6 Signs You Need to See an Invisalign Dentist

If you’re dealing with teeth misalignment issues and don’t want to get traditional braces, Invisalign is an excellent treatment option. Invisalign treatment entails the use of clear aligners to get your teeth in the right position.

The pros of Invisalign are that the aligners are invisible, and you can be confident of your natural look. Additionally, Invisalign is removable, and you can eat any food, including hard foods, that you may avoid when you have conventional braces. 

Furthermore, Invisalign aligners are easy to clean. Given these benefits, you’re probably thinking of getting Invisalign treatment. Hence, you need to know what Invisalign treatment entails. Here are the six stages of Invisalign.

Doctor Visit

If you want to get Invisalign treatment, the first thing you need to do is to do a quick web search for ”Invisalign near me.” Once you shortlist an orthodontist based on online reviews and recommendations, their experience, and their scope of service, you need to get your first appointment.

Your orthodontists must first determine that the treatment is ideal for you. While Invisalign is an excellent solution to teeth misalignment problems, the procedure may not work for all orthodontic problems. Thus, your dentist will perform a medical examination to determine whether you’re healthy and a suitable candidate for the procedure.

Additionally, your doctor will want to know whether you’re disciplined enough to wear Invisalign aligners to increase the treatment’s effectiveness for the better part of the day. While the aligners are removable, you must wear them according to the doctor’s instructions. If you remove them for many hours, the results may take time or may not be satisfactory.

Also, your orthodontist will give you insights into the costs of the treatment. Thus, you can check with your insurance whether the treatment is covered. If not, you can agree on a reasonable payment plan with your orthodontist.

Treatment Plan Creation

After an orthodontist determines that you’re a suitable candidate for Invisalign treatment, they begin working on a treatment plan. The tooth doctor will assess your teeth’ condition through x-rays and photos then make impressions of the teeth. The orthodontist sends the molds and the documentation of how the aligners should look depending on how you want your teeth to move.

Then, Invisalign specialists create a 3-D model of the aligners, which the orthodontist must approve first. Sometimes, there may be some adjustments required. After Invisalign design approval, the Invisalign specialist can proceed with the manufacture of the trays.

Waiting Phase

Once the orthodontist and Invisalign specialists agree on your Invisalign specifications, you can now wait for the aligners. Generally, it takes a few weeks to a month before the aligners are ready. During this time, you need to be patient and keep checking with your orthodontist. Once the orthodontist receives the aligners, they’ll notify you immediately.

Invisalign Installation

When notified that the aligners are ready, your orthodontist will schedule an appointment. During the appointment, your orthodontist will help install the Invisalign aligners. Ideally, the aligners come in various sets that you should wear in a certain order. Each aligner moves your teeth closer to their rightful position.

Orthodontists recommend that you wear each set for two weeks before moving to the next set. While wearing the aligners for long may sound stressful, you can remove the aligners when eating or brushing. After you finish cleaning the aligners or eating, put the Invisalign back on if you want the treatment to be effective.

Smile Refinement

After you’re done wearing the last Invisalign set, your orthodontist will do a check-up. In some cases, there may be some teeth that are still misaligned. If so, the orthodontists might create more molds and request refinement trays. In most cases, you’ll probably not pay for this extra treatment. If all your teeth are properly aligned and you’re happy with the results, you can move to the final stage of maintaining your smile.

Smile Maintenance

After Invisalign treatment, orthodontists recommend that you wear retainers to allow your jawbones to strengthen and adjust to your teeth’ new position. Ideally, you should wear the retainers several months after treatment. However, you should wear the retainers occasionally as years go by since your teeth may gradually shift position again.

The six stages of Invisalign treatment include consultation, treatment plan creation, waiting, aligners installation, smile refinement, and smile maintenance. When you follow through with these stages, you can be sure to correct your teeth’ alignment problems.

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