Invisalign
What is Invisalign treatment?
Invisalign treatment is an orthodontic process of wearing a series of clear, removable aligners that gradually straighten and align your teeth over a set period of time. The difference between traditional braces and Invisalign is that Invisalign does not have or use the restrictions used with wires and brackets for braces.
Who is it for?
Great candidates for Invisalign are those with mild to moderate:
-Crowding
-Spacing/Gap teeth
-Overbite
-Underbite
-Crossbite
-Generally more straight teeth
What are the aligners (trays) made of?
Invisalign clear aligners are made out of a specific flexible and thermoplastic material. They are FDA-approved and contain no BPA, BPS, latex, or gluten. Their thinness and clear appearance, make them almost invisible.
How does it work?
To start, your doctor will evaluate your smile at a consultation appointment and see if you are approved as a good candidate for Invisalign. Once approved, X-rays, photographs, impressions, and bite-registration will be taken to send to to Align technology to create a unique, digital treatment plan that maps out the exact movements of your teeth.
Once a digital treatment plan and virtual step-by-step plan is fabricated on a model, the patient comes in to approve the plan and the clear aligners begin processing. Once the office receives the aligners, treatment is started.
Attachments (small tooth-colored shapes that are attached to your teeth before or during your Invisalign treatment) may need to be made on your teeth for the clear aligners to attach to and push on. Once completed, you will wear each set of aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day (taking them out only when eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing) and changing to a new set of aligners every 2 weeks, or as directed by your doctor. Each set of aligners will gently and gradually shift your teeth into place, according to your treatment plan, until you reach your incredible new smile.
Your doctor will schedule appointments usually every 6 weeks to follow up on movement as well as giving you your new set of trays.
How long is treatment?
The length of treatment depends on how complex your case is, how compliant you are, and how often you wear your aligners. Invisalign treatment time is typically on average 12 to 18 months but can be more or less, although you can start seeing results in a matter of weeks.
What happens after?
We recommend that anyone who has completed braces or Invisalign treatment, use a retainer to prevent teeth from shifting back toward their initial position.
We recommend Vivera retainers which are made from a material 30% stronger than other clear retainer materials. Your Vivera retainers will be custom-made from an impression of your final position.