West Green Family Dental

21350 FM 529 Suite 400 Cypress, Texas 77433
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Month: June 2022

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Dental care

What does the plus mean on Invisalign?

Invisalign
A young smiling woman holding invisalign braces in studio, dental healthcare and Orthodontic concept.

The plus sign on Invisalign indicates or means over correction. The plus sign Invisalign tray is an overcorrection tray worn when your teeth have not moved properly after using all the Invisalign trays in your teeth straightening process. In addition, depending upon your treatment and well your teeth have moved, you may not need to wear an overcorrection tray afterward. The plus sign Invisalign correction tray is necessary to wear after your treatment to give your teeth a proper push which couldn’t happen at the time of the treatment for some reason.

Overcorrection Invisalign aligners are also called refinement aligners. The overcorrection aligners are designed to adjust to your specific teeth needs in your mouth sets into a perfect position. Patients often wonder why they must wear a plus one or overcorrect aligners after their Invisalign treatment. It is because sometimes your teeth tend to move back to their original position even after the teeth straightening treatment. Overcorrection aligners ensure that your teeth are in a better position or alignment if they begin to get to their original place.

Plus, sign aligners or overcorrection aligners help to give you a straight and beautiful smile. However, unlike the retainers, the plus sign aligners are not meant to hold your teeth in the proper place after the Invisalign treatment. Overcorrection aligners are intended to give your troublesome or rigid teeth a perfect position or placement when they are not properly aligned and cause dental relapse. However, dental deterioration after the teeth straightening treatment is normal, and it can happen to anyone. But following your dentist’s advice can help you manage the relapse easily.

How does plus sign or overcorrection aligners work?

Overcorrection aligners are given to shift the teeth with certain issues that can’t be completely corrected during the Invisalign treatment. Some of the conditions on which overcorrection aligners work are:

  • Extrusion
  • Gapping
  • Rotation
  • Forward movement

Lastly, if you face any problem with your Invisalign treatment, you must consult your dentist for proper treatment.

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Dental care

Can retainers damage teeth?

One of the common misconceptions that patients have is that when teeth are fixed with orthodontic treatment, they are fixed for life. That is not true. Once your braces are off, doctors are going to suggest retainers.

When your treatment with braces or Invisalign is complete, there is sometimes an immediate tendency for the teeth to drift back to their original position. It is possible to minimize this tendency, but this is often a primary issue for up to eighteen months after treatment.

What are retainers, and how will they help?

A retainer is a metal or plastic device that maintains a patient’s teeth aligned after braces or Invisalign treatment is completed. They are custom-molded to fit each patient’s mouth and offer the necessary pressure and guidance to keep teeth from reverting to their prior position. 

Retainers function by “retaining” the teeth in their new positions. Your doctor will include the type of retainer and the length of time required in the individualized treatment plan for you. Retainers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. 

The majority are detachable, but some are fixed behind your front teeth. They all have the same purpose: to keep your teeth straight and in place, but they go about it differently. 

Can my retainer damage my teeth?

Retainers rarely change the structure of the teeth. A retainer should not compromise the tooth’s integrity in any way. If a retainer is overly tight, it can cause crowding by moving teeth in the wrong direction. If the retainer is excessively loose, it may not provide appropriate alignment.

A retainer will not harm your teeth if made by a competent Orthodontist and fits correctly. Fitting is something that your trained Orthodontic Specialist may assist you with.

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Dental care

Is Invisalign a permanent fix?

Woman with perfect smile after invisible invisalign aligners treatment. High quality photo

Invisalign is a reliable source of teeth straightening over time without causing much pain and trouble like the traditional braces. Invisalign aligners have various benefits when worn properly and as directed by the dentist. Your teeth tend to shift back to their previous position after the treatment. But if you wear your Invisalign aligners for more than 20 hours and take care of your oral hygiene during the treatment the Invisalign will provide you with the permanent solution and you can live with your beautifully straight smile forever.

How Invisalign can give your teeth a permanent fix?

Like any other treatment, Invisalign also works when used as directed. If you want to give your teeth a permanent fix, it is vital to keep the Invisalign aligners in physical contact with your mouth to move your teeth to a better position. Invisalign can indeed give you permanent results. If you are seeking a remedy for teeth correcting issues, having doubts regarding the treatment is natural.Invisalign alone can’t give you the best results. The main job of your Invisalign aligners is to provide minimum pressure to your teeth with each set so they can move to the desired position. But if you don’t take proper care of your teeth, there is no point in expecting the desired results. Therefore, It is for you to know and understand that you must adhere to the dentist’s instructions if you want the treatment to be easy and successful.

The teeth strengthening process with Invisalign could take about 9-12 months and more depending upon your condition, but with time you will notice a gradual change and shit in your upper and lower teeth. To ensure your teeth get a permanent fix, you should only remove your aligners when eating, brushing, or flossing. Immediately putting your aligners back and wearing them all day while doing your daily activities is essential for a permanent fix.

Lastly, if you are facing any problem with your Invisalign, it is advised that you should immediately consult your dentist for proper treatment.

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Dental care

Does Invisalign whiten teeth?

Your Invisalign aligners alone can not whiten your teeth. Invisalign treatment is only meant to move your teeth to a better position and make them look less compact for a broader and better smile. However, if you want to whiten your teeth during your Invisalign treatment, you can use various products and gels with your Invisalign to make your teeth appear white and bright. But before applying or buying any whitening gel or teeth product, always consult your dentist as it can interfere with your teeth straightening process.

Why do your teeth get yellow during your Invisalign treatment?

There are different ways to keep your teeth white while wearing your Invisalign aligners, but it is important to know why your teeth get yellow or stained in the first place.Here are some of the things which make your teeth yellow or stained during your Invisalign treatment:

  • Eating foods with artificial coloring or dark-colored foods often like curry, drinks, etc. can stain your teeth and make them look yellow
  • Not flossing and brushing your teeth can cause the plaque build-up making your teeth yellow or stained
  • Smoking often and wearing your Invisalign or washing your mouth, or flossing your teeth can make your teeth look yellow
  • Avoid eating or drinking foods like tea, coffee, etc. It will not only stain your teeth but also affect how your Invisalign looks. These stain-causing foods can leave a dark pigment.

As mentioned before, your Invisalign aligners can not make your teeth white. If you want to make your teeth white, you can use various whitening products. Some products which can make your teeth look bright and white while wearing your Invisalign aligners are:

  • Whitening Gel
  • Charcoal toothpaste
  • Brightening toothpaste
  • Teeth whitening trays

Before using any of these products or facing any difficulty with your Invisalign treatment consulting your dentist is important for proper treatment./div>