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Why Isn’t Invisalign Working for Me?

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Woman looking for Invisalign answers online

I started Invisalign to deal with moderately crooked teeth and an overbite about a year ago. My teeth weren’t really bad or twisted or anything and my plan should have had everything straightened out now or close to it. At this point, I feel like everything has been wasted time. On my upper arch, my right side is mostly lined up, but for whatever reason, the left side doesn’t really line up. It sticks out over the top of the lower teeth, if that makes sense. My dentist wants me to switch to metal braces to finish the treatment but I really don’t know what to do. If there’s some way I can finish with the clear aligners, I’d like to… maybe give it a couple months. But, of course, I’d like some insights as to why treatment isn’t working now and if there’s any hope at all that working with the aligners longer might produce different results.

Thanks,

Astrid

 

Dear Astrid,

Great questions! Let’s break this down.

There Are Many Reasons Why Invisalign Might Not Work

Not wearing the aligners for the full 22 hours per day. Granted, the official rule is 20-22 hours per day, but you really want to be on the higher end of that. A lot of people think they’re hitting the mark, yet acknowledge that they forget to put the aligners back in after a meal or take them out for specific activities. Without monitoring the time, it’s really easy to think you’ve met the requirement when you haven’t.

Missing days, skipping days, and losing aligners. People often won’t admit it, but sometimes they try to cheat the system. They’ll stop wearing the aligners for a bit or won’t take them on vacation. They might lose a set or let things slide for a bit.

Personal differences. Sometimes people have unique cases or their teeth don’t respond as expected.  Dentists can sometimes make corrections during treatment that can help, but it depends on why the teeth aren’t responding.

Aligners weren’t the best choice to start. Although clear aligners work well for lots of different cases, they aren’t right every time. It’s possible your bite issues weren’t really something the aligners could help with. That said, even if you fall into this category, it doesn’t mean you didn’t benefit from the aligners at all. Chances are, they did a considerable amount of good for you, but you may need to switch over for the final leg of the journey to get the results you want.

Have a Chat with Your Dentist

Your dentist knows your case better than anyone. There may be something he can do or he may be willing to give you a couple more months. At the very least, he should be able to give you more specific answers about your case. You can always get a second opinion if it would make you feel better too.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Steve Sirin, an Invisalign provider in Elgin, Illinois.

 

 

How Much Should Invisalign Hurt?

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woman experiencing invisalign pain

I’m wondering how much pain is normal with Invisalign. I was told to anticipate “some discomfort” when I started and as I changed out the aligners. The first couple sets were like that, where for a couple days at the start of each new set, I’d have soreness and would have to stick to soft foods and would sometimes need to take ibuprofen. I’m on my fourth set and this one is a doozy. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ve been in agony for a week. Nothing is taking the edge off. It’s like my jaw hurts 24/7. I don’t know if this matters, but I’m also 47, so maybe it’s different for me or my teeth will have a harder time moving? How much pain should I put up with before I go in?

Thanks,

Abby

 

Dear Abby,

Sorry to hear things aren’t going well. Let’s break down what’s happening.

“Some Discomfort” is Normal with Invisalign; Pain is Not

What you described with your initial three sets of aligners is more or less par for the course. You can expect some tenderness and the teeth shift. The discomfort comes from your periodontal ligaments which are being stretched sort of like rubber bands. Once the shifting stops, they settle down again.

Switching to soft foods and taking an OTC pain medication are good ways to handle it. What you’re experiencing now—genuine pain—is not normal.

You Might Be Having TMJ Problems

Oftentimes, full jaw pain means you’re having problems with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Although many people refer to pain in the area as TMJ too, the correct term is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Do you find yourself clenching or grinding? If so, this is probably what’s causing the soreness. On the flip side, sometimes people who have always had TMD or were active clenchers and grinders before treatment find their jaw pain increases momentarily during treatment as their bite is corrected. In these cases, the pain typically goes away entirely on its own as you continue through treatment.

Baby Your Jaw to Help with TMD Symptoms

What you’re doing already to help with discomfort is a good start. You can also try doing stretches (if you can comfortably do so), gently massaging the area, or using hot or cold compresses. This is really one of those times where you want to work with what feels right—don’t overextend yourself or apply pressure if it makes it feel worse.

You Should Still Get an Exam

Your treating dentist should be brought in on this. He or she may have additional tips or suggestions and needs to be aware of what’s happening in case it impacts the course of treatment. There’s also some possibility that you’re dealing with something else and having referred pain. Get this checked out sooner rather than later to be sure.

This blog is sponsored by Elgin Invisalign dentist Dr. Steve Sirin.

Can You Have Invisalign in Basic Training?

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military for elgin invisalign blog

I have about six months left of Invisalign treatment and am considering enlisting. One of my buddies who’s already in told me I won’t be allowed to wear my aligners during basic training. I’m not sure if I should wait another six months, if I can get away with switching to a retainer now, or if I should just stop treatment and start again after I finish basic. I don’t want to undo all the progress I’ve made though. What do people usually do?

-Saul

 

Dear Saul,

Great question. Let’s break it down.

The DOD Says Invisalign is Not Allowed in Basic Training

According to DOD Instruction 6130.03, Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction into the Military Services, Section 5.8 e “Current orthodontic appliances (mounted or removable, e.g., Invisalign®) for continued active treatment” is a disqualifying condition. That means you can’t be undergoing any kind of orthodontic treatment, including braces or aligners, when you go through basic training. The guide goes on to list exceptions, though there are really only two ways to get around it. First, you could wear a removable retainer. Second, you can be approved to serve if you’ll finish treatment before you go active.

Even If You Can Pause Treatment, You Might Not Want To

It sounds like you’re past the halfway point or close to it in terms of treatment. You can check with your dentist to see if it’s possible to pause treatment and wear a retainer while you’re in basic training. But, chances are, your teeth aren’t in a good position to stop and you really want to get your bite totally squared away. If you’re not in a good position to pause, doing so could leave you with issues like jaw pain and broken teeth. Bear in mind you could run into similar issues if you try to go without a retainer—your teeth will start to shift as soon as you stop wearing your aligners. So, this is something you really want to work with your dentist on to get confirmation. If you can’t stop and switch to a retainer, you it’s not a good idea to pause.

Waiting to Enlist is Your Best Bet from a Dental Standpoint

That in mind, it’s probably better for your teeth if you wait to enlist or you start the process but don’t go active until after you’ve finished treatment. This ensures you’ll get to use all the aligners (which have probably already been made and paid for by you) and that you’ll have everything behind you when you go into basic.

Best of luck to you and thank you in advance for your service!

 

This blog is sponsored by Elgin dentist and Invisalign provider, Dr. Steve Sirin.

Will My Old Invisalign Aligners Help with Nighttime Grinding?

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Man with mouth open for elgin invisalign blog

I finished Invisalign treatment about two years ago and still have some of the aligners even though I don’t “need” them anymore. However, I think I’ve been grinding at night. I wake up in the morning and my jaw is incredibly sore. My teeth all feel kind of achy. I’m catching myself doing a fair amount of clenching during the day as well… It’s just the stress of everything, I think… trying to adapt to working from home, homeschooling the kids, the crazy economy, social distancing… Probably like everyone else, I think it’s getting to me. I don’t usually have a problem with clenching or grinding, so I don’t have anything at home to use for this. But, since I do have some of my old Invisalign aligners, I wonder if those will do the trick. For what it’s worth, I did try my last set on and, although it’s a bit of a pinch, I can still get them on. Will this work for now or is there something else I can do?

Thanks,

Damien

 

Dear Damien,

They kind of look the same, don’t they? Both are typically made of clear plastic and are molded to match the shape of your teeth. It’s easy to think they work the same, too, but aligners and nightguards are totally different in their function and, thus, are made a bit differently too.

Invisalign Aligners are Made to Push Your Teeth into Place

If you think of it this way, it might help. Your aligners worked because they pushed on your teeth. They gave them little nudges until they eventually made it to their ideal destinations. In order to do this, they have to be hard and inflexible. That’s how they make your teeth mobile.

Night Guards are Made to Cushion Your Teeth

Conversely, night guards are designed specifically for teeth grinding, which is also referred to as bruxism. They absorb the biting force and distribute it better. They provide jaw support too. Because of this, they do need to be firm, but they have more shock absorption properties than the aligners used for straightening teeth have.

Wearing Your Old Aligners Could Make Things Worse

If it was a pinch to get your old aligners on, they don’t fit right anymore. That means they’ll start to push your teeth into their ideal positions again. They’ll become at least mildly mobile.  Take into consideration that you’re presently grinding and clenching all day, and you’d be doing that on teeth that are already mobile, it’s a recipe for disaster. The aligners aren’t a good solution and they could make the problems worse.

Get Recommendations from Your Dentist

There are night guards you can purchase from the local drug store or grocery. They aren’t as good as the ones your dentist can make for you, as the fit won’t be perfect and the materials aren’t quite the same. However, something like that could potentially work for you for a short period of time. Equally, this may be something you want to bring to your dentist’s attention. Based on your symptoms, this may not be a dental emergency that requires immediate care, but he’ll be able to go over what you’re experiencing in greater detail and help you find the best solution.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Steve Sirin, an Elgin Invisalign dentist.

Should I Stop Wearing Invisalign During the Coronavirus Pandemic?

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grocery worker with invisalign during coronavirus outbreakI’m really freaked out that I’m going to catch coronavirus from my Invisalign. Most people are at home and staying away from the general public, but I work in a grocery store and they’ve got me working all kinds of overtime right now. I’m really careful about not handling my aligners at work but I do take them out when I have my lunch break. Should I stop wearing them altogether? If I do, will it mess up my treatment?

Thanks,

Kim

 

Dear Kim,

This question inevitably gets asked a lot during flu season but everyone is hyper-aware now with coronavirus too. Care practices don’t shift because of COVID-19 but you can take extra precautions if they set your mind at ease.

You Can Keep Wearing Your Invisalign

There’s no reason to stop using your aligners. There’s nothing to suggest that wearing them increases your risk of getting sick, but you are going to want to be especially mindful about hygiene since you do handle them at work where you’re presumably exposed to hundreds if not thousands of people each day.

Wash Your Hands to Prevent Coronavirus Spread

The greatest risk is going to be when you’re taking the aligners off to eat. It may go without saying, but you’ll want to be sure you’re not handling them unless your hands are freshly washed. You’ll also want to be sure you’re putting them someplace safe while you eat. Their case is the best place. For an added layer of protection, you can place them in a plastic Ziplock-style bag as well.

Disinfect Mindfully

During this time, you may be tempted to disinfect your aligners will all sorts of household cleaners. They’re not designed for this and many cleaners can degrade the plastic, thus ruining your aligners or changing their color. While the CDC does not recommend vinegar because it’s not an EPA-registered disinfectant, it has demonstrated antimicrobial activity. If you choose to use this or bleach, dilute them to minimize damage to your aligners.

Pausing Treatment Can Set You Back

It’s important to note that your teeth are mobile right now. By design, the aligners gradually move your teeth into their desired places. They don’t firm up right away when you finish treatment, which is why retainers are used. Ergo, if you stop treatment right now and don’t do anything to make sure your teeth stay where they’ve moved to, they will start shifting again. That means you’re not only out the time you didn’t wear the aligners but may backtrack some too. Moreover, your teeth may shift into positions that don’t match your aligners. If this happens, you’ll have to have them made again, which can be costly as well.

Bottom Line: Keep wearing your aligners. Just be sure you’re practicing good hygiene.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Steve Sirin, an Elgin Invisalign provider.

Is Invisalign Responsible for My Chipped Teeth?

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woman hiding chipped teeth after Invisalign treatment

I did Invisalign for a little over a year and just wrapped it up four months ago. Since then, I’ve had three different teeth chip. I haven’t changed anything and I wasn’t injured or anything. The teeth just chipped on their own. I’ve never in my life chipped a tooth before this. All I can think of is that it must be tied to the Invisalign, like something went wrong or my teeth didn’t wind up where they’re supposed to be.

I did go in and have the first chip repaired by my general dentist. He’s also the one who did my ortho. We both remarked that it was strange- he’s been my dentist for 12 years, so he knows my teeth well. But, he didn’t suggest anything could be wrong. And, now, two more chipped teeth later, I’m wondering if he didn’t dig deeper to find out what was wrong because he knew it was caused by my ortho. Is that a possibility? If not, what caused it and how can I stop it?

Thanks,

Stephanie

 

Dear Stephanie,

When you went in for your first chipped tooth, it wasn’t a pattern. It was a single tooth. People chip their teeth all the time doing things they shouldn’t, like using their teeth as tools to open things. Oftentimes, people don’t readily admit they’ve done something or injured themselves as well. Obviously, teeth don’t just chip all by themselves; something causes them to chip. Without details from the patient, it’s sometimes hard for the doctor to diagnose or realize there’s a greater issue, especially when you’re talking about a singleton. Chances are, if you went in with three chips now, he’d be all over it.

This is Probably from Night Grinding, Not Invisalign

What you’re describing is consistent with people who grind their teeth at night. Your aligners, although not designed to protect teeth in this fashion, would have offered some protection anyway. It’s possible your habits have changed or you’re under more stress or you’ve developed apnea too. If you’re experiencing jaw pain or soreness, especially in the morning, that’s probably the culprit behind the chips. The good news is, a nightguard can help and they’re easy to have made too.

There Are Other Potential Causes Too

There’s some possibility your alignment is off, especially if you’re not wearing a retainer or still using your aligners some of the time. That would mean your teeth aren’t coming together right and some areas may be getting more force than they should be. Something like grinding would exacerbate the problem more.

Get an Evaluation

Go back and see your dentist and let him know about the new chips. Again, he will probably jump right in with detective work to find the root cause. If he doesn’t, or he doesn’t give you a solution to it, have a consult with another dentist or orthodontist to find out what’s going on. With three chips, something’s certainly happening, but you’ll need an evaluation to confirm.

 

This blog is sponsored by Elgin Invisalign dentist Dr. Steve Sirin.

Are My Invisalign Aligners Making Me Sick?

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woman with invisalign and a cold

I‘m 28 and just started Invisalign three weeks ago. All that’s been going good. I really haven’t had any pain or trouble adjusting, which is awesome. The problem is, my household seems to be passing around a nasty bug. It started more than a month ago when my youngest brought something home from preschool. Before I knew it, the other three kids had it and then my husband and I got it. I was diligent about throwing out our toothbrushes and everything, and even soaked my aligners in mouthwash trying to kill the bug. We all seemed to get better too. But, then I got sick again and one by one, everyone else did too. I’m worried that something remained on my aligners despite my attempts to create a germ-free environment. But, they’re not like my toothbrush that I can just throw away. Can I? What’s the protocol here? I want to get ahead of this thing before I wind up sick again.

Thanks,

Kirsten

 

Dear Kirsten,

Colds are funny and there’s so much information about how they work. Although it’s technically “possible” to catch the same cold twice, most people build up immunity to the strain they have, so no matter how many times they use the same germy toothbrush or wear rhinovirus encrusted aligners, they aren’t going to catch the same cold again. That’s most people, most of the time.

So, what gives? Chances are, your family caught two distinct bugs, one right after the other. One of the great “joys” of having kids during cold season or even being in an office setting for that matter. When you’re exposed to a lot of people, you’ll pick up bugs. There’s also some possibility you caught two cold bugs at once. Although that’s rare, it can happen too.

Tossing Toothbrushes and Invisalign Aligners is Overkill

Ture, if one family member is sick and the others aren’t, you want to keep their toothbrushes separate from everyone else’s to prevent the spread of germs, but there’s really no need to throw them out. If your family is in good general health, you’ll build up immunity to the bugs.

Don’t Use Mouthwash to Disinfect

Mouthwash can discolor your aligners, so it’s not the best bet. Instead, try using white vinegar. It’s acidic enough to kill bacteria. If you’re doing it on a regular basis, use a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water and let them soak for 30 minutes. You can do the same with your toothbrushes and even with teeth whitening trays.

Be Mindful of How You’re Handling Your Aligners

One of the bigger risks is when you’re healthy and you’re handling your aligners before and after meals. Particularly if you’re taking care of sick family members, it’s easy to pick up the bugs on your hands and then transfer them to the aligners.

Skip the Aligners if Need Be

If you’re really worried about it or just feeling crummy, you can go without the aligners while you’re sick. However, it will impact your Invisalign treatment. In that case, start using them as soon as you can again and be sure to tell your dentist you’ve taken a break so he can adjust course.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Steve Sirin, an Elgin Invisalign dentist.

Nighttime Clear Aligners vs. Invisalign: Which is Right for Me?

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orthodontic aligner at night on moonlit sky

I’m trying to figure out how Nighttime Clear Aligners differ from Invisalign. Obviously, there’s the whole you only wear them at night element, but would it somehow be different than if I just wore Invisalign at night only?

I’m 28 and have pretty good teeth, but they’ve never been straight, and I want to fix it. However, my job requires me to be on the phone several hours per day and I’m afraid wearing aligners will interfere with speech, so I never stated any kind of orthodontic treatment. Honestly, I considered “cheating,” and going with the aligners from my dentist, but only wearing them at night, but I was afraid they wouldn’t work.

Anyway, the two types of aligners seem to be the same thing, so I was a little surprised when I heard that nighttime-only was a choice now. Are they really the same thing or is the new kind somehow better?

Thanks,

Kayla

 

Dear Kayla,

Unfortunately, they’re not the same at all. On the surface, sure, you’re getting clear aligners, but the process isn’t the same and they don’t work the same.

Nighttime Clear Aligners are from Smile Direct Club

To be blunt, the five-year-old company has a bit of a sordid past and now has over 1,300 complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau. Some of the most common complaints involve people simply not getting the results they expected, but a particularly worrisome number had damage that required additional treatment to correct or needed to go through traditional orthodontics after anyway. The NY Post recently did an expose on the company too, citing issues like improper bite as major culprits. The problem is, these mail order systems are typically purely cosmetic. Sure, they can sometimes make your teeth straighter, but they don’t address your bite. Think of it this way, if you bite your teeth together now, do they all come together neatly and at roughly the same time? They should. If not, the teeth that hit first can become traumatized, resulting in the need for a root canal. Fractures, chips, and sore jaws occur too. It gets worse from there if left unchecked. That in mind, you really do need to address your bite with ortho.

Nighttime Wear ≠ Full-Day Wear Results

But, now, you’re adding another layer on top of it by only wearing them at night. Let’s go straight to the source on this one. Their own video that addresses whether teeth move more slowly with Nighttime Clear Aligners gives the answer, “It depends. Each aligner set is custom made to safely move your teeth within the prescribed time…” That’s probably the best non-answer you will hear in your life and there’s a reason for that. It’s impossible for teeth to move at the same rate. By their estimates, nighttime-only options take an extra four months. The problem is, in order for your teeth to move, they need to become mobile. That may not be earth-shattering news, but basically, what you’re doing is taking away the apparatus that keeps your mobile teeth where they need to be when you take out your aligner. If it’s out for an hour, that’s not a huge deal. You take it out for most of the day and, not surprisingly, your teeth start to move back to where they were or wherever it is they feel they need to be… and then you try to nudge them back to where you want them for a few hours at night.

Go with Invisalign

Guess how many BBB complaints Align Technology, parent of Invisalign, has accumulated within its 22 years in business. The answer: five, and only one in the past year. In all fairness, the company does not treat patients and those five complaints were from people who had issues; one whose practice closed and still wanted treatment, another who was deployed overseas and couldn’t finish. There are no dentists complaining about a faulty product either. The BBB pages are like night and day… literally.

True, you may have some trouble speaking when you first get Invisalign. You will get used to wearing the aligners and they won’t be an issue. The more you wear them and practice, the easier it will become. If, in the early days, you really can’t do phone calls with them in, talk to your dentist about popping them out them. Best of luck to you.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Steve Sirin, an Elgin Invisalign provider.

Can You Get Invisalign with a Crown?

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invisalign with crown patient aligner

Are regular braces or Invisalign better when you have a crown? Or are orthodontics even an option at all? I’m 34 and have one crown on a molar—it’s a CEREC crown if that matters. I was looking through the site and found information on what happens when you need to have a crown done during Invisalign treatment, but this is different because I haven’t even started anything yet. And for what it’s worth, my teeth aren’t super crooked or anything. I just have some crowding going on with my lower teeth.

Thanks,

Jake

 

Dear Jake,

The information is roughly the same, but let’s break it down.

Yes, You Can Get Invisalign with a Crown

Orthodontic work usually gets a green light even if you have restorative work. It’s a little more debatable if you have root canals or other things going on. Those teeth might not respond well to moving. However, if the teeth are monitored, even that should be ok. Your dentist may take additional precautionary measures in those situations, but that doesn’t apply to your situation anyway. You’re in the clear.

It Doesn’t Matter if it’s a CEREC Crown or Any Other Type

The biggest concern is that the tooth is healthy and the CEREC crown still has a good seal on it. As look as the restoration and tooth are in good condition, it’s fine. This applies to all types of crowns, whether we’re talking CEREC, porcelain, metal, or any other variety.

Invisalign Tops Braces When You Have a Crown

The problem with traditional braces and crowns is that it can be harder to get the brackets to bond to the crown. Since Invisalign doesn’t usually require any bonding unless you need attachments/ buttons, it’s often the more ideal solution for people with restorations.

You Might Need Adjustments When Treatment is Finished

Sometimes shifting teeth can result in the need for adjustments to the crown after. When we’re talking about a back tooth like yours, it’s probably just minor bite adjustments. However, sometimes, the crown ultimately needs to be replaced at the end of orthodontic treatment and occasionally, other techniques may be necessary, such as recontouring the gumline to create a more uniform smile. That wouldn’t be the case with yours, as it’s not in a highly visible spot, but it’s worth mentioning.

Start with a Consultation

Hopefully, this set your mind at ease a bit, but you’ll still need to have a consult with a local dentist to find out the specifics of your treatment. Clear braces are great in the sense that your whole mouth is literally mapped out ahead of time, so your dentist will know exactly what your alignment and bite will be like when you finish and can let you know if you’ll need to take additional steps after you finish ortho.

 

This blog is sponsored by Elgin Invisalign dentist, Dr. Steve Sirin.

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