New Haven Dental Group is a 42 North Dental Care, PLLC practice and is owned and operated by dentists Dr. Samuel Shames, DDM. and Dr. Ronald Weissman, DDM. Gentle Dental is supported by 42 North Dental, LLC, a dental support organization that provides non-clinical administrative and business support services to the practice. 42 North Dental, LLC does not own or operate the dental practice or employ dentists to provide dental services. Find more information about 42 North Dental, LLC and the dental practices it supports at 42northdental.com.
Invisalign is one of the most popular orthodontic treatments available today, and for good reason. Not only is it discreet, but it is also effective and convenient. However, before you commit to it, you may have some questions. For example, you might wonder if speaking with Invisalign in New Haven will be a challenge. This blog post discusses how your aligners might affect your speech and how you can adapt to communicating while your aligners are in your mouth.
How Common Are Speech Problems with Invisalign?
Invisalign aligners are quite thin, and they are custom-designed for each patient so they fit snugly on the teeth. Therefore, they are unlikely to cause significant speech difficulties. One survey by Nedwed even found that 93% of Invisalign patients do not notice any significant differences in their speech while their aligners are in their mouth.
The same survey noted that about half of individuals who do experience speech issues find that the problem is not persistent. Therefore, we can reasonably conclude that a mere 3 – 4% of Invisalign patients have to deal with long-term speech problems as a result of their aligners.
How Exactly Can Invisalign Affect Speech?
The most common speech problem with Invisalign is a slight lisp. This can occur because the aligners can alter the way the tongue touches the teeth. Therefore, “s” and “z” sounds might sound more like a “th.” Some patients, although they do not experience a lisp, find that they must speak more slowly while their aligners are in their mouth because it takes a bit more effort to enunciate words clearly.
How to Adjust to Speaking with Invisalign
Many people who experience speech issues with Invisalign find that the problem goes away with time and practice. Here are a few tips to help you adjust to talking with your aligners:
- Do not be afraid to speak. Although it may be a bit awkward to speak with your aligners, that should not prevent you from trying. Reading out loud and chatting with friends are great ways to practice your pronunciation.
- Be patient. Some individuals get used to speaking with Invisalign after just a few hours. Others, though, find that it takes several weeks for their aligners to feel natural and normal in their mouth. If you have a big event coming up, and you are afraid that Invisalign might affect your ability to communicate during it, you may want to slightly delay the start of your treatment.
- Seek help if necessary. Lingering speech problems with Invisalign in New Haven might indicate that an aligner does not fit the way it should. Your dentist can examine your aligners and take steps to correct any problems with them.
There is a small risk that Invisalign will affect your speech. However, most patients find that they can communicate clearly and confidently after a little practice.
Meet the Practice
New Haven Dental Group has been serving our community for decades. We are proud to be home to an expansive team of general dentists and specialists. Invisalign is one of the many advanced services that we offer. To learn more about it, contact our office at 203-712-4068.