Invisalign: problems with the clear aligners

Problems with Invisalign

Everyone is talking about Invisalign — literally. A series of clear aligners moves the teeth into the desired position quickly. More than 8 million patients have already straightened their teeth with Invisalign. The trays are swapped out every 7-14 days, and each new pair nudges the teeth gently closer to the target position. You should wear the aligners 18-22 hours a day. But what problems can come up with the clear trays? In this post we break down the most common issues and show you how to deal with them.

Lisping with Invisalign

A slight lisp on S-sounds when you first insert your aligners is very common. Most of the time you notice it more than the people around you do. Either way, it usually settles down within a few hours. The tongue is a muscle, and the aligners are very thin — so you adjust quickly and your speech goes back to normal in no time. If you want to speed things up, you can practice: when you put your trays in for the first time, try to speak a lot or read out loud. Your tongue will adapt much faster that way.

Pain

The most common question we get: do the Invisalign trays hurt? Do they cause sores? Should I expect headaches?

For most patients, Invisalign is a pain-free way to straighten teeth. Instead of pain, the first few days bring a gentle pressure on the teeth. That pressure is necessary — it is what actually moves the teeth into position. You will feel it most with the very first tray, because the teeth shift slightly between the 3D scan and the moment you insert the first aligner. With consistent wear, the pressure eases off within the first few days. From the second pair onward, you should only feel mild pressure — and the more disciplined you are with wear time, the less tension you will notice.

Tip: if you have been slacking on wear time, or if a new pair feels uncomfortably tight after the switch, just wear the previous pair a little longer before moving on to the next one.

In rare cases, a small sore can develop on the inside of the mouth during treatment. The usual culprit is a sharp edge on the aligner — and you can round it off with a regular nail file. Here is a video that shows you how.

Please note: if you experience severe pain, see your dentist or orthodontist. Other causes may be at play. Read more about how to handle pain during Invisalign treatment.

Lipstick and lip gloss

Do you have to give up lipstick or lip gloss with aligners? Clear answer — no. That said, we recommend a matte lipstick. It is far less messy than creamy or liquid lip products. If you do go for a regular lipstick or gloss, draw your index finger gently between your lips after applying. That removes excess color from the inside of the lip so no color film ends up on your trays.

Stained trays or stained attachments

The Invisalign trays can pick up stains from drinks and foods with colorants. That does not actually affect your treatment — but it does make the "invisible" trays more visible. Since the aligners get swapped out every two weeks at the latest, this problem is only temporary. In this article we go deeper into the causes of staining and how to remove it.

Cavities

One major advantage of Invisalign treatment: it does not get in the way of your oral hygiene. If you follow the protocol, Invisalign does not raise your cavity risk. On the contrary — most patients actually improve their oral hygiene during treatment, simply because they brush more often (after every meal) and floss more regularly.

Note: do not reinsert the aligners without brushing your teeth first — otherwise you do create the conditions for cavities.

Cost

The cost of Invisalign treatment varies a lot. Some practices charge up to 8,000 €. At SmileClubOne we believe an Invisalign treatment should be affordable. That is why we offer fair, transparent pricing. Treatment starts at 1,656 € and never exceeds 3,790 €. We also offer 0% financing starting at 69 € per month (over 24 months). The exact cost depends on the severity of the misalignment. Thanks to our Invisalign Diamond 2 status (we are the largest Invisalign provider in Germany), we get a 46% discount on the external lab fees — and we pass that saving directly on to our patients. Read more about pricing.

Can Invisalign treat complex cases?

Yes — Invisalign can treat complex misalignments including overbite, underbite, crossbite and open bite. How far your provider can take you with Invisalign depends heavily on their experience with the system. Not every provider who offers clear-tray therapy can deliver the same results. There are a few very complex cases that can only be treated with fixed braces or with surgery. Read more on this topic.

Advantages of Invisalign

Compared to fixed braces and to other aligner systems, Invisalign comes with a lot of upside. For one, the treatment is far gentler and more discreet than fixed braces. For another, most other aligner providers can only do minor corrections on the front 6-8 teeth. Backed by decades of research and more than 660 patents, Invisalign is technologically ahead of the field. Learn more about the pros and cons of the treatment.