Invisalign Post-Care Tips

After you’ve got your Invisalign aligners, you need to follow a prescribed set of procedures to ensure a successful treatment.To make sure you derive 100% benefit from your aligners, here are some of the most important tips on wearing and caring for them.

The Correct Way of Wearing the Aligners

In order for Invisalign to work, the patient needs to wear each set of aligners 22 hours daily for 14 days. This means that the only time when the aligners won’t be on your teeth is when you eat or you brush and floss. If, for some reason, you can’t wear the aligners for a full 22 hours on a certain day, just make sure to track the amount of time that’s missing and add it at the end of the 14 day interval.

What if you forgot how many hours you’ve missed?

It’s always better to wear the aligners a bit longer than required, as it causes no harm at all.

The important thing is that each set of aligners stays on your teeth 22 hours times 14.Even if it took you 15 days and not in 14 to get this amount it’s still okay.

Always remember that if one set of aligners is worn only 80% of the time, it will only do only 80% of the job.

What this means is the next set of aligners will need to accomplish 120%, which is an impossible task.

How to Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene when Wearing Invisalign Aligners

There are no special oral hygiene rules other than those you usually follow. Brush your teeth after every meal, floss and use a fluoride rinse. If you can’t brush your teeth after some meals, you may chew a little bit of chewing gum or rinse your mouth as well as you can before placing the aligners back on your teeth.

Aligners need cleaning as well, but you shouldn’t use toothpaste for this job. A mild liquid soap is best for cleaning them. Either apply it with a soft toothbrush or with a q-tip and rinse it very well afterwards.

Avoid exposing your aligners to extreme heat or cold.They may get distorted and won’t fit properly on your teeth anymore. Never attempt to boil your aligners to sterilize them, because you’re going to ruin them instead.

How to Put On the Aligners

Always check that you have the correct set of aligners you need to wear that week. This is easy to see, as they are all clearly marked with labels.

Start with the top aligner. Place it over your teeth and push it gently until it fits into position. Repeat the procedure with the lower one. You can apply a slight pressure by pressing your jaws together, but don’t force it.

Always start by pushing the aligners with your fingers until there’s no gap between them and the teeth. You could hurt your gums or damage the aligners if you just put them in your mouth and bite your teeth to make them snap into position.

If you feel uncomfortable wearing your aligners, go to your dentist and ask for an adjustment. In case it’s only a minor pinching or scratching sensation, you may attempt to adjust the aligner yourself with an emery board.

How to Remove the Aligners

The removal of the aligners should always start from the back of the mouth. Use your fingers to remove it from your back teeth, and then advance slowly to the front ones, until you’re done.

In order to prevent damage caused by unusual wear, only remove your aligners when you need to eat or clean your teeth and do it from a different spot each time.

Never use scissors, toothpicks or other sharp objects to remove your aligners, because you could easily damage them or hurt yourself.

Whenever aligners are not in your mouth, they should be stored in their protective case. If you simply put them in napkins or tissues, you may forget and throw them away with the trash.

If this happens, though, make sure you always have the previous set of aligners handy, so you can wear those until you order a new set similar to the one you either destroyed or lost. If you don’t wear any aligner for the 2-3 weeks that are needed to produce a new set of trays, the teeth will migrate back in their old positions, so your Invisalign treatment will fail.

When you start with Invisalign, you’ll most probably be provided with a starter kit containing everything you need for a correct treatment. These kits contain fluoride, among other things. Fluoride is good because it prevents decalcification of the teeth, thus protecting you from getting cavities.

Last but not least, always store your aligners and all items in your starter kit in a safe place, away from the reach of children or pets.

Book an Appointment

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(03) 9544 8241

Dental Fillings

Why live with painful and unsightly cavities when you can have them filled by our dentists in a painless procedure!
In order to repair a cavity, the decayed portion of your tooth will be removed by your dentist. The portion of the tooth occupied by the decayed material will then be filled. Fillings are utilised to repair teeth that are broken, cracked, or that have cavities.

What Are The Steps For Filling Teeth?
Initially, a local anaesthetic will be injected into the area that surrounds the tooth. Novocaine is normally used. Then, a drill, laser, or air abrasion will be utilised to remove the area that is decayed. The type of instrument that is used will depend on the preference and training of your dentist, along with the extent and location of the tooth decay.

Your dentist will then test and probe the area of decay to ensure that all decayed material has been removed. After the removal of the decay, the space to be occupied by the filling will be cleaned so that all debris and bacteria are removed. If the area of the decay is close to the root, a liner constructed of a composite resin, glass ionomer or other type of material may be used in order to provide protection to the nerve. After the insertion of the filling, it will be finished and polished.

Additional steps are needed for fillings that are tooth-coloured. Subsequent to the removal of decay and cleaning of the area, the material that is tooth-coloured will be applied in layers. A specially designed light that hardens or cures each layer is used. After the completion of the multi-layering procedure, the composite material will be shaped by your dentist, excess material will be trimmed, and it will be polished.


Filling Materials Used
There are several types of filling materials that are currently available. Teeth may be filled with porcelain, gold, silver amalgam, or tooth-coloured composite resins. Silver amalgam is comprised of mercury with tin, silver, copper, and zinc mixed with it. The extent and location of the cavity, expense of filling material, insurance coverage of the patient, and the recommendation of the dentist will determine the kind of filling material that will best suit your needs

Gold Fillings
Pros

  • Extremely durable – will usually last for the life of the patient. Will not corrode.
  • Strength – Can withstand almost any chewing forces
  • Aesthetics – Some people prefer the look of gold to sliver amalgam

Cons

  • Expense – more costly than other types of material. Can be 10 X more costly than amalgam
  • Multiple Office Visits – requires a minimum of two visits
  • Aesthetics – some patients don’t like its appearance

Silver Amalgam Fillings
Pros

  • Durability – Normally lasts longer than composites. Normally lasts ten to fifteen years or more.
  • Strength – able to withstand all chewing forces
  • Expense – costs less than gold or composite fillings

Cons

  • Generally poor aesthetics – natural colour of teeth is not matched
  • Requires more space – A portion of the tooth that is healthy must be removed, at times, to provide a large enough area for the amalgam filling.
  • Discolouration – a hue that is greyish may be imparted to the adjacent tooth structure
  • Fractures and Cracks – All teeth expand and contract with temperature changes, which can cause cracking. However, amalgam materials may expand and contract to a greater extent than other materials, leading to an increased incidence of fractures and cracks.
  • Allergies – approximately 1% of patients have allergies to the mercury that is in silver amalgam

Composite Fillings – Tooth Coloured
Pros

  • Aesthetics – composites can be closely matched to the colour of the patient’s teeth. They are particularly useful for teeth that are visible
  • Bonding – composite fillings will bond chemically with a tooth and provide structural support to the tooth
  • Versatile – can also be utilised in the repair of broken, worn, or chipped teeth
  • Space requirement – at times less tooth material is needed to be removed in comparison to silver amalgam fillings when preparing a space for this filling.

Cons

  • Reduced durability – Composite fillings do not last as long as amalgams or gold. In addition, they often don’t hold up as well under the pressure of use, particularly if they are used to fill large cavities.
  • Takes Longer – due to the process needed to fill a tooth with composite materials, it takes longer in the dentists chair to place them.
  • More than one visit – if composites are being used for onlays or inlays, it may require more than one office visit
  • Chipping – composite materials are more likely to chip than amalgams
  • Cost – composite filling may cost twice as much as amalgam fillings

Additional Filling Materials
In addition to composite resins that are tooth coloured, there are two other types of tooth-coloured fillings. Glass ionomer and ceramics.

Glass Ionomer
This material is constructed of a specific type of glass and acrylic. It is commonly utilised on fillings that are beneath the gum line and for young children. This material releases fluoride, which may protect a tooth from additional decay. Nevertheless, glass ionomer is not as strong as composite resin and more prone to fracture and wear. It normally lasts for five years or less and the expense is similar to composites.

Ceramics
Usually constructed of porcelain. Ceramics are stain resistant, compared to composites, but are more abrasive. Ceramics are very durable, and usually last for 15 years or more, but, they are costly, and the expense can be similar to gold.

Porcelain Crown & Veneers

Rejuvenate Your Smile with Porcelain Crown and Veneers from Monash Dental Group
Remember; beautiful and aesthetically appealing cosmetic dentistry is not a matter of chance; it demands an experienced clinician who is sensitive to your unique needs and an expert dental ceramist who leverages the art and science of dentistry to deliver optimal results. At Monash Dental Group, we boast an expert team of experienced cosmetic dentists, who have extensive experience in fitting patients with porcelain veneers and crowns. Our first-class porcelain veneers and crowns are highly effective for your unique functional and cosmetic needs.

At Monash Dental Group, our products are expertly crafted to compliment your age, gender, expectations, and facial features. We leverage the expertise of the best dental ceramists to guarantee that the veneers and crowns are of premium quality, resilient, and possess excellent craftsmanship. We work diligently to provide you with a top-quality product that beautifully compliments your face, while simultaneously restoring the function and aesthetics of your natural teeth.

Porcelain Veneers
Typically, porcelain veneers are a form of thin laminates of chinaware that are securely bonded to the surface of the tooth. For diverse dental problems, it is one of the most aesthetically appealing means of enhancing your smile. Veneers are one of the most popular treatments for restoration of chips, spaces, fractures, unshapely and discoloured teeth, or misaligned and rotated teeth. They deliver an unmatched cosmetic makeover that allows alteration of shape, position, size, and the colour of your teeth. Monash Dental Group boasts experienced cosmetic dentists who deliver exceptional results with porcelain veneers. We feature:

  • Dramatic yet aesthetically beautiful and natural cosmetic dental enhancement
  • Durable, high quality, and permanent
  • Enhanced self esteem

The procedure typically requires two appointments. At first, the tooth is prepared for minimal reduction to make enough space for the porcelain veneer. A mould of the tooth is taken for fabrication, which takes approximately 2 weeks. In the next visit, the permanent veneer is bonded in place.

Crowns
Crowns are a rigid and strong cap that restores the tooth to its natural function and anatomic contours, as well as protects the underlying tooth. In certain conditions, where veneers are not possible, crowns are a suitable option. Some of the scenarios in which crowns may be used include tooth fractures, large restorations, functionally compromised teeth, history of root canal therapy, and acute damage due to decay. There are a wide range of choices available in crowns and bridges.

Dental crown procedures take just two appointments, depending on the condition of your teeth and gums. First, the tooth is prepared for reduction and an impression is taken for fabrication. A temporary, plastic crown in fitted while the mould is being fabricated. In the next visit, the temporary crown is removed and the final crown is secured permanently into position. The fabrication procedure may take time depending on the type of crown.

Monash Dental Group is an expert in crowns and veneers, delivering matchless quality and desired results. The key benefits are:

  • Extensive protection and support to the compromised or damaged teeth
  • Natural and aesthetically enhanced appearance
  • Restoration of full functions and a confident smile

Contact the professionals at Monash Dental Group for more details on porcelain veneers and crowns. We guarantee excellent quality and fantastic results in a cost-effective manner.