Month: June 2022

The blue dot on Invisalign is called a compliance indicator. Invisalign Teen Compliance Indicators are a series of blue dots on the backs of the aligners. The dots can’t be seen when the aligner is worn. The blue dots will slowly fade away over the two weeks when the aligners are worn. If you fail to wear the aligners as you should not, the blue dots will still be visible to your orthodontist. 

The compliance indicators can also tell the orthodontist if the treatment is effective. For example, if a patient has been diligent about wearing the aligners as prescribed, yet the hoped-for tooth movement is not taking place, the orthodontist can adjust the treatment plan accordingly.

Why is a blue dot or compliance indicator important in Invisalign?

Both Invisalign and traditional metal braces are effective teeth straightening treatments. However, both have pretty different approaches to teeth straightening. The traditional metal braces have elastic wires and brackets, which help shift your teeth to the desired position. In addition, Invisalign aligners are clear plastic braces and do not have elastic or wires. Apart from these, various other distinctions make Invisalign different from traditional braces. When it comes to saying which one is faster in terms of treatment, a few things come into play.

It is important to understand that the time of the treatment solely depends on the condition of your tooth. If your teeth are not significantly misaligned or crooked it will take less time compared to more serious cases. However, Invisalign aligners are faster compared to traditional metal braces. In general, the Invisalign aligners take around 9-14 months (including complex cases) and on the other hand, traditional braces can take up to 2 years or more to perfectly align your teeth. For example, if you have minor imperfections or misaligned teeth, it could take up to 6-7 months to see the desired results with Invisalign, and in more complex cases like crossbite can take up to 12-14 months. However, Invisalign is faster in showing visible results than traditional metal braces.

Benefits of using Invisalign aligners

If you are new to Invisalign treatment, it is evident that your teeth will take some time to adjust to the aligners, and in the process of adjusting to the Invisalign braces, you have to face discomfort and pain to some extent. Your teeth can hurt after you get Invisalign braces, but it will subside slowly as you get used to it.

Invisalign treatments are not very painful, but they can cause soreness and swelling in your jaw and teeth in the initial days of the treatment. Invisalign aligners work just like the traditional braces, and it may feel uncomfortable because of the pressure your Invisalign out on your teeth. In addition, you can feel pain in your upper and lower jaw because of the tight grip of your aligners.

However, your Invisalign aligners do not have brackets and wires; they can still cause pain and discomfort like any other orthodontic treatment due to the force and tension applied to your teeth. 

How long your Invisalign treatment can hurt?