Does Invisalign hurt?

The need for braces is a common one, and the different options available today should make it easier for patients to find a version that works well for them. Yet all these options work using the same basic method: They push and pull your teeth into new positions, and that pressure can potentially cause some pain.

The pain should go away, but once the braces are adjusted or the next set of aligner trays is put in use, the pain can return. However, a study showed that about 89 percent of people who had invisible aligners like Invisalign experienced either no pain or very mild pain, which gives you incredibly good odds of having a relatively painless experience. If you need braces and want to get aligners, a cosmetic dentist in downtown Austin can help.

If You Need a Form of Braces, You’re Not Alone

It’s estimated that approximately 4 million people in the U.S. have braces (in general; this number doesn’t specify brackets versus aligners), with 25 percent of those being adults. The reasons range from cosmetic preferences to medical needs, such as realigning misaligned teeth that keep hitting each other in the wrong spots.

This is a great time to need braces as the options are so much better now than they were a few decades ago. If you aren’t thrilled about the idea of having metal brackets placed on your teeth, you have the option of something like aligners that allow you to eat without worrying about the food getting stuck in those brackets. The use of clear aligners has also helped reduce the pain, however mild, of tooth-position adjustment because there seems to be less pain with Invisalign than with regular bracket-style braces.

Why Brace and Aligner Pain Is Such a Concern

Braces and aligners force your teeth to move, and because your teeth are normally set rather solidly in your jaws, that movement isn’t easy. Your teeth can feel some soreness as they adjust to the new set of aligners and the new position. If the pain from aligners is either non-existent or mild for most, though, why is it a concern? First, there’s that small percentage that has more pain. No one wants to experience pain, and having more than mild pain is concerning in and of itself.

But even the thought of possibly having pain can turn people off getting braces or aligners. Those who’ve had braces before and dealt with pain or annoyance back then could be very wary of getting braces or aligners again. But that doesn’t help their teeth.

The Dentists at Toothbar Can Help You Handle Your Tooth Problems

You shouldn’t have to fear the idea of pain from aligners or braces. If you are worried, though, or you’ve had bad experiences in the past, speak with dentists in downtown Austin. Our office has specialists who focus on Invisalign who can help you get properly fitting trays and who can evaluate any pain you might experience. Contact us at www.Toothbar.com or call 512-949-8202.