Your Victoria Invisalign® Provider
Like with any orthodontic treatment, there is an adjustment period with Invisalign during which patients will encounter certain difficulties as they become used to wearing their aligners. Here, our Victoria dentists provide some pointers on how to get acclimated to speaking with Invisalign Clear Aligners.
Almost any dental or orthodontic device has the potential to have an impact on your ability to communicate verbally. Orthodontic appliances that add extra thickness to the roof of your mouth or the backs of your front teeth are likely to create mild speech difficulties, and Invisalign aligners are a good example of such appliances.
Is Invisalign going to cause difficulty speaking?
Because Invisalign aligners are made of thin, transparent plastic, any impact they might have on your speech should be relatively minor. However, some people might find it challenging to speak.
When your Invisalign aligners are first put on for treatment, you may notice a minor lisp in your speech, particularly when you produce "s" or "sh" sounds. This is normal during the treatment process.
Fortunately, this little lisp will most likely only be apparent to you, and not to anybody else with whom you are conversing, and it should progressively decrease as you become more accustomed to wearing aligners.
Are there ways to help reduce difficulty speaking?
If your Invisalign Clear Aligners are causing you trouble speaking, try following some of these tips:
Practice
In a private setting, practice using proper pronunciation when speaking. Focus on the letters that are hardest for you, such as S's, T's, D's, and C's, and try to over-enunciate them.
Read Aloud
Try reading aloud to yourself or to a loved one to see if it helps. Passages that you find particularly difficult should be repeated.
Record Yourself
It's a good idea to record your practice sessions using a portable recorder or your phone. This will enable you to pinpoint the sounds, words, and phrases that you find the most challenging to utter.
Speak Slowly
Spend time thinking about what you're going to say and speak at a calm, relaxed pace.
Stand Up Straight
Proper airflow through the larynx (voice box) is made possible by good posture, which makes speaking easier.
Takeaways
The above suggestions can help you go back to your typical speaking ability in no time.
If your Invisalign aligners cause you to speak with a little lisp or speech impairment, try to remember that practice makes perfect. Or at least, practice makes better.
The simplest and fastest way to get past any obstacles is to consistently work on your pronunciation and enunciation of the words you are finding challenging. Getting comfortable with your new clear aligners will be made easier for you if you practice difficult words. While wearing your aligners, you can also read aloud to yourself (or to others) or engage in conversations with loved ones and trusted friends to help you get used to wearing them.