The treatment process for these aligners is similar to that of standard metal braces. First, you will need to visit our orthodontic offices for a consultation. This consultation is designed to determine whether or not you’re a good candidate for this procedure. These clear braces can be used for overbites, under-bites, gaps in your teeth and crowding. It’s during this consultation that you’ll find out more about the cost and how long you’ll need to wear the braces before your teeth have been properly straightened. One of our doctors will also discuss your medical and dental history, which helps to identify any problems that might get in the way of treatment.
Once this consultation has been completed and you’ve signaled that you’re ready to go forward with treatment, a thorough treatment plan is designed and customized for your specific situation. Impressions of your mouth will be taken and sent away, where the plastic aligner trays will be created. These trays will then be sent to us and fitted to your teeth. These impressions incorporate 3D technology for a better view of your mouth. Pictures will also be taken.
With software specifically designed for these clear braces, you will be able to get a better look at how your teeth will appear in weeks, months and at the conclusion of treatment. Each set of aligners is meant to be worn for a period of two weeks, at which time another set of aligners is provided to you and worn for another two weeks. Each set is slightly different than the one before, in order to continue pushing your teeth to their desired position. The aligner trays that you’re provided with will move your teeth about a quarter of a millimeter each time. Though this doesn’t seem like much, it quickly adds up.
After each period of two weeks, you will need to come in to receive your next set of aligners. The amount of time that you wear these aligners largely depends on how much your teeth need to be moved. In some cases, the aligners may only need to be worn for a period of a few months, while others may take longer than a year. In general, the average time specified in Invisalign reviews and seen with our customers indicates that treatment typically lasts for a year. During the process, we will be able to look at the progress you’ve made with each set of aligners, which is hugely beneficial when identifying whether or not the treatment is working as intended.