Invisalign aligners can be incredibly useful for patients who are interested in straightening out their teeth, but who don’t want to have to deal with wires and brackets. Invisalign aligners are discreet, and because they’re removable, they don’t involve the same dietary restrictions as traditional braces.
Some patients, however, wonder whether these thin plastic trays are sturdy enough to stand up to wear. People who grind their teeth may fear that they could potentially damage their aligner at night without realizing it.
If you’re curious, here’s more information about what bruxism patients can expect when wearing Invisalign.
Can I Get Invisalign If I Have Bruxism?
Most people with chronic bruxism grind their teeth in their sleep. Your dentist will likely recommend wearing your aligners anywhere from 20-22 hours a day, meaning that you’re going to need to wear them to bed and that sleep bruxism could potentially wear on them.
However, Invisalign trays are surprisingly durable. Moreover, you only have to wear any given set of trays for a few weeks at a time, so it’s unlikely that you’ll have any given set long enough to tear them apart. If anything, your aligners could serve as a kind of nightguard that protects your teeth from your grinding habit.
How to Deal with Bruxism
While bruxism isn’t especially dangerous for your aligners, it could be a problem once you get your aligners off. Now could be your opportunity to treat your bruxism before you get your aligners, just to ensure that you don’t accidentally crack a tray.
If you tell your dentist that you have bruxism, they may recommend you use an oral appliance to treat it before getting Invisalign. You can also have your dentist craft you a nightguard for use after you get your aligners taken off. That way, you’ll be able to protect your brand-new smile!
About Our Practice
At Atrium Family Dental of New Lenox, we believe that the best things we can do for our patients are to treat them as partners, to understand their individual needs, and to customize our treatment to them. Invisalign can be a large time investment, so we’ll take your schedule into consideration and make the entire treatment as stress-free for you as possible.
If you have any questions about Invisalign and bruxism, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (815) 462-9990.