Dr. Stormberg Answers Your Invisalign Questions
Whether you're visiting us for the first time or you’re in the middle of treatment, it's important to Dr. Stormberg and his team at Stormberg Orthodontics that you know as much as possible about your treatment so it goes along as planned without any unexpected surprises or occurrences. We are the top 1% Provider for Invisalign in the world, with more than 20+ years of experience and completed cases. For our patients who wish to improve their smiles with Invisalign, Dr. Stormberg answers some of the most frequently asked questions about the clear, removable aligners.
Q. Do I have to wear the aligners even at night?
A. Yes. In order for Invisalign to work as it's designed, you must wear your aligners for up to 22 hours each day. You can remove them when eating and when brushing & flossing. You can also take them out temporarily for those special occasions such as interviews or school photos as long as you put them right back in afterward.
Q. How long do I have to wear the aligners?
A. Because each patient is different, treatment time with Invisalign varies. You could be in treatment for as little as 6 months or as long as 24 months – it all depends on the specific type of orthodontic problem you have and how compliant you are wearing your aligners and keeping your scheduled appointments.
Q. Are there certain foods I must avoid eating that might break my aligners?
A. Invisalign aligners are designed to be removed when eating. One of the greatest benefits associated with Invisalign is the fact that there are no food restrictions whatsoever. You can continue enjoying all your favorite foods including hard-crusted breads, corn-on-the-cob, etc. as long as you take your aligners out before eating, but be sure to at least rinse, if not brush and rinse, before replacing your Invisalign trays. Any foods with color or food coloring (coffee, tea, red sauce, curry, sodas) can be on your teeth and slowly stain your attachments and/or trays.
Q. Will my speech be affected?
A. When you first start wearing Invisalign, you may notice that your speech is not as clear as it normally is. This is nothing to panic about, as you simply must get used to wearing the aligners. Just spend a bit of time speaking or singing out loud while wearing your aligners and before you know it, your speech will return to normal.
Q. Can I chew gum?
A. No, chewing gum is not a good idea because it will stick to your aligners and make a big mess.
Q. Is it okay to smoke with my aligners in?
A. Because cigarette smoke can discolor and stain your aligners, smoking is not a good idea while wearing Invisalign.
Q. How do I keep my aligners clean?
A. It is very easy to clean your aligners. Just brush them gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush and then rinse them off to keep them fresh & clean. To keep them extra fresh, we offer Invisalign Cleaning Crystals or Retainer Brite to freshen up the trays 1-2 times per week!
Q. How often do I need to visit your office during treatment?
A. At the beginning of treatment, we may see you every 3-4 weeks. As treatment progresses, we can usually monitor your progress every 8-12 weeks. Each tray could be worn from 18 days in the beginning to 7 days towards the end of treatment, depending on cooperation and progress. Every patient's needs are different, so that can vary from smile to smile.
Q. Will I have to wear a retainer once I'm done wearing my aligners?
A. Yes. The day you are finished wearing your aligners is when you begin the retention phase of your treatment. This is when you will wear a retainer as directed by us so your teeth do not shift back into their original positions.
Live in San Diego and Interested in Invisalign?
If you want to improve your smile with Invisalign, the team at Stormberg Orthodontics welcomes you to our practice! At your first visit, Dr. Stormberg will provide you with a thorough examination followed by a discussion of your potential treatment options, which may include Invisalign. We are located in the East County San Diego area in the city of La Mesa, making visits to our office convenient for patients from Santee, college students from SDSU and any residents from our surrounding communities.
