There are many benefits of Invisalign Clear Aligners and Vivera Retainers following the alignment of your teeth. As many of you know, the aligners are used to straighten your teeth and give you a beautiful smile! There are other benefits as well that may surprise you. At Susan Ellison Dentistry & Cosmetics, we are thorough in explaining all the benefits that Invisalign will give you during and after your treatment, but now you can learn about some lesser-known ways to continue getting value from your clear aligners.
The Many Uses of Clear Aligners
Whitening with Invisalign
The Problem. There are a lot of over-the-counter products that promise to whiten your teeth – things like whitening strips, washes, toothpaste, and more. While these products can whiten your teeth over time, they use a lower concentration of the bleaching agent which causes the process to take longer and the results do not last as long (meaning you will actually spend more money to buy more of the product to reach the same effects as a professional whitening product from a dentist).
The Solution. Instead of opting for a drugstore whitening kit, you can actually use your Invisalign trays as whitening trays. Simply use the whitening gel (Dr. Ellison uses a high-quality, higher-concentration whitening product that you can purchase from our office) and place it in your aligner. Wear for 30 minutes daily or twice a day until you reach your desired shade!
Using Clear Aligners as Night Guards
The Problem. Often when someone has severe wear on the front teeth or their back teeth or both, they are told that they need a nightguard. These will only protect the teeth from wear while you are wearing them, which unfortunately is only when you are sleeping and will not solve the problem. The damage and wear/tear is caused by the misalignment of the teeth and made worse by daily activities like eating and speaking. This is very much like if you have big metal gears turning and one gets out of alignment, that crooked gear will start to bang and damage all of the rest of the gears and the system will break down.
The Solution. Instead of getting a nightguard, correcting the alignment will often stop the wear and nighttime grinding. In addition, you will likely wear clear aligners as retainers when you sleep after the teeth are aligned so no additional nightguard will be needed since these retainers will also act as your nightguard.
Other Dental Ailments
In addition, Invisalign is incredibly flexible and can help with many dental issues. We have patients who have used clear aligners with a bridge as well as patients suffering from TMJ who find relief! There is a lot that these magic aligners can do for you and your dental health!
Learn if Invisalign Clear Aligners are Right for You
As you can see, there is a lot of value to be had by choosing Invisalign. Not only can you straighten your misalignment and get a beautiful smile in as little as 6 months, but your clear aligners can serve as a whitening kit and nightguards to protect your teeth for years to come. Schedule a consult with Dr. Ellison today and see how she can help you attain the smile of your dreams.