Everyone deserves a smile they’re proud to show off, but traditional braces may not be right for every lifestyle. Invisalign is a nearly invisible alternative to help straighten teeth and improve your jaw’s bite.
Every treatment plan is different, and how long it will take depends on the complexity of your teeth and bite. While treatment length varies, many people see results in just a few months. The length of your Invisalign treatment will also depend on how you wear and care for your aligners and your adherence to your dental team’s directions.
What Can Invisalign Correct?
Invisalign technology can work effectively for treating a medium amount of tooth movement. Like braces, Invisalign can treat issues such as:
- Mildly rotated or crooked teeth
- Mild overbites, underbites, or crossbites
- Tooth gaps
- Open bites
- Overcrowding
- Mildly protruding teeth
Orthodontic care isn't just about creating an aesthetically pleasing and straight smile. Correcting bite issues and misaligned teeth can make daily brushing and flossing easier, creating an overall healthier mouth.
The Invisalign Treatment Process
Invisalign is a series of thin clear aligner trays made of SmartTrack, a thermoplastic material. They straighten teeth without brackets or wires, and they're popular among older teenagers and adults because they're removable, flexible, and virtually invisible.
Clear aligners are a unique orthodontic tool, so the treatment process differs from traditional braces.
Invisalign Consultation
The first step in the process is a dental exam. At Green Grove Dental, we’ll assess your teeth for signs of tooth decay or gum disease, take X-rays, and talk about your goals for your smile. Once we carry out a detailed exam, we can develop a plan, including an estimated time for your treatment.
Creating Your Aligners
We’ll take precise scans of your teeth and jaw to create aligners for each step of your Invisalign treatment and customize a digital plan to see the transformation from start to finish. Based on this plan, your personalized series of aligners will be made.
Fitting Your Invisalign
When your aligners are ready, we’ll fit the first tray of aligners. They’ll gently apply pressure to shift your teeth into the appropriate position to enhance your smile. Typically, you’ll change aligners every 1 to 2 weeks.
Your dentist may use Invisalign attachments if your teeth require more complex adjustments. They're small, tooth-coloured structures designed to offer leverage for specific movements your aligner trays can't achieve alone. Only some people need additional attachments, but your dentist may suggest them during your consultation.
Invisalign Wear Schedule
Throughout the Invisalign treatment, you'll have regular check-ins with your dentist to ensure your teeth are shifting correctly and monitor the process. To complete your treatment as planned, you must wear your aligners as directed.
Invisalign aligners are designed for you to wear from 20 to 22 hours per day, and any less can impact the effectiveness of your aligners. Whether your original treatment plan is 6 months or a few years, wearing your Invisalign as directed can help keep your treatment on schedule.
How to Properly Care for Your Invisalign
Caring for your Invisalign can protect your aligners from loss or damage that can slow your treatment.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
When wearing your aligners, oral health care is important to avoid cavities. You should always brush and floss after eating but before you put your aligners back in your mouth. Neglecting your basic oral hygiene habits can trap food particles in your teeth, inflaming your gums or causing tooth decay.
If you're without a toothbrush or floss, rinse your mouth with water or antibacterial mouthwash, and brush when you get home.
Keep a Few Invisalign Cases
You should only be removing your Invisalign in specific circumstances: when you’re eating, drinking, brushing and flossing, or cleaning your aligners.
Drinking or eating with your aligners can cause them to stain or break and allow food particles to become stuck to your teeth, causing plaque buildup, cavities, and gum inflammation.
Whenever you remove your aligners, you should immediately put them in a case. Having multiple protective cases can help overcome forgetfulness and keep your aligners clean. Putting them in your pocket or bag when you don’t have your Invisalign case can increase the risk of them getting damaged or lost.
Get a Straighter Smile with Invisalign
Clear aligners from Invisalign can offer a straighter smile with subtlety. You want everyone to notice the results, rather than the process it takes to get there. Schedule a dental exam with the Green Grove Dental team to assess your teeth and learn if Invisalign could be the right treatment for your smile.