What are Invisalign aligners made of?

Invisalign aligners are made of a special plastic with a proprietary chemical formula that Invisalign has patented.

What do "aligners" look like?

They look very similar to a mouth guard or bleaching tray. They are clear and removable.

How often will I have to wear my aligners?

Each aligner is worn 20 hours per day or more and for two weeks. Then a new aligner is inserted to express the new movements.

Is this a new way to straighten teeth?

The idea of using removable retainers to straighten teeth has been around since the 1940's, but the technology to mass produce a custom fitting retainer that sequentially moves the teeth did not come about until 1999.

Who should consider using Invisalign?

Any patient that wants to improve the alignment of their smile should consider using invisalign. 

Why should I choose Invisalign over traditional braces?

Invisalign is a more esthetic technique to move teeth compared to traditional metal braces. Also, since the Invisalign aligners can be removed to brush your teeth, there is less risk for hygiene problems during Invisalign treatment. With metal braces, it is very hard to brush and floss the teeth. But when a patient is undergoing Invisalign treatment, there is no wire to interfere with flossing and brushing.

How does Invisalign work?

Special orthodontic impressions are taken and then sent to the Invisalign company. These impressions are then converted to a digital 3D model by a process called "stereolithography." After the impressions are turned into a digital model, then the orthodontist can review the model on the internet and move the teeth into the desired position virtually on the computer. Once the movements are finalized, the computers at Invisalign will convert these movements into a series of removable aligners with each aligner causing specific tooth movements. The aligners are custom fitted to the patient' s mouth using the data from the virtual models. Each aligner is worn 20 hours a day for two weeks at a time. The patient will switch the aligners on their own and visit the orthodontist approximately every 8 weeks to have the progress of their treatment monitored.