Does Invisalign Give You a Lisp?

Invisalign is a system used to straighten teeth that is used all around the world. They gradually move your teeth into place using clear aligners made of SmartTrack, a flexible plastic made especially for this treatment.

Aligners from Invisalign are very different from metal braces. Where traditional braces can only be removed from the patient by an orthodontist and are very obvious, neither is the case with Invisalign clear aligners. They are practically invisible and most people will not even notice that you are wearing them and are removable as and when needed by the patient.

The aligners are custom-made by your orthodontist by conducting a 3D scan of your mouth. They will then create a plan completely unique to you of how each individual tooth will be moved into position using your Invisalign aligners.

Your Invisalign journey will then be monitored by your dentist to make sure everything is going smoothly and the treatment working as it should be.

You can choose to get either a full or partial set. A partial set will only move the front teeth.

So, does Invisalign give you a lisp?

What are the disadvantages of Invisalign?

Invisalign is not necessarily the correct choice for every patient, whether you are not eligible or you just don’t feel that it is right for you, your dentist should be able to offer you a suitable alternative.

There are a few disadvantages of Invisalign treatment that you should be aware of:

Invisalign is generally more expensive than getting normal braces.
You may forget to put in and take out your Invisalign each time, which may put you behind on your teeth straightening progress.
It requires effort to clean and maintain your Invisalign aligners and the trays that they are stored in. If you do not clean them properly, old food and bacteria could build up on them, which can stain and damage your aligners.
If you do not clean your Invisalign well enough, this increases your risk of cavities and bad breath.

The problems that could occur throughout the course of Invisalign treatment are mainly down to not caring properly for your aligners. This means that Invisalign is best for those who are able to visit the dentist for check-ups and maintain a daily routine of cleaning and wearing them regularly.

At Didsbury Dental Practice we believe that Invisalign treatment is worth it so don’t let the few disadvantages put you off this option. Most patients that use Invisalign as their system for straightening their teeth get amazing results.

Who should not get Invisalign?

Unfortunately, Invisalign is not going to be suitable for everyone, you may not be if of the following apply to you:

You still have baby teeth present in your mouth.
You do not yet have all your adult teeth.
You have false teeth or dentures.
You have severe gum inflammation or active gum disease.
You have an infection in your wisdom teeth.
Your wisdom teeth are preventing the Invisalign aligners from fitting correctly.
You have had certain teeth extracted.
You have had dental implants or a dental bridge.
You have improperly shaped teeth, which Invisalign aligners can’t fix, so a dental crown may be better for you instead.
You cannot commit to wearing the aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours a day.
You cannot commit to cleaning your aligners and tray every day.
You are a heavy smoker- the tobacco and nicotine can stain your aligners and get trapped in your teeth.
You have Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD), which is a condition affecting the movement of the jaw and the surrounding muscles. Patients usually experience pain, dysfunction and restricted movement in the jaw. The condition may cause side effects such as tenderness, headaches, limited ability to open the mouth, and tooth wear.

Does Invisalign hurt?

Invisalign is certainly not a painful orthodontic treatment, in fact, it is one of the least painful dental treatments. Just like any type of retainer, there will be some adjustment period where your teeth get used to the pressure which could cause some discomfort but this just goes to show that it is doing its job.

If when you first wear your Invisalign you do feel some mild pain, this should be temporary and will be gone in a few days. If you do have severe discomfort or pain after a week of wearing your Invisalign you should consult your orthodontist or your dentist.

What are the advantages of Invisalign?

There are so many benefits to using Invisalign liners such as:

The Invisalign is virtually invisible and unnoticeable on your teeth- it does not come with any brackets or wires, or the restrictions that come with metal braces.
The Invisalign can be removed during meal times and during sleep, whereas normal braces cannot be removed.
Invisalign aligners are easier to clean than normal braces.
Invisalign tends to be more comfortable than normal braces, as it applies less pressure to the teeth.
Wearing Invisalign requires fewer trips to the dentist than normal braces do.
If you wear normal braces, they can cause cuts inside your cheeks. With Invisalign, you won’t have this problem.
Invisalign removal is quick, easy and painless- whereas removal of normal braces is time-consuming and can cause discomfort and pain.
Invisalign allows you to view your treatment plan and virtual results before you have even started the treatment, so you will have a better idea of what your teeth are expected to look like after your Invisalign journey is over.

What is the success rate of Invisalign?

Some people overlook Invisalign as they are sceptical and it can sound a bit too good to be true. We understand this, so, what actually is the success rate of Invisalign liners?

Invisalign has a 96% success rate and a huge majority of patients report that their results are fantastic after their treatment with Invisalign. Patients love the clear liners and their virtually invisible nature, it means you can feel fantastic both during and after your Invisalign journey.

Can Invisalign change your face shape?

If you choose to get Invislaign treatment it is not unlikely that your face shape could change very slightly, depending of course on what your facial structure is and the specific tooth problem you are correcting.

Invisalign certainly will not change the shape of your face in an obvious way as it is not a cosmetic treatment but for example, if the aligners are helping to re-align your jaw then for example your lips may appear fuller as they adjust to your new bite alignment.

If anything patients a lot of patients tend to report that they feel more confident in their appearance after their Invisalign treatment.

If you are in any way worried about Invisalign treatment changing the shape of your face too much then you should speak to your dentist or orthodontist. As the ones seeing you regular;y and helping you on this journey they will be able to give to you the best advice.

Does Invisalign give you a lisp?

There are different types of lisps that you can get such as:

A frontal lisp occurs when the tongue is placed anterior to the target.
A lateral lisp occurs when the [s] and [z] sounds are produced with air-flow over the sides of the tongue.
A nasal lisp occurs when part or the entire air stream is directed through the nasal cavity.
A strident lisp results in a high-frequency whistle or hissing sound caused by a stream passing between the tongue and the hard surface.
A palatal lisp is where the speaker attempts to make a sibilant while the middle of the tongue is in contact with the soft palate, or with a posterior articulation of the sibilant.

For the first couple of days of wearing Invisalign, it is possible that you may experience a very slight lisp. Your mouth will very quickly adapt to your aligners though and you will find that this is only temporary. You probably will not develop a lisp with each new set of aligners.

You cannot completely stop a lisp from happening but the more you talk with your aligner in, the faster you will adapt and the lisp will go away.

A lisp with Invisalign could be caused by an ill-fitting aligner so if it lasts for too long go and speak to your dentist.

Invisalign aligners should not cause any major speech impediments. ‘93% of Invisalign patients reported no difficulties with speech impediments’

How long do you need to wear your Invisalign for?

Depending on your specific circumstances the length of time that you will need to wear Invisalign aligners will change. Usually though an average treatment last around 6 to 18 months.

The desired results tend to be achieved in 12 to 18 months making Invisalign one of the quickest dental treatments you can get.

To get the desired results though, you must make sure that you are wearing your aligners for roughly 20 to 22 hours every day and your dentist or orthodontist will advise you on whether or not you should wear them whilst you sleep.

How much is a full set of Invisalign?

Usually, Invisalign costs anywhere between £1,500 and £5,500. You will need to talk to your orthodontist or dentist to find out what it will cost you exactly.

At Didsbury Dental Practice we offer clear aligners/invisible braces from £3950. We can also offer them at a monthly fee.

Click here to view our full list of dental fees. We believe that exceptional dental care shouldn’t discriminate and that is why we offer a range of finance options and payment plans to make all our dental treatments affordable, which now includes orthodontic treatments.

If you are interested in getting Invisalign, contact us to book your first consultation with one of our Invisalign dentists. We are more than happy to help!

We hope we answered the question ‘Does Invisalign give you a lisp?’.