The Invisalign Treatment Journey
Once your custom aligners are fabricated, you’ll wear each set for approximately 1-2 weeks, removing them only for eating, drinking anything besides water, and oral hygiene. The aligners apply gentle, constant pressure to gradually move your teeth according to your personalized treatment plan.
You’ll visit our office periodically—typically every 6-8 weeks—for progress checks and to receive your next sets of aligners. These appointments are brief and focused on ensuring your treatment is progressing as planned. For many patients, the entire Invisalign process takes between 6 and 18 months, though treatment times vary based on the complexity of your specific case and your compliance with wearing the aligners for the recommended 20-22 hours per day.
Advantages of Invisalign Treatment
Invisalign offers numerous benefits compared to traditional orthodontic options. The most obvious advantage is the nearly invisible appearance of the clear aligners, which allows you to straighten your teeth discreetly—many people won’t even notice you’re undergoing treatment.
The removable nature of Invisalign aligners means you can continue enjoying all your favorite foods without restrictions. You’ll simply remove the aligners before eating and replace them after cleaning your teeth. This removability also makes maintaining excellent oral hygiene much easier than with traditional braces, as you can brush and floss normally without navigating around brackets and wires.
Many patients report that Invisalign aligners are more comfortable than traditional braces since there are no metal components to cause irritation to your cheeks and gums. The smooth plastic material of the aligners provides a comfortable fit that adapts to your lifestyle while effectively moving your teeth
Is Invisalign Right for You?
While Invisalign can address many common alignment issues, not every orthodontic case is suitable for clear aligner therapy. Invisalign works well for correcting mild to moderate crowding or spacing, certain types of bite issues, and straightening crooked teeth. However, more complex cases involving severe misalignment or specific types of bite problems may require traditional orthodontic approaches.
The success of Invisalign treatment also depends significantly on your commitment to wearing the aligners consistently. Since the aligners are removable, the responsibility for treatment success rests largely with you. Patients who remove their aligners frequently or for extended periods may experience delayed results or compromised outcomes.
During your consultation, we’ll perform a thorough assessment to determine if Invisalign is the right solution for your specific orthodontic needs. For some patients, we may recommend combining Invisalign with other treatments or suggest alternative approaches that would better address their concerns.
Invisalign for Teens
Invisalign offers a specialized system designed specifically for teenage patients. Invisalign Teen includes all the benefits of the adult system with some additional features that address the unique needs of growing patients.
These special features include compliance indicators that help teens and parents monitor wearing time and replacement aligners included in the treatment plan to account for the occasional lost aligner. The system also accommodates erupting molars, allowing treatment to progress even as adult teeth continue to emerge.
Life After Invisalign
As with any orthodontic treatment, retaining your new smile requires ongoing attention. Once you complete your active Invisalign treatment, we’ll provide custom-made retainers to maintain your results. Initially, you’ll likely wear these retainers full-time, gradually transitioning to nighttime wear as recommended by your doctor.
Regular check-ups during the retention phase allow us to monitor your teeth for any signs of shifting and make any necessary adjustments to your retention plan. With proper retention and continued good oral hygiene, your newly aligned smile can last a lifetime.
