A smile is your best accessory! There’s nothing more attractive than seeing someone express joy by flashing their bright, beautiful pearly whites. Caring for your oral health goes deeper than daily brushing and flossing; proper teeth alignment matters, too.
Invisalign are clear, removable trays that gradually shift your teeth into proper alignment. They’re virtually invisible (hence the name), meaning you can discreetly enhance your smile without flashing metal wires or brackets.
After your initial consultation, here’s what you can expect your journey with Invisalign to look like:
- Digital impressions and treatment plans
- Custom aligner manufacturing and fitting
- Daily wear and changing aligner trays
- Regular check-ins with your dentist
More on Invisalign
Invisalign treatments have transformed the orthodontic landscape.
For decades, people’s minds immediately pictured metal braces and headgear when their dentist recommended teeth alignment. These treatments have their place, but not everyone is a fan of this look. They often take away from a person’s natural smile, even taking a toll on their confidence, which is the last thing any of us wants.
The end goal with Invisalign is the same: proper teeth alignment. But the journey itself is different than traditional braces. With imaging technology, we create a series of custom, clear plastic trays (aligners) to gradually shift teeth into the correct position.
The science is simple: Gentle, consistent pressure. This gradually shifts each tooth into place, as long as you follow the specifics of your plan. Generally, you’ll wear each set of aligners for about 1-2 weeks before moving on to the next.
Starting Your Invisalign Journey
Everyone’s experience with Invisalign is slightly different. That’s why your dental team is here to support you every step of the way. It all begins with an initial consultation.
Initial Consultation & Assessment
Every orthodontic treatment begins with a consultation, where your dentist examines your teeth and discusses your goals to determine whether you’re a good Invisalign candidate. Despite its popularity, this treatment isn’t right for those with complex cases.
Here are the factors your dentist will evaluate:
- A patient’s age.
- Case complexity.
- Commitment to treatment.
Digital Impressions & Treatment Planning
Gone are the days of messy impression putty and unpleasant tastes and textures. With Invisalign, we use digital scanners to create precise 3D images of your teeth. This technology captures thousands of scans to build an accurate digital model of your mouth.
With these impressions and Invisalign’s software, your dentist creates your treatment plan. You’ll even get to see a virtual representation of how your teeth will shift throughout treatment and what your final results should look like!
Custom Aligner Creation
Once your dentist approves your treatment plan, we send the details of your aligners off to the manufacturing lab, which takes about 2-3 weeks. Each aligner is crafted to fit your teeth perfectly and create the exact movements planned for that stage of treatment.
The clear plastic material, called SmartTrack, is made specially for the Invisalign system. It’s more comfortable than traditional wires and brackets, which makes for a more pleasant experience. You’ll receive several sets of aligners at once, which means fewer visits to your dentist.
Starting Your Treatment
Once we receive your first set of aligners, your dentist will verify they fit properly. After all, poorly fitted aligners can throw your entire treatment off course. They’ll also show you how to correctly insert and remove them, along with proper cleaning, storage, and care instructions.
You might also receive attachments—small, tooth-colored bumps that are bonded to certain teeth to help the aligners grip better and create more effective movement.
It’s normal for the first few days of your treatment to feel strange because of the aligners. You might experience some pressure or discomfort as your teeth begin moving, but give it a day or two to settle down.
What to Expect During Invisalign Treatment
Getting the aligners is the easy part. Now, you have to follow the details of your treatment, properly care for these trays, and maintain good oral health to support your teeth during this journey.
It’s not challenging or laborious work, but it does require dedication and consistency.
Daily Wear Requirements
Success with Invisalign (or any treatment) requires commitment.
You’ll need to wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day, removing them only for eating, drinking (anything other than water), brushing, and flossing. This might be difficult to remember at first, but most patients quickly adapt to the routine.
The beauty of removable aligners means you can enjoy all your favorite foods without restrictions. Just remember to brush your teeth before putting your aligners back in to maintain good oral hygiene and always keep your aligners clean.
Changing to New Aligners
Instead of visiting your dentist every few weeks to tighten your wires, you’ll switch to your next set of aligners every 1-2 weeks.
Some people like making this switch before bedtime, so that they can sleep through any discomfort. Each new aligner will feel tight at first—this means it’s working!
Regular Check-ups
You’ll have periodic appointments with your dentist, about every 6-8 weeks, where your dentist checks your progress, makes sure your teeth are moving as planned, and provides your next set of aligners. These visits are much shorter than traditional brace adjustments—usually just 15 to 30 minutes.
Treatment Duration
The question on everyone’s mind: how long does treatment last? There’s no exact answer, but most patients complete their treatment in 12-18 months.
That said, every case is unique. Simple spacing issues might resolve in just a few months, while more complex cases could take up to two years or more.
Ready to Transform Your Smile?
Invisalign offers a modern, convenient approach to achieving the straight smile you’ve always wanted. Though the treatment requires commitment and consistency, it’s much more flexible than traditional braces.
Your smile will last a lifetime, so any investment is well worth it. Connect with our Wildwood Family & Cosmetic Dentistry team to book your Invisalign consultation. We’re here to help you achieve your dream smile. It’s closer than you think!
