You might think of your gapped or crooked teeth as more of a cosmetic concern, but they can also affect your dental health. For example, it can be harder to clean all sides of teeth that are pressed too closely together, which increases the risk of developing cavities or gum disease.
Thankfully, many dentists can help straighten your smile with Invisalign, but you might avoid it if you’re unsure what to expect. Continue reading to learn more about the step-by-step process to help determine if it’s right for you!
Step #1: Consultation & Preparation
Potentially, anyone seeking a more comfortable and discreet alternative to traditional braces can benefit from Invisalign, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best way to meet everyone’s unique needs.
You must consult your dentist first so they can discuss your concerns, examine your dental condition, and provide a customized treatment plan. More severe dental or bite misalignments might require standard orthodontics, but if you’re approved for this Invisalign, your provider will proceed with making digital impressions. These are uploaded to special software to design and deliver your custom-fitted trays.
Step #2: Getting Your Aligners
It can take a few weeks for your trays to arrive at your dentist’s office, but when they do, you’ll be contacted to schedule an appointment. If your treatment plan requires buttons, or attachments, your dentist will use this time to place the small lumps of composite resin to your enamel.
Then, they will walk you through expectations, such as how to insert and remove your trays, how long to wear them, and how to clean and maintain them, so you can stay on track with your anticipated timeline.
Step #3: Follow-Up Appointments
You can usually expect to schedule periodic follow-up visits with their dentist every 4 to 8 weeks throughout their service. This allows them to track your progress and ensure your teeth are shifting as anticipated and to provide the next sets of trays in your series that you’ll be asked to wear.
If your teeth aren’t shifting at the anticipated rate, they can also use these visits to make any necessary adjustments to your trays and treatment plan.
Step #4: Wrapping Up & Retainers
Most patients complete this service in 12 to 18+ months, but it varies based on your unique circumstances and whether you wear your trays for 20 to 22 hours daily as directed. Once you finish wearing your last set, you’ll have a final appointment so your dentist can inspect the results and gently remove buttons, if you required them.
You might also be given retainers to wear, which keep your teeth in their updated positions to maintain the results. Some patients are directed to wear them for a specific timeframe, while others may be asked to use them on an ongoing basis.
Your dentist can provide more accurate information about what to expect from your treatment based on your unique circumstances during your initial consultation.
About the Practice
Patients of all ages at Serentiy Orthodontics benefit from two experts eager to help them build and maintain beautifully straight smiles. Dr. Lewis and Dr. Kim are each incredibly accomplished on their own, and together, they collaborate to offer a variety of orthodontic services, including Invisalign, to meet the unique needs of children and adults. If you or your child want to improve your dental alignment, you can request an appointment on the website or call one of their conveniently located offices near you!
