Even though Invisalign offers a wide variety of benefits, in comparison to traditional braces, many patients still ask whether or not they’ll experience pain at any time during the Invisalign treatment.
It’s common for patients to experience some sort of pain at some point during the treatment process. Patients may experience pain from a new aligner, from the aligner fit in the gums, cheek, or floor of mouth, or mild pain when eating. In fact, a study performed by Nedwed, published in the Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics in 2005, showed that 54% of patients experienced mild pain, while 35% experienced no pain at all. The good news is that most patients claimed that the pain went away in a couple of days, and 85% claimed that they were used to the treatment after only a week’s time.
The interesting part about aligner pain or tension is that this discomfort can be a sign that the treatment is proceeding correctly. There should be pressure placed on your teeth from the aligners. If there wasn’t, your teeth would never adjust. This pain will most likely be the most severe at the beginning of the treatment when the gap between where your teeth currently are and where they will be is the greatest.
The aligners might also rub up against part of your mouth, causing mild irritation. 6% of patients witnessed this in the study mentioned above. If this occurs, our team can perform an adjustment to make sure that your aligners fit perfectly in your mouth.
Finally, while eating and drinking can be much more pleasurable with Invisalign than with traditional braces, some patients experience discomfort while eating.
If you’re experiencing pain with a new set of aligners or at any time during the treatment, please let our office know. We can offer the best advice on a case-by-case basis with deep knowledge of your treatment plan.
If you have any questions about Invisalign or if you would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact our team or make an appointment. Our incredible staff will give you the best dental care possible.