Invisalign Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Invisalign treatment take?

Duration of clear aligner therapy depends on the amount of correction needed. Light cases may be completed in as little as three months. However, longer cases may take over a year. The average treatment time is one year.

How often do I change my clear aligners? How often Do I need to Come into my Austin Invisalign Dentist for checkups?

Most patients will change their dental trays once a week. For more complicated adjustments, we may extend tray wear to 10 or 14 days. In many cases we see you three times throughout the duration of your treatment. At the first visit, we will place any attachments on your teeth and deliver your first set of trays. The second visit is typically mid-way through treatment. During this visit, your Austin Invisalign dentist will check to see if your teeth are tracking according to plan. At the final visit, we will evaluate to see if the teeth have moved into the proper positions.  If there are more movements needed,  we will take a new digital scan and order new trays to complete your case. All of this is included in the cost of treatment.

How often do I wear my aligner trays?

You will wear your trays for at least 22 hours a day. You typically only take them out to eat and brush your teeth.

Can I eat with my Invisalign aligners in?

We recommend taking out your dental aligners while eating. However, you are able to eat certain foods with your aligners. Most of our patients opt to remove their clear dental trays while eating to prevent food from becoming trapped underneath them.

Can I drink coffee or wine with my aligners in?

Good news! You will be able to enjoy your coffee or wine during Invisalign treatment! Since you are changing your clear aligners so frequently, you will be ready to transition to the next Invisalign tray by the time the old aligner trays begin to stain.

Does Invisalign treatment hurt?

The majority of our patients experience only mild soreness during their clear aligner therapy. This usually occurs within the first few days after changing to a new dental tray. Any discomfort fades fairly quickly once your mouth adjusts to the new change.

What are Invisalign attachments? Are these dental attachments removed after treatment?

Invisalign attachments are tiny tooth-colored buttons. We bond these attachments to your teeth  to help stabilize your clear dental aligners. These dental attachments enable the aligner trays to precisely grab teeth for more refined and predictable tooth alignment. Without attachments, it would not be possible to extrude a tooth (pull a tooth down) or to rotate a tooth. We remove the attachments when your Invisalign therapy is complete.

How do I prevent cavities during clear aligner therapy?

Invisalign clear aligners are removable, therefore your oral hygiene remains unaffected. You can brush and floss as you normally would to maintain your dental health and prevent cavities. In contrast, traditional braces create difficulties with hygiene. This can lead to an increased risk of cavities during braces treatment.

How do I clean my Invisalign aligners?

Dr. Heiman recommend brushing your aligners with soap and water at least twice a day. You can also use aligner cleaner for more intensive cleaning. To do so, soak your aligner trays within the cleaner solution for 20 minutes at a time as needed. Since you are changing your aligners every one to two weeks, brushing them daily is typically sufficient to keep them free of stains.

Can I whiten my teeth in Invisalign?

Yes, you may absolutely take advantage of teeth whitening during Invisalign treatment! For this, we recommend using take-home bleaching gel. You can place the bleaching gel directly inside the aligners to whiten your smile while straightening your teeth!

How long do I wear my retainers?

Once clear aligner treatment is complete, it is important to wear your retainers every night when you go to bed. Otherwise, your teeth will slowly shift back into their original positions. Retainers are worn for life in order to preserve proper tooth alignment.

Can I get retainers that don’t come out?

Certain Invisalign cases require fixed retainers post-treatment. These are metal wires that are bonded to the inside of your front teeth. We try to avoid using fixed retainers for a variety of reasons. For one, it is extremely difficult to properly clean around a fixed retainer. This leads to periodontal issues and an increased risk for cavities. Secondly, these retainers only secure the front teeth. The posterior teeth will ultimately shift back to their original position. We prefer using removable plastic retainers manufactured by Invisalign.