How Does Invisalign Work?
Your Invisalign treatment consists of a series of clear, removable, custom aligner trays that you change every two weeks. Each new set of aligner trays is shaped a bit differently to gradually shift your teeth into their ideal positions as you move onto the next in the series.
Your First Consultation
Our orthodontists will provide a comprehensive evaluation and inform you as to whether you are a candidate for Invisalign. You are encouraged to ask questions and to bring up any concerns you may have about your teeth. If treatment is indicated, a treatment plan with an estimated time of completion will be provided to you.
You will then meet with our treatment coordinator to discuss our fees, taking into account any dental insurance coverage you may have. Payment plans can be set up on an interest-free monthly or quarterly basis – we also offer discounts for payment in full.
Getting Started: Initial Records and Teeth Scan
Your journey to your new smile begins! A full set of diagnostic records will be taken. These initial records typically include digital x-rays, photos and a 3D digital scan of your teeth. This will be instantly uploaded to Invisalign. Our orthodontists will use the x-rays, photos and 3D digital scan to create a treatment plan that achieves your smile goals.
Wearing Your Invisalign Aligners
The day is here! We will provide you with your first aligner sets. After a few weeks, you will return to our office for detailed instructions and fitting of the aligners. You will return every 8-12 weeks for regular visits with our orthodontists. These checkups are important to ensure proper monitoring of your treatment progress and to provide you for further new aligners. For effective result, we recommend you wear your aligners for 20 hrs each day.
Invisalign Attachment and Inter-proximal Reduction (IPR)
Depending on your treatment plan, attachments may be needed on certain tooth surfaces. These tooth-colored “buttons” help to lock in your aligners tightly and assist in moving your teeth more efficiently, while remaining discrete. The attachments will be placed as necessary and removed at the end of your treatment. For more information, see The Process of Bonding Attachment here
For some cases, interproximal reduction (IPR) may be necessary to create space between your teeth, in order to shift into the right position and alignment through treatment. IPR is a quick polishing of the edges of the tooth enamel. This helps to create a bit of space for crowded teeth. For more information, see The Process of IPR here
Wearing Your Retainer
Once your case is completed successfully, you must wear your retainers as instructed. Retainers are custom made for you and will help to keep your teeth in their newly corrected positions.
It can take several months for your new smile to stabilize. You may have to wear your retainers 24/7 during the first months after finishing your treatment. You can take them out when you’re eating or drinking. Eventually, you can transition to wearing them when you sleep at night.
We cannot stress enough that retainers are a very important part of your treatment. In order to keep your smile at its best for the long term, retainers must be worn consistently – if not, there is a good chance that your teeth may relapse and lose the corrections that were made. If your retainers are lost or damaged, it is your personal responsibility to contact us immediately to have a replacement made.
