The Invisalign Process – Columbus, OH

Many adults and teenagers are interested in Invisalign treatment because the treatment is discreet, convenient, and effective. However, you might be curious about what exactly you can expect throughout your treatment period. This page explains the basic steps you’ll have to go through while you’re on your way to a straighter, healthier, and more attractive smile.

Getting Started

When you’re ready to embark on your journey with Invisalign, schedule a consultation with Dr. Amin Mason. After he evaluates your oral health, dental alignment and bite, he’ll let you know whether Invisalign treatment is a good fit for you. If it Invisalign treatment is recommended , our team will take some images and digital impressions of your mouth. Then, the Invisalign laboratory will use that data to draft a simulation of your treatment. Dr. Mason will review the simulation and will make necessary adjustments. After he designs and approves the planned tooth movements, Invisalign will fabricate your aligners and send them to our office.

Before you begin wearing your aligners, it will be necessary for Dr. Mason to bond attachments to your teeth. The attachments are small, tooth-colored pieces that help the aligners grip on your teeth and help with proper tooth movement.

Wearing the Aligners

For your treatment to be successful, you will need to wear your aligners for 22 hours each day. Since some teenage patients need a bit of extra encouragement to comply with their treatment protocol, Invisalign for teens has small blue compliance dots on the aligners. These dots allow Dr. Mason to monitor the compliance of teenage patients with aligner wear.

Our team is always ready to help if you run into any issues throughout your treatment period. if you accidentally lose or damage an aligner, we can order a replacement for you. Invisalign Teen even comes with several available replacement aligners should you need them.

It’s normal to experience a bit of soreness in your mouth when you switch to a new aligner. The discomfort shouldn’t last for longer than a day or two. You can cope with any soreness by using mild over the counter pain relievers.

Invisalign Checkup Appointments

Once every 10 – 12 weeks, you’ll need to visit our team for a quick checkup. Dr. Mason will take a few minutes to ensure that your treatment is going according to plan. He’ll also provide you with your next set of aligners. In most cases, Invisalign checkups are so brief that you can squeeze one in during your lunch break!

Keep in mind that your Invisalign appointments aren’t a substitute for routine dental care. You will still need to visit your general dentist for exams and cleanings throughout your treatment period.

Maintaining Your New Smile

After you have worked your way through your aligners, Dr. Mason will provide you with retainers. They will prevent your teeth from drifting back to their initial position. At first, you may need to wear your retainers full time. Eventually, you may be instructed to wear them for only a couple of nights each week.