· Always use Aligner Chewie for the first 5 minutes of aligner sitting to fit them tighter/ better, as loose sitting of aligners may fail in optimal teeth movement.


< WHAT TO DO IF ALIGNER IS LOST >


· If your current Invisalign aligner is lost or broken, we recommend that you temporarily go back one stage and use the Invisalign aligners in the red case ( i.e one aligner before the current aligner) while a replacement is being made.

· Replacement for lost aligner can be reproduced by Aligntech, USA upon your request at a cost of $ 200

2. Using Invisalign for Orthodontics

- In addition to potential problems which are associated with minor number of patients during orthodontics ( please refer to Invisalign Consent form),

· Certain medical conditions and use of certain medications may affect orthodontic treatment outcomes

· The product may temporarily affect speech and may result in a lisp, although any speech impediment associated with the product usually disappears within one or two weeks.

· Failure to wear the appliances for the prescribed number of hours per day and / or not using the product as directed by our dentist can lengthen the treatment time and affect the ability to achieve the desired results : Never leave Invisalign Aligner out of your mouth for more than 1 hour.

If unexpected misalignment of teeth occurs as a result of leaving aligners out of mouth for more than 1 hour ( or wearing an incorrect aligner) and does not allow Invisalign aligners from fitting well, we may need to take another impression of your teeth and issue a new set of "Mid-Course Correction" at an additional material cost of $ 900.

· Temporary increase in Salivation or dryness of mouth may occur.

3. Potential discomfort

· Dental tenderness may be experienced following initial aligner placement and after switching to each new aligner in the series. This could be localized to one tooth but it may involve entire side of jaw.

· Gums, cheeks, or lips may be scratched or irritated by the product.

4. Attachment and IPR – Micro Space Creation between teeth

· Attachments may be temporarily bonded to one or more teeth during the course of treatment to facilitate aligner retention and/ or tooth movement.

· Attachments may fall off and require replacement.

· All these attachments are to be removed upon completion of entire course of Invisalign treatment.

· Minor risks associated with IPR (interproximal reduction), which may be prescribed to create space for tooth movement as part of treatment must be taken into account, despite of fact that these spaces will be closed at the end of either main schedule of Invisalign treatment or through additional Refinement procedure. ( Except in the course of Invisalign Express where additional refinement course in the pursuit of closing any remaining space between teeth requires additional fees)

5. Auxillaries

Skeletal expanders, bonded auxillaries, elastics, and other fixed and/o r removable orthodontic appliances, may be needed for more complicated treatment plans where aligners alone may not be adequate to achieve the desired outcomes.

Invisalign treatment with aid of Auxillaries and usage of combination of conventional bracket orthodontic treatment + Invisalign enable more complicated orthodontic treatment possible.

Our Dr. Kim updates usage of complicated Invisalign auxillaries by regularly attending overseas seminars each year.

6. Refinement Schedule

For Invisalign Full and Invisalign Anterior,

if under-achieved teeth movement remains / space between teeth persists /

sound biting between upper and lower back teeth is still to be achieved,

charge-free course of Refinement is provided at the completion of main Invisalign treatment course. ( except in the case where the Invisalign main treatment course completion gets delayed excessively for some reason, Invisalign USA will request additional fee for Refinement course)

For Refinement course, new PVS impression + Photo images will be taken again and you will need to maintain teeth alignment by wearing the appropriate aligners ( or retainers) to prevent any unwanted teeth movement before you receive Refinement aligners.

7. Retainer requirement

Once you complete the ongoing orthodontic treatment, you will no longer wear either brackets or aligners. From that moment, orthodontically aligned teeth can suffer from significant tendency of unwanted movement if left unprotected -> as they still require stabilization of loosened ligaments of these teeth.

Therefore, to prevent this foreseen problem, we need to prepare you to receive
" Retainers " - holding teeth from moving.

< Our protocol of Retainer Scheme >


<1> First 6 months after Invisalign

At the completion of orthodontic treatment, we provide the following retainers as a free courtesy service.

Upper - Removable Clear Acrylic Retainer


Lower - Fixed lingual Retainer

However, we still recommend you to consider getting optional Lower Removable Clear Retainer ( $ 330) to enhance further stabilization of lower front teeth movement.

Both Upper/ Lower Removable Clear Retainers are to be used full time ( except in meal time) in the first 6 mths.


<2> From Second 6 months of after Invisalign - Onwards

At the completion of first 6 months of teeth stabilization, we recommend you to switch the type of retainer to
Upper - Removable Doner ( $ 440)
Lower - Howley type retainers ( $ 440)

-> They require tightening of wire every 6 mths and they tend to last many years unless you break them accidentally.

We will do free wire tightening when you return for 6 mthly exam/ scaling.

8. General Risks associated with receiving Orthodontic Treatment

· The health of the bone and gums which support the teeth may be impaired or aggravated.

· The bite may change throughout the course of treatment and may result in temporary patient discomfort

· Tooth decay, periodontal disease, and permanent markings from stains and decalcification may occur if patients do not brush and floss their teeth properly during orthodontic treatment.

· The length of the roots of the teeth may become shortened during any orthodontic treatment, which may become a threat to the longevity of the teeth.

· During the tooth movement, some unhealthy tooth may suffer from developing non-vitality of the pulp inside the tooth and this will require Root Canal Therapy ( + subsequent crowning later) at an extra cost.

· In rare instances, problems in the temporo-mandibular joint (jaw joint) may result in joint pain, headaches or ear problems.