What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a method of straightening teeth. It involves wearing a series of clear, plastic, removable trays over the patient's teeth during treatment. Each aligner (tray) is custom fitted to adapt tightly over the teeth, and they are best worn full time, day and night, except during meals and when cleaning the teeth. Each aligner is worn 18-20 hours per day, for 2 weeks per aligner. A typical case might involve 20 aligners, and they are all numbered for ease of use. As with any orthodontic treatment, a retainer must be worn afterwards, and Invisalign offers a series of clear plastic retainers for that purpose, and they are typically worn 8 hours per day.

A typical Invisalign case proceeds as follows: A patient is diagnosed by a dentist or orthodontist and a treatment plan of Invisalign is decided upon. Molds/impressions of the patient's teeth are taken and sent with photographs of the patient to Align Technologies. From those records, a digital 3-D model is generated which shows the patient s teeth in their current position and where the teeth will be as they move through treatment. A frame by frame video accurately depicts the teeth where they are and where will be at every stage of treatment. This way you can see exactly how your teeth will move, and you'll even be able to tell how long it will take, assuming no further treatment is needed. From this treatment plan, all aligners are manufactured and sent to the treating dental practitioner's office, ready to deliver to the patient. Some teeth may require minor reshaping or the use of small tabs bonded to the teeth to give the aligner a purchase point to grab on to, and they of course are removed after treatment. The patient typically sees the dentist every 6-8 weeks to get the next 3-4 aligners, and at the end the retainers are delivered. In this dentist's opinion, Invisalign is a wonderful treatment option for cosmetic orthodontics. If you wear your aligners, your teeth will move. It really is very simple.