Would you like to have straighter teeth? Invisalign is a popular orthodontic treatment option among adults because it is convenient and discreet. If you are thinking about investing in it, your orthodontist would be happy to talk to you about what you can expect as you travel the road ahead. In the meantime, you can learn the basics of the Invisalign treatment process by reading this brief blog post.
Your Consultation
During your consultation, your Invisalign provider will examine your teeth and get to know more about your goals and expectations. They’ll also determine whether Invisalign would be an effective way to address your specific type of dental misalignment. It is able to correct many cases of overcrowding, gapped teeth, rotated teeth, and some forms of malocclusion (bad bite). If Invisalign is not suitable for you, your orthodontist will talk to you about other treatment possibilities.
Designing Your Aligners
The next step in the process of getting Invisalign involves taking detailed images and impressions of your teeth. Most Invisalign providers use advanced scanning technology to capture a digital, three-dimensional representation of the teeth. That digital impression will help the technicians at the Invisalign laboratory to fabricate your custom aligners.
Getting Your Aligners
Once your aligners are ready, you’ll visit your orthodontist’s office to pick them up. You might need to have a few “buttons” placed on your teeth. These are tooth-colored bumps that will help the aligners do their job effectively. Your orthodontist or a member of their team will also coach you on how to put the aligners in your mouth, how to take them out, and how to maintain proper oral hygiene throughout your treatment.
Wearing Your Aligners
You’ll wear each aligner for about two weeks for 20 – 22 hours each day. Every several weeks, you’ll visit your orthodontist for a checkup appointment; these visits are usually brief enough to complete during your lunch break. If you ever have any questions or concerns about your treatment — for example, if you accidentally lose or damage an aligner — get in touch with your orthodontist as quickly as possible.
Refinements and Retainers
After you work your way through your initial series of aligners, you might need one or two additional aligners just to make any necessary final adjustments to your teeth. After your orthodontist is satisfied with the positioning of your teeth, they’ll provide you with a retainer.
A retainer’s purpose is to prevent your teeth from shifting back out of place. At first, you may need to wear it as much as possible. Eventually, though, you might be able to wear it only at night.
Are you ready to get started with Invisalign? You have an exciting journey ahead of you!
Meet the Practice
Under the leadership of Dr. Amin Mason, Columbus Orthodontic Center is proud to offer Invisalign as well as numerous other orthodontic treatments. If you are curious about your options for straightening your teeth, our team would be pleased to talk to you about your options. Get in touch with us at 614-549-5835.
