If you have issues with crooked or crowded teeth or bite problems like an overbite, you may think that braces are your only option for orthodontic correction. However, Invisalign offers a discreet alternative that can be used by either adults or teens. If you would like to learn more about Invisalign in Washington, DC, call our team today to schedule your consultation.
What Is Invisalign Treatment?
Invisalign is an alternative to traditional braces. Instead of using brackets, rubber bands, and metal wires to shift your teeth, Invisalign uses a series of clear, smooth aligners that look similar to a retainer.
These aligners are built to place pressure on your teeth and shift their positions over time, just like braces do. By working through multiple sets of aligners over the period of about a year, you can correct issues like crooked teeth, minor overbites and underbites, and other orthodontic problems.
The Invisalign Treatment Process
To begin the process, you’ll need to come to see one of our dentists for a consultation. At your appointment, your dentist will perform a comprehensive oral exam and determine if Invisalign is right for you. If you’re approved, they will answer any questions you may have and begin creating your treatment plan.
Next, you’ll come to our office a few weeks after your initial appointment to pick up your first few sets of Invisalign aligners. Your dentist will provide you with instructions on proper wear and care for your aligners. You will need to wear your aligners for at least 20 (ideally 22+) hours per day. They should only be removed when you have to brush or floss your teeth, and whenever you eat and drink, except for tap water.
You will wear each set of aligners for two weeks, in most cases. Every 4-6 weeks, you will come back to our office for a quick 15-minute checkup, and to get a few more sets of aligners. You’ll continue to repeat this process until your treatment is completed, which usually takes about 12 months. Treatment time may vary depending on your case as each patient’s alignment needs are different.
Benefits Of Invisalign Treatment
The most obvious benefit of Invisalign is that it does not greatly affect your appearance or your speech. This makes it easy to work towards a brand new smile no matter what stage of life you are in.
Invisalign is also more comfortable than braces. There are no metal pieces that may rub or poke against your oral tissue, and smooth, durable plastic shifts your teeth more gently than traditional braces.
Finally, Invisalign aligners are also a lot more convenient. You can remove them to eat and drink, so there are no dietary restrictions. You also can take your aligners out to brush and floss, so it’s easier to clean your teeth thoroughly and keep them healthy and cavity-free.
Invisalign: More Than Just a Cosmetic Solution
When most people think of Invisalign, they think of straighter teeth and a more confident smile. And while that’s true—Invisalign aligners are an incredibly discreet and effective way to improve your smile—there’s much more to it than meets the eye. In some cases, Invisalign is essential—not optional—for protecting your teeth and overall oral health.
Many adults experience subtle or even painful issues related to bite misalignment and don’t realize orthodontic treatment could help. Invisalign can be used to:
Redistribute biting forces evenly across your teeth
Reduce the risk of enamel fractures, craze lines, and worn edges
Ease jaw tension and prevent TMJ symptoms
Improve chewing efficiency and speech
Create space for proper hygiene and gum health
Video: When a Misaligned Bite Causes Hidden Damage
Recently, Dr. Washington treated a patient who came in with small vertical cracks in his front teeth—known as craze lines. At first glance, these fine lines may not seem serious, but they were actually a symptom of something much deeper: traumatic occlusion.
In simple terms, his bite was off. The way his teeth were coming together was putting too much pressure on specific areas, slowly causing microscopic damage with every bite. Though he had braces as a child, he didn’t wear his retainers, and over time his teeth shifted out of alignment. Now, with Invisalign, we’re not just straightening his teeth—we’re realigning his bite to relieve that pressure and prevent future cracks, chips, and wear.
Invisalign Aligners Post-Care Instructions:
- Invisalign ONLY works when you are wearing them. We recommend you wear your aligners FULL TIME (22+ hours per day), day and night. The only time the aligners should be out of your mouth is when you are eating and drinking, brushing and flossing, or cleaning them.
- Wear each aligner for a MINIMUM of 2 weeks, or as directed by the dentist. It is very important that you never go to the next aligner in less than the directed time. Even though it may seem that the current aligner is loose and no longer moving your teeth, it may take longer for the roots to catch up with the crown of the tooth.
- If you miss some days for any reason, pick up where you left off and wear the aligners for a full 14-day MINIMUM. Call the office to let us know, and we will reschedule your next appointment.
- Brush and floss your teeth before every insertion. If there is food debris in your teeth when aligners are inserted, this may interfere with the aligner movement and may also impact your oral hygiene.
- Make sure you have the proper aligner. U for upper and L for lower in the proper number sequence. They are labeled on each aligner in a small font.
- When inserting, gently push the aligners over your front teeth. Then, apply pressure to the tops of the left and right molars until they snap into place. DO NOT bite your aligners into place.
- Make sure each aligner is ALL THE WAY DOWN and fully seated. You should not see any space between the edge of the tooth and the edge of the aligner. If the aligner is not fully in place, the teeth will not move properly, and the next aligner will be even further off. This can waste many weeks of treatment and even cause starting over with possible extra fees.
- To remove the aligners, pull off equally on both sides of the back teeth first, and then gently lift off the front teeth. Always rinse the aligners in cold water and store them in the proper container. To prevent damage, avoid unnecessary removal. Do NOT use sharp objects to remove your aligners.
- Always place the aligners in the cases provided. Never place aligners in napkins or any other case. Never place it in a pocket that can be sat on.
- NEVER discard any old aligners. Always bring your aligners to each Invisalign visit. If you lose an aligner, call us right away and wear the previous aligner if available. There may be a charge to order replacement aligners.
- Clean your aligners prior to each insertion using your toothbrush. Rinse under running water and brush until clean.
- Once a week you can soak your aligners in Retainer Brite. You can purchase these on Amazon.
- Retainer Brite instructions: fill a cup with warm tap water, drop 1 Retainer Brite tablet into the water, and place aligners in the water making sure they are fully submerged, when the water turns from blue to clear (~20 minutes) the aligners are clean, rinse the aligners under cool running water. Never use denture cleaner or soak in alcohol or bleach, as they will be damaged. Do not place aligners in boiling or hot water to clean, as they will be damaged.
- The first day with Invisalign takes some getting used to. It gets easier every day and the first few days take the most time to adjust.
- Most people experience some soreness for a day or two after starting each new stage. This is normal, especially during the first aligner. It is a sign that the aligners are working and moving your teeth to their final destination.
- On rare occasions, aligners may temporarily affect your speech slightly. However, as your tongue gets used to having the aligners in the mouth, any minor disturbance in normal speech caused by the aligners will disappear within the first week. Most people have no problems with their speech after a few days.
- The temporary buttons and attachments on the teeth can irritate your lips and tongue. This is normal and will disappear within the first week.
- If there is a rough spot on the edge of an aligner, gently use an emery board to smooth it out but be careful to not damage the aligner.
- Oral Hygiene: Brush and floss normally with the aligners out. Try to brush after eating and before re-inserting aligners. Large food particles may prevent proper insertion.
- Eating: There are no food restrictions with Invisalign. However, aligners must ALWAYS be removed when eating.
- Drinking: Except for cold or room-temperature water, always remove aligners while drinking anything. Any fluid will get inside the aligner and be held against your teeth possibly for hours and can cause staining or damage to the teeth and aligners.
- Chewing Gum: Do NOT chew gum while wearing aligners.
- Smoking: It is advised NOT to smoke while wearing the aligners. It will stain the aligners and teeth.
Is Invisalign Treatment Right For Me?
By scheduling a consultation, you can discover if Invisalign is the right fit for your smile. Invisalign has the ability to correct a variety of alignment issues, making it an alternative for braces in many cases. Schedule your initial visit and get all of your questions answered including a timeline for treatment, financing options, and more. Call our office today!
*Invisalign®, the Invisalign logo, and iTero®, among others, are trademarks and/ or service marks of Align Technology, Inc. or one of its subsidiaries or affiliated companies and may be registered in the U.S. and/or other countries.