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COVID-19 has affected our lives in many ways over the last year, but those challenges don’t have to keep you from achieving a straighter smile. Windy City Orthodontics is proud to offer a range of treatment options for anyone looking to improve their oral health, including Invisalign clear aligners! This innovative system is already popular with our teen and adult patients, thanks to the removable design and clear material. Thanks to the extra measure of flexibility they offer, staying safe and healthy with Invisalign during COVID-19 is a breeze!
While adjusting to a new sense of “normal” over the past several months, we have come to realize that Invisalign is a great option for achieving a healthier smile during a pandemic. The treatment process with clear aligners is safe and effective, with the added benefit of being easier to navigate during these socially-distanced times. Keep reading below to learn why more patients than ever are choosing Invisalign for all their orthodontic needs!
Invisalign makes it simple to maintain good oral health
One of the most prominent messages throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been the advice to keep our hands away from our face and mouth. This helps limit the spread of germs and slows the rate of infection. Unfortunately, Invisalign patients are unable to avoid touching their mouths during the treatment process. That means it is more important than ever to maintain good hygiene, which is an easy task with Invisalign’s clear aligners!
Patients will find it a simple task to care for both their oral health and their aligners. The trays are designed to be removed before eating, drinking anything other than water, and brushing and flossing the teeth. We recommend patients wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before removing aligners from the mouth. Take special care with your fingernails and fingertips since these will come into the closest contact with the mouth and aligners.
Washing your hands is the first line of defense against germs and infection. This CDC video shows viewers how to do so quickly and effectively! If soap and water aren’t readily available, you can use a hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol. These products are fast-acting and significantly reduce the number of germs on your skin.
Once you remove your aligners, you should always place them in a clean, sealed container or left to soak in an approved solution. This keeps them safe from germs and bacteria and also prevents them from being accidentally misplaced or tossed in the trash! Before putting aligners back in the mouth, patients should wash their hands again and rinse the aligner with water. Caring for aligners in this way becomes part of the daily routine in no time at all, and helps protect the patient’s oral and total body health.
Invisalign is convenient
Clear aligner treatments have been popping up everywhere in recent years, which means even those who are unfamiliar with orthodontics have most likely seen or heard about them. Although the design seems quite simple at first, aligners are made to move the teeth in the same way traditional braces do. They continuously apply gentle pressure to the teeth, shifting them over time.
To produce the force needed to move the teeth, the aligners must be worn for 20-22 hours each day. Additionally, each aligner is switched out for the next in the series every 1-2 weeks to keep up with the movements the teeth are making. When you’re compliant with these guidelines, Invisalign can work just as well as braces at correcting many of the most common orthodontic issues.
We typically provide Invisalign patients with several weeks’ worth of aligners at a time, which can be extremely convenient during times like these! If you run out of your current set of aligners before your next scheduled appointment, we can easily arrange curbside pick-up for the next set so there is no need to physically enter our Chicago office. If you have any questions, you can even set up a virtual appointment to speak with Dr. Pakravan and discuss your concerns. These options allow you to practice safe social distancing while continuing to care for your smile.
Invisalign lessens the chance of an orthodontic emergency occurring
Traditional braces are composed of brackets and wires that can be bent or broken. This can occasionally lead to orthodontic emergencies that need immediate attention. Because Invisalign aligners are just one piece and made from a durable material called SmartTrack, emergencies with them tend to be few and far between. They are not indestructible, though—aligners can still tear, crack, or break, especially if they are not handled with care.
We ask patients to let us know any time an aligner is damaged (or lost.) If the damage is relatively minor, the aligner may still be worn until it is time for the next in the series. Patients should refrain from using any aligner that has cracked or split in a way that prevents it from holding its shape. Besides causing potential pain, it will not be able to provide the consistent pressure needed to move the teeth. In a case like this, we may need to make a replacement or Dr. Pakravan may recommend using the next aligner in the series.
Invisalign treatment is easy to troubleshoot
Once you have completed your last course of aligners, the treatment may be complete. There may be times, however, that we will need to schedule a revision scan to see if additional aligners are required to achieve the desired results. Temporary closings and occasional stay-at-home orders have sometimes affected our ability to get patients in quickly for this type of appointment, but Invisalign aligners make it easy to troubleshoot solutions!
For example, anyone currently in aligners can continue wearing the last set they were given if we are not able to provide them with a new set right away. There is one difference—the aligners should be worn for only 10-12 hours a day instead of the normal 20-22 hours. Doing so helps extend the life of the aligners until an appointment is available. This keeps the patient’s treatment plan on track and ensures no progress is lost.
It is very important to keep continuous pressure on the teeth both during (aligners) and after (retainer) treatment is complete. Without continuous force, the teeth will eventually begin to shift back into their previous places. This can happen more quickly than one might think and may lead to longer treatment times. For this reason, we recommend that patients always keep their aligners from the previous stage on hand in case they are needed while waiting for a new set to be delivered.
Safe and effective treatment from Windy City Orthodontics
Even in the midst of a pandemic, Invisalign makes it easy to achieve a healthier smile safely and effectively – even during a pandemic! To learn more about this innovative treatment option, get in touch to schedule a FREE consultation with Dr. Pakravan!