Does Invisalign treatment/clear aligners hurt

 

 

One of the biggest concerns people have about undergoing teeth-straightening treatment is whether or not it will hurt. And we get it — a lot of the time when you think of painful teeth straightening, you may think of traditional metal braces, which look a little scary.

Pain is also a pretty subjective experience, so one person's opinion might be different from another's. Generally speaking though, Invisalign treatment will be less painful than traditional braces¹, which is one of the many reasons over 14 million people have chosen Invisalign.

If an Invisalign patient does feel any discomfort at all, it's likely to be just in the first few days or so of wearing each new Invisalign clear aligner set, as the vast majority of patients get used to their

clear aligners within just one week². After all, that's the first time your teeth have experienced that feeling of being aligned, so there will be some adjustment — figuratively and literally.

Let's take a look at Invisalign treatment vs traditional braces, what discomfort you might find during your Invisalign treatment, how long it will last, and more!

Discomfort for Invisalign treatment vs traditional braces

 

The main difference in discomfort between Invisalign treatment and traditional braces is that with Invisalign treatment, any discomfort you do feel should be less apparent. That's been proven too — studies have shown adults wearing traditional braces experienced more pain³ than those wearing Invisalign clear aligners.

The major reason patients usually find Invisalign clear aligners to be more comfortable than braces is that Invisalign’s clear aligners are made with the patented SmartTrack material specially engineered for Invisalign clear aligners. Made of multi-layered medical grade composite, SmartTrack clear aligners are proven to move your teeth more comfortably⁴. They are also designed to exert just the right amount of force on your teeth — not too much, and not too little, to help shape your smile more gently and with less pain than braces⁵.

So, do braces hurt? Well, many people can find braces painful⁶. The metal brackets and wires that are used in traditional braces are exposed within the mouth, which may cause irritation to your mouth and lips⁷ — after all, these are protruding parts made of metal, which isn't the best feeling thing to have inside your mouth 24/7.

The brackets of metal braces can also trap food easily, which is not only annoying but can also lead to cavities or swollen gums⁸ if not cleaned properly. Put it this way — eating popcorn at the movies probably might not be on the menu with traditional metal braces!

Duration of discomfort with Invisalign treatment

Minor discomfort might occur during the first few days of each new clear aligner set you receive. After that, you should be feeling much more comfortable as your teeth start to adjust and get used to being in alignment. In fact, 83% of Invisalign patients got used to their clear aligners within just one week⁹.

What level of discomfort will you have with Invisalign treatment?

While the level of initial discomfort for new Invisalign patients is a subjective thing, the majority of new Invisalign patients experienced mild to no discomfort at all¹⁰. If you are going to feel any discomfort, it's likely going to be from when you are chewing — mainly because the teeth are sensitive to pressure¹¹ during the initial adjustment.

The good news is that Invisalign patients become accustomed to the aligner very quickly and do not suffer much speech impairment¹², so adjusting to your new aligners should be relatively easy!

Invisalign treatment and discomfort in one tooth

Having discomfort in just one tooth is a super-specific feeling, so it might feel pretty odd if you experience it during your Invisalign treatment. This is not unusual, especially if a certain tooth needs to be rotated, and a sign that your Invisalign clear aligners are starting to do their job.

This tooth-specific pain won't necessarily happen with each new set of clear aligners, and the pain itself should go away in a few days or so. If you have any concerns beyond minor discomfort, please double-check with your dentist.

When should discomfort with Invisalign treatment be a concern?

As we mentioned earlier, it's reasonably common to experience minor discomfort within the first few days of wearing each new aligner set throughout your treatment, but most patients only feel mild or no discomfort at all¹³. However, in the very rare case you experience noticeable pain when eating or drinking, bleeding gums, sensitivity to heat or cold, or any pain related to facial swelling, you should visit your dentist straight away.

When all is said and done, Invisalign treatment is still an orthodontic treatment that is meant to create positive physical changes to your teeth and your mouth as a whole. For that reason, it's quite possible you will have an adjustment period where you may even feel some discomfort.

In saying that, the Invisalign system has been designed to be as comfortable as possible, and to emphasize the point, the majority of patients report very little discomfort, if any¹⁴. If you do experience any pain or discomfort when using Invisalign clear aligners, it's likely to be mild and temporary.

 

 

 

Compared to traditional metal braces, Invisalign treatment has been proven to be more comfortable¹⁵ — so if comfort is your priority, you might want to see if Invisalign treatment is right for you.

If you have any concerns about your treatment, be sure to talk to your dentist or orthodontist. They will be able to put your mind at ease and provide you with any information or advice you need.

Interested in Invisalign treatment? Check out our Smile Concierge via completing free assessment to find a doctor.