1. Will TMJ affect Invisalign treatment?

TMJ is an inaccurate term used for problems associated with the jaw joint called TMJ or temporomandibular joint. These problems called under the general name temporomandibular disorder, or TMD, can include jaw joint noises like clicking; clenching or grinding your teeth called bruxism; sore or painful jaw joints or muscles; and headaches. Since there are many causes of TMD, it can occur at any time even coincidentally with any dental treatment including Invisalign treatment. Although your bite can contribute to TMD, it is not a common result of Invisalign treatment, and even if TMD symptoms do occur during treatment it is usually not long lasting or severe.


2. Since having my braces removed, my teeth have shifted. Can Invisalign correct this?

The shifting of teeth after braces can be corrected with Invisalign. The ease of correction is dependent on early treatment and the severity of the shifting.


3. How often do I need to visit my dentist during the Invisalign treatment?

On average, you will visit the dentist every 6 weeks. It can range from every 4 week to 8 weeks depending on the type of tooth movement that is occurring and the need to monitor that movement closely.


4. How does Invisalign straighten my teeth?

Teeth move whenever a constant force is applied to it. Each Invisalign aligner is computer generated so that each tooth shape in the aligner gets straighter with each subsequent aligner. When wearing an aligner, it feels tight like it does not fit correctly. This tightness forces your teeth to move to fit its corresponding tooth shapes in the aligner. It takes 2 weeks for the teeth to move till it finally fits and the aligner does not feel tight anymore. Then you switch to the next aligner and continue similarly till your teeth are straight.


5. Can I drink alcohol with Invisalign?

Alcohol should be especially avoided since it can significantly affect or damage the integrity of the aligners. In general, avoid all foods and drinks except water when wearing your aligners.


6. What about refinements?

Although Invisalign uses modern technology to treatment plan and deliver a quality product, teeth do not always follow or move as predicted by the computer generated simulations. Refinements are the additional aligners that are made to adjust the final alignment of the teeth that did not move as expected.