Why is this dental procedure nessary?

I have had Invisalign for about 4 months now, and every other 6 week appointment I got to, they do some painful polishing thing between my teeth. Once they used a blade with sandpaper on it that spins and she grinds it between some teeth. The most recent time I've been though, they used a small rough strip. It hurts really bad, because I have sinsitive gums. What is the purpose of this painful procedure? How can I make it less painful?





Thanks

Why is this dental procedure nessary?
The interproximal reduction removes some of the enamel from your teeth. This is sometimes one of the downsides in Invisalign.


If interproximal stripping is required, then I think this is a reason NOT to do Invisalign.
Reply:The procedure is called interproximal reduction and it is used to create more space for your teeth to shift into place. Mention to your DDS that it is painful and he can anesthetize you for the procedure if a lot of reduction is needed. To help with the sensitivity afterward you can use some type of fluoride to help mineralize the areas more.