Dental patients who are facing biting issues (such as overbite, underbite, and crossbite), open bite, a gap between their teeth, or crowded teeth, often consider the Invisalign treatment. Before making this decision, it is important to understand how does Invisalign work. We go through the steps in the article below.
What does invisalign do?
Your orthodontist is the best person to consult regarding how Invisalign works for your particular case and if it actually works for your situation (Does Invisalign work article). However, we’ve compiled some information about what Invisalign aligners do for the straightening of your teeth.
How Invisalign works is simple. It is a process where you wear clear, removable aligners that will straighten your teeth in a gradual way. Unlike braces, you won’t need brackets or wires. The Invisalign aligners are subtle as they are nearly invisible and fit on your teeth in a way that doesn’t bother you as much as braces. A bonus point is that you can also remove them to eat and clean your teeth. Also, the cost of Invisalign compared to braces is not very much higher. You can check all details about the cost of Invisalign here (Invisalign cost article).
Does anything affect the way how invisalign works?
There are many factors that can affect the way Invisalign works on straightening your teeth. For the Invisalign treatment to work properly, it is important to follow the instructions of your orthodontist, which usually involve wearing your aligners 20 to 22 hours a day, as well as adhering to appointments to switch aligners trays. Of course, an important factor that affects how Invisalign works is the severity of your situation and the complexity of your orthodontic case. Check out this article to read more about it and how long it takes (How long does Invisalign take article).
Step-by-step: How does invisalign work to straighten teeth?
If you’ve been considering the Invisalign treatment, you may be at the stage where you are wondering how does Invisalign actually works. We take you through the Invisalign treatment, how it works, and the step-by-step process below:
Orthodontist Visit
The first step of your Invisalign treatment is a visit to your orthodontist. During that visit, a 3D image of your mouth and jaw will be taken to be able to assess how your teeth will be straightened. Some severe issues won’t be able to be treated with Invisalign and will require braces or other treatments. You can read more on whether Invisalign works for you or not.
Aligners
Once your dentist has diagnosed the problem and considered Invisalign an appropriate treatment, the clinic will proceed to get your trays made. You will go through X-rays and scans and your aligners will be made within 2 weeks. There will be several aligner trays and your next appointment will be to get the first set of trays. You will be shown how to put them on and remove them and everything will be explained during that visit. Check out this article for information on how long Invisalign takes.
Periodic appointments
During the whole treatment period, you will have to frequently attend your follow-up appointments. During those appointments, your dentist will check the progress and switch your trays. They might also make minor adjustments and re-assess.
End of treatment and retainers
Once your treatment has finally ended (note that it can take 6 to 18 months), you are done with aligners but will have to wear a retainer to avoid going back to misalignment.
Key takeaways
The process of how do Invisalign braces work is pretty straightforward. Before deciding whether you will be going through the Invisalign treatment, you might want to consider the cost, the severity of your issue, and the dedication you are willing to give all through the treatment. Invisalign is a good option if you are facing biting or crowding issues. It is always the best option to consult with your dentist before making the decision.
