You’ve probably heard about Invisalign somewhere, whether it was through a friend, family member or an advertisement that you’ve seen before.
Invisalign is a revolutionary treatment that uses a series of clear aligner trays that are a perfect alternative to traditional metal braces.
To find out how Invisalign works and what the benefits are, read on.
How does Invisalign work?
To begin your journey with Invisalign, you first have an initial consultation at Straight Orthodontics, where we will examine your mouth and decide whether Invisalign is the suitable treatment for you.
If we think Invisalign is suitable and you’re happy to proceed. The next step is when we take fast, accurate, and precise 3D scans of your mouth within minutes using Invisalign’s very own iTero Element scanner.
Once we take these digital scans, they will be analysed in ClinCheck Software, which is used to map out the movements of your teeth towards your straighter smile. Once the team at Straight Orthodontics and you, the patient is happy with the desired smile, the scans can be sent off to the Invisalign laboratory where your custom fitting aligners will be fabricated.
After a few weeks, we will receive your custom aligners back at our dental clinic, at this stage we will ask you to come back in for a consultation and to receive your first three sets of aligners. During this consultation, we will explain more about the treatment process and ensure your new aligners fit you properly.
You must wear each Invisalign aligner for two weeks and then swap over to the next aligner in the series. After six weeks you will have to come back in for your next consultation to collect the next three aligner trays, and we will also make sure your treatment is going according to plan.
Benefits of Invisalign
There are multiple benefits of choosing Invisalign over traditional orthodontic braces, including:
Removable
Invisalign aligners should be removed every time you want to brush and floss your teeth. They should also be removed for eating and drinking any drink other than water. This also means that you can easily remove your aligners for special photographs.
Improved dental health
Since Invisalign aligners are removable, it’s easier to brush, floss and rinse your mouth out properly without braces in the way.
Comfortable
Invisalign aligners are more comfortable than other traditional forms of orthodontic treatment. There are no brackets, pesky archwires or rubber bands involved in Invisalign aligners, which also decreases the amount of possible soft tissue damage and irritation.
Virtually invisible
Invisalign aligners are made from SmartTrack, which is a patented clear plastic material specially made for Invisalign aligners. SmartTrack plastic is gentle, comfortable, speed up treatment time and offers great control over the movements.
Invisalign is great at fixing the following bite issues:
Invisalign is great at solving mild to moderate bite problems and malocclusions, such as the following:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Gaps between teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Open bite
- Crossbite
How long should you wear Invisalign for?
It’s important to wear Invisalign aligners for at least 22 hours a day and wear each aligner for two weeks before proceeding to the sequential aligner.
If you would like your treatment to go according to the plan outlined in the ClinCheck Software, then it’s important to wear your aligners as outlined by Invisalign and your orthodontics.
Are there any limitations to Invisalign?
Yes, of course there are. Not all patients will be suitable for Invisalign, especially those suffering from severe malocclusions and bite issues.
For these patients, traditional metal braces or lingual braces will most likely be recommended as they can help straighten more severely misaligned teeth.
Contact Straight Orthodontics in Mentone & Frankston for Invisalign
If you would like to ask any questions about Invisalign treatment or would like to book in for a consultation to see if Invisalign is the correct treatment for you, then please contact us online.