Disadvantages of Invisalign

Commitment is crucial when it comes to Invisalign. The aligners are removable, and while this may sound great to some, it could pose many problems for others. For example, patients may forget to put the aligners back in, which means it is not working 24/7 like conventional braces. Patients must be committed to fixing their smile. Losing hours a day simply because a patient is too lazy to put the aligner in, or because they just don’t feel like wearing it can drastically affect results. Patients who are negligent during their treatment have been known to lose months getting their teeth back on the right track. The suggested time required for wearing the aligners is 20-22 hours per day.

There is also the risk of losing the aligner, since it is removable. A new aligner can be ordered so this is not the end of the world, however, you will need to obtain the new aligner in a timely fashion as to prevent the teeth from moving off-course.

Although rare, there have been cases reported in which the patient was allergic to the polyurethane used to create the aligners. Symptoms have ranged from minor, including sore throat, cough, and naseua, to more severe including systemic swelling, and sore throats finding its way to the upper chest.

It is recommended that every time the aligner’s are removed for eating purposes, the teeth should be cleansed before the aligner is put back in. This could be troublesome for patients who eat several times throughout the day, or who may not have access to clean their teeth after a meal.

A rare disadvantage is when the aligner becomes damaged from grinding teeth while sleeping. Again, this is very rare, but there have been a few cases reported, so if you are a grinder, it may be wise to mention that to your dentist/orthodontist.

If a patient has the treatment go off track, or in other words, if for some reason, the patient is unable to properly wear the aligners to the point that teeth begin to shift on its own, the aligners will no longer fit, and a new set of aligners will need to be created.

Patients may also experience a slight lisp at the start of their treatment. This is no different from what happens when you begin wearing a retainer. It will just require a little time to get adjusted to wearing it, and the lisp will eventually fade away.