Five myths about straightening teeth

Myth 1: I'm too old

Teeth move at any age, because the bone around them remodels throughout life. Patients in their sixties and seventies are treated successfully. What changes with age is what we check first: gum health, bone levels and existing dental work. Treated and stable gum disease is not a barrier; active gum disease is, until it is treated. Our guide to Invisalign at any age covers the detail.

Myth 2: It will hurt

Fixed braces thirty years ago could be genuinely uncomfortable, with wires that rubbed and adjustments that ached for days. Aligners apply lighter, more continuous forces. A new aligner feels tight for a day or two and the teeth can be tender when biting; most people describe it as pressure rather than pain, and it does not usually involve injections or drilling. Our guide on whether Invisalign hurts goes through the first weeks honestly.

Myth 3: Aligners only work for simple cases

That was true of early aligners. Modern Invisalign, with attachments, elastics, bite ramps and better planning software, treats the large majority of cases we see, including deep bites, open bites, crossbites and significant crowding. Some of those were fixed-brace cases ten years ago. A minority of complex jaw problems still need fixed braces, a specialist orthodontist or surgery, and Louise will tell you plainly if you are in that minority.

Myth 4: Treatment takes years

Most adult cases finish within a year, and minor ones in three or four months. Comprehensive cases run twelve to eighteen months. The single biggest influence on time is wearing the aligners for the hours, which is in your hands. Our guide on how long Invisalign takes sets out the typical times for each package.

Myth 5: Once they're straight, they stay straight

This one is believed by a lot of people who had braces as teenagers and now have crooked teeth again. Teeth drift throughout life, whether or not they have been moved, and the fibres around a moved tooth pull it back for many months. Retainers hold both forces at bay: nightly for the first year, then a few nights a week indefinitely. Your Vivera retainers are included, and the retainers guide explains the options.

And two more

"Everyone will notice." At a normal speaking distance clear aligners are hard to see, and most patients find colleagues do not notice until they are told. "Cheaper aligners by post are the same thing." The plastic is similar; the examination, X-ray, planning, attachments, monitoring and retainers are not, and the regulators have warned about aligners supplied without an in-person assessment. Our guide on at-home aligners explains the difference.

Questions people ask

Is there an age limit for Invisalign?

No. Healthy gums and bone matter, not age.

Is Invisalign painful?

New aligners feel tight for a day or two. It is pressure rather than pain.

Can Invisalign fix a bite?

Most deep bites, open bites and crossbites, yes. A minority of complex jaw problems need other treatment, and Louise will say so.

Will my teeth stay straight without retainers?

No. Teeth drift throughout life. Retainers, worn as advised, keep the result.