Blog

19 Mar, 25

Your Full Guide to the Invisalign Treatment Path

Do you want to get the smile you’ve always wanted with Invisalign? You’re not the only one. A lot of folks are choosing this new way to straighten their teeth. In this piece, we’ll take you step by step through the whole Invisalign treatment, from when you first talk to the dentist to when you flash your new amazing smile. Let’s get started and see what you can look forward to as you go.

Getting to Know the Invisalign Steps: From First Chat to Last Smile

Invisalign treatment gives people a new way to straighten their teeth. It uses clear aligners you can take out. You might wonder how it works and what happens during treatment. Let’s go through the Invisalign process step by step.

The Step-by-Step Invisalign Process: What Happens at Each Stage

First Meeting and Check-up

Your Invisalign journey starts when you visit your dentist.

At this appointment, our specialist orthodontist Ms Claire Rooney will:

Look at your medical and dental records

Check how healthy your mouth is now

Talk about how you want your smile to look

See if Invisalign will work for you

If Invisalign suits you, your dentist will create digital impressions of your teeth with our 3Shape digital scanner. This modern 3D scanning tech makes an exact digital model of your mouth so you don’t need messy old-school impressions.

Treatment Planning and Digital Scanning

After your scans finish, Claire will use special software to make a treatment plan just for you. This plan lets you see a digital preview of how your teeth will shift during treatment. It’s pretty cool to get a glimpse of your future smile!

The Invisalign journey kicks off with a consultation and digital scan, which paves the way for custom aligner creation and regular check-ups. Your treatment plan will go to Invisalign where they’ll make your personalised aligners using cutting-edge 3D printing methods.

Getting Started with Your First Aligners

Once your aligners are ready, you’ll head back to your dentist’s office to get your first set. Your dentist will:

Check if the aligners fit right

Show you how to wear and look after them

Talk you through what to expect in the coming weeks

You’ll feel some pressure when you first put in your aligners. This is normal and shows they’re working to move your teeth. The initial discomfort goes away within a few days as you get used to wearing them.

How Does Invisalign Work? A Step-by-Step Explanation

Invisalign uses a series of clear custom-made aligners to shift your teeth into the desired position. You wear each set of aligners for about 1-2 weeks before moving on to the next set in the series. The aligners put gentle constant pressure on your teeth to guide them into their new positions.

What to Expect During Your Invisalign Treatment Journey

When you’re undergoing Invisalign treatment, you’ll need to wear your aligners 20-22 hours each day. You’ll switch to new sets every 1-2 weeks. You’ll take them out to eat, drink anything except water, and clean your teeth. This ability to remove them gives Invisalign an edge over traditional braces.

Your Invisalign treatment length will depend on your individual needs. It lasts 12 to 18 months. Some patients with small alignment problems might see changes in just 6 months. More complex cases could take up to 24 months.

The Active Treatment Phase

As your treatment moves forward, you’ll see slow changes in your smile. Here’s what to expect during this time:

Wearing Your Aligners:

Put your aligners on and keep them in place as your dentist tells you to. Most people wear them for 20-22 hours each day.

Changing Aligners:

Your dentist will give you a new set of aligners every 1-2 weeks. Follow their instructions to switch them out.

Oral Hygiene:

Keep your teeth clean. Brush and floss after you eat then put your aligners back in.

Diet Adjustments:

Take out your aligners before you eat or drink anything except water. This stops them from getting stained or damaged.

Tracking Progress:

You might want to snap photos of your smile every few weeks. This helps you see how your teeth are changing over time.

Progress Check-ups and Adjustments

You’ll see your dentist for regular check-ups every 6-8 weeks during your Invisalign treatment. At these appointments, your dentist will:

Make sure your treatment is on track

Give you your next sets of aligners

Adjust your treatment plan if needed

Your dentist might suggest using “attachments” if your teeth aren’t moving as planned. These are small tooth-coloured shapes that stick to your teeth to help the aligners grip and shift teeth more .

Completing Your Invisalign Journey

As your treatment wraps up, you’ll see big changes in your smile. Your dentist will check if you’ve got the results you wanted or if you need a few extra “touch-up” aligners to perfect your smile.

When you and your dentist are happy with the outcome, you’ll start the retention stage. This means wearing a retainer to keep your new smile in place. At first, you might wear your retainer all day then switch to just at night.

Key Benefits of Choosing Invisalign to Transform Your Smile

Invisalign offers perks like almost invisible treatment, aligners you can take out for easy cleaning, and shorter treatment times. Let’s look at some main advantages:

Aesthetics: Clear aligners are almost invisible, so you can smile with confidence while getting treatment.

Comfort: The smooth plastic aligners tend to feel better than regular metal braces.

Convenience: You can take out the aligners when you eat, drink, or have special events.

Oral Hygiene: You can brush and floss as usual making it simpler to keep your mouth healthy.

Predictability: Advanced 3D planning lets you see what your results might look like before you start.

Fewer Office Visits: You need to go to fewer check-ups with Invisalign than with regular braces.

Your New Smile Awaits

Starting your Invisalign treatment marks an exciting beginning to get the smile you’ve always dreamed of. The process aims to be comfortable and easy, from your first visit to the final reveal of your new smile.

Don’t forget, sticking to the plan leads to success with Invisalign. Put on your aligners as told, keep your teeth clean, and show up for your check-ups. Soon enough, you’ll be flashing your new, self-assured smile for everyone to see.

Do you want to begin your Invisalign treatment?

Reach out to us to book a visit.

Your perfect smile is just one appointment away!