Here at the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa, our goal is to provide the best quality care for you and your family. One of the services we provide is Invisalign, which is a cosmetic treatment for straightening your teeth. Before starting a new treatment, it is common to have many questions. Today, we have accumulated the top 10 most common questions asked about Invisalign.

1. What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an alternative to traditional metal braces. Instead of having wires and brackets on the teeth, Invisalign is a set of plastic, see-through aligners worn in the mouth that straighten your teeth. They look similar to the plastic retainers often worn after traditional braces, but they serve the purpose of straightening the teeth.

2. How Does Invisalign Work?
The first step to considering Invisalign as your alternative to traditional metal braces is to schedule a consultation with us at the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa. We use 3D technology to get a digital scan of your teeth in order to determine a custom treatment plan. Once the treatment plan is created, a set of custom aligners will be created that will be responsible for shifting your teeth into the right position. These aligners will be replaced every few weeks with new aligners as your teeth move.

3. How Do I Eat with Invisalign?
The beauty of Invisalign is that you take them out when you eat, so your food choices aren't limited. Popcorn and hard candy are still allowed – although not recommended for the health of your teeth! Just be sure to brush your teeth before you put your aligners back in, to avoid getting them dirty.

4. How Often Do I have To Wear My Aligners?
In order for your treatment to be most effective, aligners should be worn for 20-22 hours per day. Unless you're eating, you should be wearing them. The aligners teenagers wear come with a dot that indicates whether the aligners are being worn often enough, so parents can rest assured that teeth are straightening on schedule.

5. Do I Need To Go To The Dentist Often?
You will have check-up appointments with your orthodontist at the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa. Your orthodontist will tell you how often you need to come in, but you can generally expect a visit every four to six weeks. You'll change out the aligners you wear every two weeks, so it's important to see your orthodontist on schedule, or as often as needed, to ensure that your teeth are straightening and aligning the way they need to.

6. How Long Does Invisalign Take to Completely Straighten My Teeth?
Time frames are unique to each patient. Your dentist will work closely with you on this aspect of your treatment. Six months is generally considered the shortest amount of time for Invisalign to be effective, with the average time frame being twelve to eighteen months. Once your treatment is done, you'll want to wear a retainer at night to keep those pearly whites nice and straight.

7. How Do I Care for My Teeth?
You'll care for your teeth much the same way that you do now. You'll brush and floss twice a day and have regular dental hygiene visits. You'll take your aligners out to eat and drink, so you can enjoy eating all your favourite foods. Then you'll brush your teeth and put your aligners back in. It's that simple.

8. Will My Aligners Get Dirty from Wearing Them?
They can get dirty, so they need to be cleaned. But don't worry. You can clean your aligners with your toothbrush and toothpaste, just like you brush your teeth, or you can get a take-home kit to clean them. Your aligners are easy to maintain so there is no need to worry. 

9. What Else Should I Consider?
If you're a candidate for Invisalign, there are several things to consider. Your risk for gingivitis will be decreased; wires and brackets from traditional braces often aggravate the gums, causing gingivitis. While it's treatable and generally goes away after braces come off, it's not fun to have painful gums.

10. How Do I Know If I'm A Candidate for Invisalign?
Invisalign works best for issues like gaps, underbites, and jaw alignment. The best way to know if you are a good candidate for Invisalign is by scheduling a consultation at the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre as everything is on a case-by-case basis.