How Invisalign works?

When most of us think about orthodontic treatment, we think about metal brackets and wires. If you’re a teenager or adult, an invisible alternative might sound like a better option. As Invisalign continues to grow in popularity as an effective alternative totraditional braces, you may be wondering how Invisalign works. 

Our orthodontics team has put together this easy-to-follow guide to help you understand the whole process of the Invisalign system. Let’s take a look!

Overview of Invisalign

Invisalign treatment consists of a series of personalized aligning trays. The dentist changes the trays every few weeks to fit the new tooth configuration. Besides its reduced visual impact, you can remove these trays for important occasions. This means that treatment duration is patient-controlled. A significant number of people report complete satisfaction with both Invisalign treatment and its stunning results. 

Who should get Invisalign treatment?

Generally, Invisalign can treat almost anything that braces can, including:

• ·          Crooked Teeth
• ·          Gaps in Teeth
• ·          Crowded Teeth
• ·          Overbite
• ·          Under-bite
• ·          Cross-bite
• ·          Open-Bite

But there are certain cases where it may not work as effectively as other treatments, such as traditional braces. The determining factor in whether Invisalign is right for you is the severity of your case. 

 

As each case is unique, we recommend you to consult your dentist to find out what is right for you. 

 

The Preparations

Once we determine if you’re the right candidate for Invisalign, we’ll take detailed records. These records include:

 

• Photographs of your teeth and face
• Digital 3D X-rays
• Digital scan of your teeth

 

Once these records are complete, they’re sent to Invisalign along with detailed instructions on how your teeth will be moved. We then use advanced 3D computer imaging technology to create a complete treatment plan. For Invisalign, the key to a successful outcome is based on the right plan created by a highly-skilled orthodontist.

 

Once our review is complete, our orthodontists give the go-ahead for Invisalign to create your personalized clear aligners, called trays. It takes about 4-5 weeks from impressions to aligners. Once our office receives the trays, we’re ready to start your teeth straightening process.

 

The Details

You will wear each set of Invisalign for one week at a time. These aligners are designed to move your teeth in small increments. Every new aligner is slightly straighter than your teeth. This puts gentle pressure on your teeth. So that week after week, your teeth will move to match the aligner.

As you replace each aligner with the next set, your teeth continue to move and become straighter until they get to the desired final position.

 

You’ll need to visit your dentist about once every 6-10 weeks to ensure your treatment progresses as planned. The number of aligners worn during treatment is usually between 20 and 50 (varying case-to-case). The treatment generally takes around 12-18 months. Before you get started, you may also want to know how long Invisalign takes to straighten your teeth.

 

Considerations with Invisalign

Once your aligners are in, you’re expected to wear them for 20 or more hours a day. Wearing your aligners for this amount of time will help the teeth move to their final position for the particular day. So, it is crucial to know how to clean your Invisalign, as you have to wear them for quite a lot of time during your teeth straightening treatment.