Clear aligner treatment or Invisalign treatment makes use of clear aligners which are orthodontic devices made up of plastic, transparent material that helps in adjusting misaligned or crooked teeth. It is the most commonly recommended treatment option for people who are extremely social and don’t want metal braces showing off from their teeth in public. The Lasting Smiles of Highland Park website describes the revolutionary Invisalign treatment as an alternative to traditional metal braces for both grown adults and developing teens. They note that this is the most advanced clear aligner in the world as it helps patients on their way to an amazing smile. The Invisalign treatment process works in the following way:
- CONSULTATION:
Consultation with your orthodontists as Invisalign is a versatile treatment option and it depends on your condition whether it will work for you or not. The dentists have to check the patient’s capability of keeping the trays inside the mouth for almost 24 hours each day along with the insurance coverage and estimated cost for the entire treatment. Invisalign treatment is usually helpful for treating overbites, underbites, gaps between the teeth, crowing along with other malalignment issues but it is not ideal for all patients. It is therefore advised to consult your dentist for complete information regarding the Invisalign treatment.
- DENTAL RECORDS:
After the consultation, if you are an ideal candidate for Invisalign treatment, the dentist will take photographs, impressions, and X-rays of your oral cavity which help in the formation of digital records for the dentist which he or she can easily follow. Invisalign offers software to the dentist which allows him to see the final changes of the teeth after the complete treatment has been performed. It is complicated to make assumptions for the time period of Invisalign treatment but for most patients, it takes around one to one and a half years.
- PROCESSING OF THE PATIENT’S ORAL CAVITY RECORDS BY THE INVISALIGN COMPANY:
Once these records are completed, they are directed to the Invisalign company with instructions regarding the desired teeth movement. The Invisalign technicians then process this information in their computers which generates a 3-d image of the patient’s teeth and creates a computerized model with the desired teeth movements shown in them. These images are then forwarded to the orthodontist. If they confirm the movements, then the treatment process takes a further step.
The company takes around a month or so for the preparation of aligners. Once they are ready, the orthodontist calls the patient to the clinic.
- SEQUENCE OF WEARING THE ALIGNERS:
The aligners are then handed over to the patient. These aligners are made with a difference and are intended to be worn in a correct sequence. The patient has to use each aligner for around a two week period. With the placement of each aligner, teeth adjustments take place and the treatment progresses further. Aligners help bring teeth to their straighter position. While you are undergoing Invisalign treatment, you can take out aligners before brushing or eating food. However, other than that it is recommended that you wear the aligners at all times during your treatment process for around 20-22 hours. If you skip wearing your aligners at all times, the teeth won’t move properly and the treatment plan won’t progress successfully. You can easily replace the aligners yourself and won’t find any difficulty in adjusting to the new set in terms of speaking, talking, eating or other activities in your daily routine.
- ADJUSTMENTS BY THE DENTIST:
After the patient has completed wearing all the trays for two weeks each, you might have achieved the desired teeth movements; but some teeth might need slight adjustments by the dentist. The dentist performs the complete examination of the teeth and contacts the Invisalign company for the refinement trays. These refinement trays might take some time to reach the clinics, usually around a month. The Invisalign company offers refinement trays for free without any additional charges as most patients are expected to need these trays.
- RETAINERS:
It is advised that you wear the retainers once the Invisalign treatment is completed by the orthodontist. The retainers allow the jaw bones to ossify around the new positions of your teeth. In most of the orthodontic treatments, there are chances of teeth reverting back to their original positions. It is therefore advised to wear the retainers at all times to hold the teeth in their new positions.
