It’s that time of the month again, time for an Invisalign update! (you can find previous updates here). I’ll bring you up to speed on my journey so far and I’ll be answering my most frequently asked Invisalign questions.  

Invisalign Update

I popped into LIC Dental Associates a few weeks ago for a check up and the next stage of my treatment. Dr. Saran looked over my teeth and evaluated my progress. I’m happy to say he was full of praise! Apparently, I’m tracking beautifully 🙂

Once we were done with my checkup, Dr. Saran and Treasure began my IPR procedure. IPR is the process of trimming off a small thickness of tooth enamel from selected teeth with the overall goal to narrow and create some space for better teeth alignment.

I’ve included a short clip of the process below. It was fairly painless. Uncomfortable at times, a pinch or 2 here and there but uneventful really. We were done in 20 mins and I was sent on my merry way with Madonna-esque tooth gap 🙂

Dr Saran will evaluate my progress on my next appointment and decide if we need to go through another round of IPR.

Invisalign FAQs

Time to address all the DMs and questions I’ve been getting on my Invisalign journey. Some of this might have been addressed in prior posts but I’ll try to provide more detail here.

Do they hurt?

Not really. More like uncomfortable. Usually, the day or so after you put in new trays – in my case every week. However, I’ve had the occasional ache here or there which I attribute to my teeth shifting – this usually passes in a few hours to a day.

How long do you have to have your Invisalign for?

This depends on your what treatment looks like. The plan is to have my trays in for 6 months followed by years of wearing retainers. However, this does depend on my progress. I might need to have trays in longer if Dr. Saran thinks I need to.  Yours could be entirely different. Your treatment could be shorter or longer depending on how misaligned your teeth are and how long you leave your aligners in each day.

Can you eat with your trays in your mouth?

Nope. They have to be taken out every time I eat or drink anything but water. I’ve never tried eating with my trays in my mouth but imagine it’ll be pretty uncomfortable doing so. Also, you’ll be entering cavity-inducing territory if you do this. As for drinking coffee or juices, these can stain your trays. Trust me, you don’t want to end up with brownish/yellowish-looking teeth. Not a good look.

What does upkeep look like?

Well! Basically, lots of teeth brushing and flossing. LOTS! After every meal, snack or drink other than water. Yeah….your eating habits will change real quick! The team at LIC Dental did recommend buying wisp mini toothbrush for those occasions when you’re out and about and not keen on digging out your toothbrush and toothpaste. It’s made a world of difference for me at work and when I’m out in the evenings. On a recent flight, I brushed, flossed and pooped my trays right back in while sitting comfortably in my seat!

Why did you need to do all this?

Cavities!! Failing to clean your teeth properly can cause bacteria from your mouth to become trapped inside your trays which are likely to cause cavities. You do get used to constant brushing and flossing. Apparently, you develop really good teeth hygiene by the end of your journey.

Are your Invisalign trays noticeable?

Hmm…most people tell me it isn’t but I do notice it in my shots. But it doesn’t bother me. Seeing the difference in my smile over the past few months makes me even more confident flashing them proudly…I’m cheesy like that *shrug*

How long before you started seeing results?

Honestly, in 4 weeks I saw a change. It might have been in my head but saw my bite changing and got so excited. It’s been 5 months now and there’s a clear change. Friends and family have noticed. However, this is obviously just my experience. Yours could be entirely different.

What have your checkups been like?

Amazing! The dentist you choose to go with really does matter. I was completely clueless at the start of my journey but the team at LIC Dental Associates have made my experience seamless. The best tech to track your progress, friendly staff and super knowledgeable dentist – Dr. Saran. I can’t recommend them enough. Yes, this is sponsored content but I would have written the same thing if it wasn’t. If you’re in NYC and considering going on this journey, hit them up. You won’t regret it….tell them Chinny sent you 😉

Would you do anything differently?

Yes. I would have done this way sooner. I’m not advocating going off and changing your looks or whatever. My overbite always bothered me. I would go for dentist appointments but do nothing and say to myself it’s not bad, I look good, etc. Now I’ve finally done it, I’m kicking myself for not doing it sooner.

This fits into my recent mindset shift. If there’s something you want to do, go and do it. Forget about any objections you might have, time will pass anyway and all you’ll be left with is regret. And we don’t want that….yeah, no idea how an Invisalign FAQ turned into a motivational post 🙂

Hope these answers help! If you have more questions or a difference in opinion, please share away in the comments section. I would love to hear from you.