While Invisalign moves your teeth without the pain and anxiety of metal braces, some people will experience temporary discomfort for a few days at the beginning of each new stage of treatment. This is normal and is typically described as a feeling of pressure. It's also a sign that Invisalign is working, as it moves your teeth to their final destination. This discomfort typically goes away in a couple of days.

Similar to other orthodontic treatments, Invisalign aligners may temporarily affect the speech of some people, and you may have a slight lisp for a day or two. However, as your tongue gets used to having aligners in your mouth, any lisp caused by the aligners should disappear.

No. Thanks to the removable nature of the aligners, you can eat and drink whatever you want while in treatment. In fact, you're required to remove your aligners to eat and drink. So, unlike undergoing traditional treatment using wires and brackets, there is no need to restrict your consumption of any of your favorite foods and snacks unless instructed otherwise by your doctor. Also, it is important that you brush your teeth after each meal and prior to re–inserting your aligners to maintain fresh breath and proper hygiene.

We discourage smoking while wearing aligners because it is possible for the aligners to become discolored.

No, gum will stick to the aligners. We recommend removing your aligners for all meals and snacks.

The best way to clean your aligners is to use the Invisalign cleaning kit, available for order at www.invisalignstore.com. As a secondary method, however, your aligners can also be cleaned by brushing them and rinsing them in lukewarm water.

For the best, quickest results, wear your aligners all day, except when eating, brushing or flossing.

Your doctor will schedule regular appointments – usually about once every four to six weeks. The goal of these visits are to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.

This varies person to person and depends on the outcome of the treatment. Some patients might need a positioner, or conventional retainer. Other patients might need a clear plastic retainer similar to the ones Invisalign makes, such as Align Technology's Vivera Retainer, (www.viveraretainer.com). Discuss this with your dentist. Every patient is different, and outcomes vary.

We know cost is a big question for anyone considering dental or orthodontic work. The truth is, only your doctor can determine the cost of your specific treatment. It really depends on the kind of treatment you need,how extensive the issues are that you want corrected, how long your treatment plan will last, where you live, and other factors determined by your dentist or orthodontist. Invisalign treatment is usually similar to the cost of traditional braces – it can start in the ballpark of $3,500 and go up from there. The national average for Invisalign (in U.S. dollars) is about $5,000. If you're concerned about cost, talk to your Invisalign doctor about payment options – most doctors offer flexible and affordable monthly payment plans, many with no down payment and no interest.

Because medical benefits differ significantly from policy to policy, you should review your personal coverage plan. However, in general, if a patient has orthodontic coverage, Invisalign should be covered to the same extent as conventional braces.

Most doctors will help you find options to make your treatment affordable. Many offices offer flexible and affordable monthly payment plans, many with no down payment and no interest.

Many doctors also offer financing through CareCredit. CareCredit is a third–party patient–financing program, specifically designed for health–care expenses, that makes it easier for you to get the treatment or procedures you want and need. Visit carecredit.com for more information.