How can we help you?
We want every patient who visits BMB Dental Clinic to feel completely confident in their dental care and treatments. For that reason, we encourage our patients to ask questions, and we've provided answers to a few of our most commonly asked questions below.
If you don't see your questions listed, we welcome your call for more information. We're always happy to provide help over the phone.
Clear Aligners
We can close the gaps with Clear Aligners, such as Invisalign, but fixing overbites and underbites is more difficult. Generally, any movement of the teeth that involves moving the teeth into the gum or out of the gum if quite hard to do with Clear Aligners. Other movements that are difficult to achieve with Invisalign include tooth rotations and bodily movements of teeth.
The simple answer is no, you cannot drink coffee or alcohol while wearing clear aligners such as Invisalign - you can only drink water. Coffee has a risk of staining your teeth or causing damage to your aligners.
Every time we eat or drink, our saliva starts cleaning and neutralising the acids introduced into the mouth - such as those from soft drinks or produced by bacteria that feed on food remnants. When you have aligners on your teeth, saliva cannot reach the teeth effectively. This can prolong the contact between acid and the tooth surface, potentially causing damage to both the teeth and gums. This is why it is very important to clean your teeth after eating and before putting the aligners back in.
No, you cannot eat with Invisalign. You can only drink water when wearing Invisalign. For any other drink or food, you need to remove the aligner, eat, clean your teeth and wear the aligner again.
Invisalign shouldn't hurt much. Generally, aligners apply lighter pressure on the teeth in comparison with braces so the pain won't be as bad. Overall, any movement to the teeth will cause some slight pain or discomfort for a short period of time at the beginning of the treatment. After a week or two, you won’t feel any pain.
Invisalign is one of the most commonly used brands of clear aligners. In fact, Invisalign was the first brand to introduce this system. These days, there are many different brands that fall under the same category of clear aligner systems.
Clear aligners are plastic trays that are custom-made for each person. These aligners fit tightly on the teeth, and most of the time, to increase this retention, the treatment plan includes small buttons called attachments, which the dentist places on the teeth.
The way this system works is by pushing or pulling the teeth in a certain direction in small increments, guiding them to the desired position. In this system, depending on the case, the patient will generally receive between 10 and 30 aligners. The patient uses each aligner for one week and then moves on to the next one. Each aligner moves specific teeth by about 0.25mm. This gradual movement is very gentle on the teeth and will eventually guide them to the desired position.
BMB Dental Clinic offers Invisalign®,ClearCorrect and many other aligner brands as discreet orthodontic options for our patients. Your dentist recommends cleaning your clear aligners daily to reduce bacteria and plaque buildup. Clear aligners are disposable; most patients change them out every couple of weeks, but they can still become damaged or dirty if not cleaned.
When cleaning your clear aligners, there are some essential things to remember:
- Rinse the aligners with lukewarm water every day, especially before and after wearing them.
- Brush your aligners with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a gentle, clear liquid soap to remove food particles and bacteria. We recommend having a toothbrush for your teeth and a separate toothbrush that you only use for your clear aligners. Also, never use toothpaste or scented soap to clean your aligners.
- After brushing your aligners, thoroughly rinse them with lukewarm water.
- When you’re not wearing your clear aligners, store them in a protective case.
Cleaning Accessories for Clear Aligners
There are countless cleaning accessories and products for clear aligners, such as effervescent tablets, brushes and sanitising solutions. For example, Invisalign has a sterilising product called ‘Steraligner’. The ingredients for this product include a natural antiseptic called sodium bicarbonate and rubbing alcohol.
As with many other products, Steraligner instructs users to soak the aligners in this solution for three minutes, rinse them, and brush them using a soft-bristled brush and warm water. Your Mona Vale dentist can recommend clear aligner products and accessories you can use for your home hygiene routine.
Clear Aligners in Mona Vale, NSW
BMB Dental Clinic invites you to arrange a clear aligner consultation with Dr. Babak Moharrami. Dr. Moharrami will present your treatment options and provide guidance on clear aligner care, including sanitation practices.
For high-quality service, visit Mona Vale dental for your consultation today.
Cleaning your clear aligner/invisalign trays is very important. You just need to wash them with your brush under the tap water, or use a small amount of soap if needed (be sure to rinse thoroughly). There are also some products you can buy from a chemist to clean and disinfect them. This often isn't necessary as you change aligners weekly.
It really depends on the amount of crowding and/or other issues that we plan to fix. The more complex the problem, the greater the number of aligners the patient needs. As each aligner needs to be worn for one week, more aligners mean a longer treatment time. Generally, Invisalign treatment takes between 6 to 18 months.
Treatment timelines vary by patient, but your teeth will shift toward straight positions gradually across the timeline, so you should notice improvement every few weeks. Patients may spend two years or longer in treatment, but the average timeframe is approximately 18 months.
Clear Aligners for Discreet Treatment
Clear aligners, like Invisalign in Mona Vale, and similar systems have changed the way we think about orthodontic care. With these systems, you can enjoy discreet therapy without having to contend with metal and wires.
Our clear aligner trays are virtually invisible.
If you’re considering discreet orthodontics, the first step is a meeting with the dentist. This consultation determines candidacy, potential costs, and how long you’ll be in treatment. We also set aside plenty of time to answer your questions.
Treatment involves taking impressions of your teeth and using the results to fabricate your tooth trays. You wear each set for a few weeks before moving on to the next. When you finish your trays, you’ll have an aligned smile!
After therapy, we fit you with a customised retainer to ensure long-term success.
Follow your dentist’s instructions throughout treatment, including wearing your retainer afterwards to prevent orthodontic relapse.
Your Mona Vale Dentist Awaits Your Call
Are you ready to book your clear aligner consultation? Do you have questions? A team member is standing by to speak with you today.
The cost of Invisalign can vary depending on the number of aligners, length of the treatment and complexity of the case. In general, you are looking at between $3000 and $8000.
The clear aligners need to be worn almost 24/7. The minimum recommended time is 22 hours a day. You only take them out when you eat, drink, or clean your teeth. Having said that, you can remove them for certain occasions. For example, if you do sports like swimming and are worried that you will lose the aligners in the water, or if you are out for a special event and are concerned that you may lose the aligners. The harm of losing the aligner is usually greater than not wearing the aligners for a few extra hours.
Both braces and Invisalign have their pros and cons. Generally, braces are the better option for teenagers or young adults, whenever Invisalign is more suitable for adults. There may also be certain reasons for choosing a particular path. Invisalign and similar products are made of plastic which means they cannot apply strong forces on the teeth - for that reason, some complex cases need to be treated with braces regardless of the age. From the other side, if a teenage patient if disciplined enough to use the aligners as it is instructed, he/she can use Invisalign to align teeth as well.
At BMB Dental Clinic, Dr Babak Moharrami helps patients straighten their teeth for healthy, attractive smiles with both clear aligner treatments, such as Invisalign and ClearCorrect, and traditional braces.
Both methods of teeth straightening have their advantages and disadvantages, which is why we often recommend them to different types of patients.
Clear Aligners vs Braces
Adult patients who value discretion often prefer Invisalign, ClearCorrect, Spark Aligners or SureSmile treatment over traditional braces since traditional braces are more apparent. Invisalign and other clear aligner treatments are nearly invisible, which means their friends, family, and colleagues don't need to know they're undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Additionally, with Clear Aligner treatment, keeping your teeth clean is much easier than with traditional braces. You can simply remove your Invisalign aligner for your regular oral hygiene routine and put the aligner back in when you've finished brushing and flossing.
We often recommend traditional braces, on the other hand, to our younger patients who need orthodontic intervention. The removability of Invisalign aligners makes them easy to use and maintain. Still, young patients tend to remove them too often and leave them out for long periods of time, affecting their treatment's progress.
Clear Aligner Treatment in Mona Vale
At our Mona Vale dental, Dr. Moharrami regularly helps patients decide whether Invisalign Mona Vale or traditional braces are the best treatment option for their needs. We invite you to contact us to schedule an appointment for personalized advice on your orthodontic care.