News 04/02/2023

Your top Invisalign questions answered

Here at Benfleet Dental Centre we understand that undergoing teeth straightening is a considerable investment. We have therefore put together answers to your top Invisalign questions to help you make an informed decision on whether teeth straightening treatment is right for you.

What is Invisalign treatment?

Invisalign treatment is the process of wearing a series of clear, removable aligners that will gradually straighten your teeth. No brackets, no wires and none of the restrictions that come from wearing metal braces.

How does Invisalign treatment work?

After your initial consultation, you will need to attend for x-rays, impressions and photos. These will all be sent to Invisalign along with your dentist’s prescription. Invisalign will then use these to make your custom-made aligners.

Once we receive your aligners, you will be able to attend to start treatment. You will

need to attend for appointments every 4-6 weeks so we can monitor how your teeth are moving and provide you with your next sets of aligners. This will continue until your teeth reach their desired position.

Is Invisalign suitable for me

Is Invisalign suitable for me?

You will need to attend for an appointment with the dentist so that they can assess your teeth and determine whether Invisalign treatment is suitable.

What are the benefits of using Invisalign to straighten my teeth?

The main advantage is that Invisalign clear aligners are virtually invisible. No-one should even know that you are wearing them! You can also remove them to eat and drink, brush your teeth and for special occasions.

Is Invisalign treatment painful?

Each time you put in a new aligner you may experience 24-48 hours discomfort, but this should soon fade. If required, you can take over the counter painkillers to help alleviate this.

How often should I wear the aligners?

It is important that you wear the aligners as much as possible. We advise that you only remove them at mealtimes and when you clean your teeth.

How often do I need to attend for appointments

How often do I need to attend for appointments?

You will need to attend for appointments every 4-6 weeks, your dentist will be able to advise you at each appointment when you next need to be seen as it will depend on your individual treatment needs.

Will wearing aligners affect my speech?

Just like any other mouth appliance, wearing the aligner will take some getting used to and could affect your speech. Most people get used to having them in within a week or two.

Can I have Invisalign treatment if I smoke?

We discourage smoking while wearing Invisalign aligners because it can stain them.

What happens if I lose or damage my aligner?

Depending on how long you have been wearing the aligner it may be possible to just

move to the next aligner. If this is not possible, we will need to order a new one from Invisalign, you will need to wear your previous aligner until the new one arrives.

Will I need to wear a retainer when treatment finishes?

It is recommended that you wear a retainer following treatment to prevent teeth from gradually shifting back toward their initial position.

If you would like to find out more about Invisalign teeth straightening, do not hesitate to call Benfleet Dental Centre on 01702 557766 and book a free consultation today.

Map of Benfleet Dental Centre

Visit the practice

Benfleet Dental Centre

8 Benfleet Road, Benfleet. SS7 1QB

Opening times

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 18:30
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 14:00*
*By appointment only