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As adults who have undergone teeth straightening procedures ourselves, our dentists and periodontists at Trillium Dental in Ottawa know just how difficult it can be to pursue braces as an adult. There are many reasons why this is so, and we’ve heard them all time and time again. For many adults, braces cause a level of discomfort and self-consciousness that no one wants to experience during adulthood. Yet, these things shouldn’t keep you from obtaining a beautiful smile that you can feel confident about for the rest of your life.

We’ve all heard the stereotypes about braces: they’re dorky, they hurt, they’re meant for teenagers, everyone will notice them — the list goes on. In reality, it is perfectly alright to need braces as an adult, and no stereotype should stand in your way of seeking the dental care you need. However, recent technological advancements in the field of dentistry have made it possible for adults to be much more discreet about their teeth straightening processes. One of our all-time favorites is Invisalign®.

WHAT IS INVISALIGN?

Invisalign is similar to traditional braces in the sense that it serves to straighten your teeth over time, providing you with a stunning smile as the end result. However, Invisalign retainers are clear and nearly invisible to others, making them a far more appealing option for older adults. In addition to these “clear braces” being hard to notice, the process of straightening your teeth with Invisalign is also quicker, more comfortable, and more convenient. Here’s how it works!

Upon meeting with your family dentist to talk about the possibility of getting Invisalign retainers, we will take X-rays of your teeth in order to determine exactly what needs to be done. If you have an overbite, underbite, or crowded or gapped teeth, for example, we can customize your aligner trays to serve these unique needs. This customized series of teeth straightening trays will also include instructions for you to follow, as the first tray will be replaced with the next one once your teeth have made that micro-shift, and so on and so forth, until you have reached the end result after 15 months.

You might be wondering how you’d manage to eat and drink with a clear plastic retainer in your mouth at all times, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that they are removable. Before sitting down to eat, be sure to take your retainer out, as it is not meant to be kept in your mouth as you chew. Be careful though — two of the main drawbacks of Invisalign are the temptation to take it out too often and the tendency for people to forget to put it back in after eating.

Read More: Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

WHY DO ADULTS CHOOSE INVISALIGN?

Invisalign sounds pretty great, right? As previously mentioned, part of the reason why so many adults love Invisalign is the fact that they are nearly invisible to others. The last thing working or otherwise busy adults need is to have the stereotypes associated with braces interfering with their daily lives. After all, the motive behind getting braces is to obtain a beautiful smile you can feel good about, so it’s only natural that you wouldn’t want people staring at obvious metal brackets on your teeth. With Invisalign, not only will be happy with your teeth after the work is done, but you also won’t hesitate to smile along the way!

Another thing that makes Invisalign a great alternative for adults is the fact that they are far more comfortable to wear than traditional braces. As professionals in family dentistry, we’ll be the first to say that braces aren’t always painless; in fact, they can cause a great deal of discomfort at first. With Invisalign, you won’t have to worry about dealing with noticeable metal brackets that rub against the inside of your cheeks and cause irritation. Invisalign retainers are so thin and snug that you’ll hardly notice they’re there!

Not only that, but any discomfort you feel with Invisalign will only occur for a day or so after you move on to each new retainer, which is a much smaller micro-adjustment that happens every two weeks. Compared to traditional braces, where you must visit your dental office to have your wires manually tightened every six to eight months, the micro-adjustments of Invisalign retainers are far easier to acclimate to. When worn diligently for 22 hours a day, seven days a week, Invisalign will leave you with perfectly straight teeth in just 15 months, as opposed to the somewhat unpredictable commitment of braces, which lasts anywhere from 18 months to over two years.

GET INVISALIGN AT TRILLIUM DENTAL

If you are an adult who needs braces and you don’t want to deal with obvious, sometimes irritating metal brackets, Invisalign is for you! There has never been an easier, more discrete way for adults to transform their crooked teeth into a stunning, youthful smile. All you have to do is schedule a consultation with your Ottawa dentist, let them set you up with a set of customized retainers, and wear them as instructed. The 15 months will fly by and you’ll have a perfect smile in no time!

Our dentists at Trillium Dental in Ottawa have provided many adults with customized Invisalign retainers that serve their unique needs and give them the smile they’ve always dreamed of. And the best part is that we can help you, too! Simply request an appointment on our website or give us a call today.

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For some dental patients, adjusting to Invisalign isn’t easy. After all, you’ve just committed to wearing a set of clear plastic retainers in your mouth 22 hours per day for at least 15 weeks. While Invisalign is largely favored over other teeth straightening methods like traditional braces, the trays can still be uncomfortable for some people. At Trillium Dental in Ottawa, our dentists do everything they can to ensure that our patients have a positive experience with their clear braces. Here are a few tips to help you adjust to Invisalign!

TAKE AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDICATION

Though adjusting to new Invisalign trays usually isn’t as uncomfortable as having your braces tightened, it can still cause discomfort for some patients. When you begin your Invisalign treatment, you’ll receive a set of clear aligner trays to begin with, then you’ll switch to the next set in the progression every two weeks moving forward. This will take a little getting used to; however, most tooth achiness usually occurs within the first 24 hours of switching retainers.

If you experience achiness when you switch out your “invisible braces,” anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), can help. Taking an anti-inflammatory an hour or so before you switch out your Invisalign trays will reduce soreness for the time being, allowing your mouth to adjust to the new Invisalign tray. Just be sure to follow the instructions on the bottle (do not exceed 6 ibuprofen tablets in 24 hours), and make sure you eat something when you take anti-inflammatory medications.

SWITCH YOUR RETAINERS AT NIGHT

Another handy trick to keep in mind is switching your Invisalign® retainers at night, ideally an hour or so after you’ve taken an anti-inflammatory.This gives your teeth a chance to adjust into the tightness of the new retainers while you sleep, so you don’t feel any soreness throughout the night. If you wake up with some discomfort, simply take another anti-inflammatory with your morning breakfast to ease the pain as you start your day.

Switching your retainers at night also allows your body to take a break from the anti-inflammatory medications, which aren’t great for your liver if they are used on a regular basis. When you switch your clear braces during the day, you’ll experience more discomfort than you do when you sleep, so you might be tempted to take anti-inflammatory meds all day long. Instead, wait until your last meal of the day to take an anti-inflammatory, and you might not need to take another one the next day.

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT

In addition to switching your retainers at night and taking anti-inflammatory medications as needed, you might want to watch what you eat for the first 24 hours or so after you put in your new Invisalign trays. Try to avoid hard, crunchy foods if your teeth are sore, and opt for oatmeal, apple sauce, yogurt, pasta, and other soft foods instead. An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but it’s certainly not the best thing for sensitive teeth!

It is important to note that you should never wear your Invisalign retainers when you eat, and that you should brush your teeth thoroughly before putting them back in, if possible. One of the main benefits of “invisible braces” is that you can take them out when you eat, drink, and brush your teeth, rather than having to pick food particles out of the crevices between metal braces. So, be sure to take advantage of these little breaks throughout the day — just don’t forget to put them back in!

USE A COLD COMPRESS

If you’re really uncomfortable after switching out your clear retainers (or you just put in your first set), try a cold compress. Get an ice pack that can mold to your face (gel ice packs work great for this), and place it on your cheek. The cold will numb your jaw and provide relief for your sore teeth, soothing them as they adjust into their new position.

Don’t feel like you need to go to the store or spend money on an expensive ice pack — a bag of frozen peas will work just fine. Wrap it in a thin cloth so the cold isn’t so harsh, and gently hold it on the sore area for 10-20 minutes at a time. Ideally, this will help the pain subside, and you’ll only have to use a cold compress for a day or two after you switch Invisalign trays.

GET INVISALIGN IN OTTAWA AT TRILLIUM DENTAL

Looking for more tips to help you adjust to your new Invisalign trays? Keep your eyes peeled for future blog posts about Invisalign, and feel free to reach out to our dentists at any time for more information. We’d be more than happy to set up an Invisalign consultation and discuss whether this orthodontic treatment would be right for you!

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Have you ever dreamed of having straighter teeth? Maybe you’re self conscious about the appearance of your smile, or you have a hard time brushing and flossing thoroughly because you have crooked teeth. Perhaps you suffer from TMJ pain, and you’ve been told that your misaligned jaw has a lot to do with your bite. Whatever your reason may be, you’re not alone in wanting straight teeth. At Trillium Dental, we offer Invisalign® for patients who want a more attractive smile without having to get braces. Here are just a few of the many benefits of having straight teeth!

HEALTHIER GUMS

The health of your teeth and gums goes hand-in-hand — after all, they are neighbors! If you have crowded or crooked teeth, this creates tight spaces between the teeth that are often hard to reach when you brush and floss your teeth, leading to plaque and tartar buildup. You’ll notice that the gums in these areas become tender and inflamed when you try to reach them, ultimately leading to swollen, bleeding gums. Straightening your teeth via Invisalign or braces is a great way to open up these spaces a bit more, encouraging the gums to heal and reattach to the teeth in a healthier way. The best part? People who have straight teeth are less likely to develop gingivitis and gum disease.

REDUCED TMJ PAIN

Many people who have crooked teeth also suffer from disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Common symptoms of TMJ disorders are jaw pain, a popping or clicking jaw, headaches, soreness in the ears and facial muscles, a grinding noise when you chew, and restricted jaw movement. If you are experiencing any of these TMJ symptoms, straightening your teeth may help. Both Invisalign and traditional braces address alignment issues in the mouth, including overbites, underbites, and cross bites, which have a direct impact on TMJ function.

Read More: Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

BETTER OVERALL HEALTH

As previously mentioned, crooked teeth can lead to gum disease, which is a serious health condition that can be life-threatening. This is because the mouth is “vascular,” meaning that it is connected to many other organs in the body via the bloodstream. If your teeth are crooked and you’ve developed gum disease, the bacteria in the infected gums can make its way to your heart and other vital systems if the gums bleed. That being said, straightening your teeth is not only a good way to reduce your risk of developing gum disease, but also serious conditions like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

IMPROVED CONFIDENCE

The benefits of straight teeth are not all physical — in fact, straighter teeth come with lots of mental and emotional benefits as well. The most obvious of these is enhanced self-esteem, self-image, and overall confidence. Many people with crooked teeth are hesitant to smile around others because they are embarrassed about the appearance of their teeth. This is understandable, as your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. If you have beautiful, straight teeth that you’re proud of, you’ll look and feel more attractive, making you less reluctant to hiding your pearly whites around others.

INCREASED HAPPINESS

With improved self-image, self-esteem, and confidence comes increased happiness overall. When you don’t feel like you have to hide your smile around others, you’ll be able to fully enjoy life’s special moments, such as greeting a friend, laughing at a joke, singing to your favorite song, or just grinning out of pure joy. Studies show that a genuine smile has a huge impact on your mood, releasing “feel good” hormones in your brain and making you feel at ease. Now, multiply that by however many people you’re currently with, because smiles are contagious. Just think about all the joy you’re spreading now that you have beautiful, straight teeth!

BOOK AN INVISALIGN CONSULTATION AT OUR OTTAWA DENTAL CLINIC

Of course, there are many other benefits of straight teeth that we didn’t touch on in this blog, but we’re leaving those for you to experience for yourself! As a family dental clinic in Ottawa, we’re here to help you get the straight smile you’ve always wanted so you can maintain good health, confidence, and happiness in life. Contact Trillium Dental today to find a dental office near you, or book an appointment with us online!

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