Understanding how the Invisalign process works can help you figure out whether this cosmetic dentistry option is the right choice for you. The encouraging part is that it typically only takes a handful of steps, plus some patience, to work toward the smile you have been hoping for.
Locate a Dentist Trained to Provide Invisalign
Your Initial Consultation Visit
At your first visit, the dentist will take a close look at your teeth and mouth and talk with you about what you would like to achieve cosmetically. From there, they can let you know whether Invisalign appears to be a good fit for your situation.
Keep in mind that this teeth-straightening approach is not necessarily right for every patient. If your dentist finds that Invisalign is not the best match for your needs, they will walk you through other paths forward, such as traditional braces. When you are considered a good candidate, your dentist will review a treatment plan built around your specific case and let you know roughly how long treatment is expected to take.
The Digital Impression Process
From there, the process moves into digital impressions, which your dentist may complete at that same visit or schedule for a separate appointment.
A digital scan is combined with photos and X-rays to build a precise model of your teeth and mouth. That information is then forwarded to the Invisalign lab, where your custom aligner trays are produced. Each set of trays is made specifically for your mouth and the treatment plan created for you.
Fitting Your First Set of Aligners
Once your aligner trays come back from the lab, you will head back to the dentist’s office to have them fitted. Your dentist may bond small, barely noticeable attachments onto certain teeth to help hold the trays in place. Placing these attachments does not hurt, they are clear, and they are only there temporarily.
Your dentist will then check that the aligners fit the way they should. Once the trays are in place and you have received your aftercare instructions, you will be ready to begin treatment with Invisalign.
What Happens at Your Follow-Up Visits
Roughly a few weeks after your first tray is fitted, you will come back in for a follow-up visit. At this appointment, your dentist checks how your teeth are moving and makes sure the trays still fit correctly. Because Invisalign treatment relies on a series of aligner trays, you will move on to a new tray periodically as your teeth continue to shift.
In contrast to traditional metal braces, Invisalign does not require frequent office visits for adjustments. You will instead come in periodically so your dentist can track your progress, and there is no need to schedule a visit each time you switch aligners. If treatment is not moving along as expected, your dentist may take a new digital scan in order to order additional trays.
Common Questions About Invisalign
Can Invisalign Straighten My Teeth Even If I Wore Braces Before?
In many cases, yes. A good number of the patients we see have had traditional braces before, and their teeth have since shifted out of place again. Invisalign is built to address nearly all of the common teeth-straightening concerns, ranging from simple to more complex cases, to help improve your smile.
Which Dental Issues Can Invisalign Address?
Invisalign’s clear aligners can address a wide range of dental concerns, including overbites, underbites, crowded teeth, crossbites, gaps between teeth, and other alignment issues. Beyond making your smile look better, Invisalign can also support better overall dental health.
Getting Straighter Teeth with Invisalign in Huntersville, North Carolina
With Invisalign treatment, your teeth can gradually shift into better alignment over time. How much movement is needed, and the final outcome, depends largely on how misaligned your teeth were to begin with. That said, wearing your aligners consistently as directed can typically help you achieve straighter teeth.
At The Smile Architects in Huntersville, North Carolina, our team aims to make the Invisalign process straightforward and to respond quickly to any questions or concerns you may have. Call 704-875-1621 or contact us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment.