How Does Invisalign Work?

Given the fact it's been used to transform over 18 million smiles, you’ve likely heard of Invisalign - a highly popular orthodontic treatment that straightens teeth discreetly. 

But, as Invisalign looks and works differently to traditional braces, many desiring a more aligned set of pearly whites are often left wondering ‘how does Invisalign work?’.

If this is you, you’re in luck - here, you’ll find everything you need to know about how the Invisalign process helps individuals accomplish a smile to be proud of.

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How Invisalign works

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Attend a consultation for Invisalign

To kickstart your smile journey, you’ll need to book an Invisalign consultation with a qualified provider, such as ourselves.

 During this appointment, your specialist will examine your teeth to determine whether you’re a suitable candidate for Invisalign and show you how your treatment plan will look. Here, you’re also free to ask any questions to your Invisalign dentist, who’ll be happy to offer their expertise to help you make an informed decision!        

Then, accurate 3D digital scans of your teeth will be taken using a high-tech scanner, which will be used to produce a simulation of what your new smile will look like, and to 

craft your bespoke Invisalign aligners. This machinery eliminates the need for taking physical impressions.   

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2. Start wearing your custom Invisalign aligners

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The next step towards a straighter smile begins by wearing your new clear trays for the first time. These plastic aligners are completely unique to your teeth to ensure a comfortable fit and that you reach your optimum alignment goals. 

But, you won’t stick with your original set for long - Invisalign shifts your teeth into more desirable positions using a series of plastic trays that are replaced every few weeks.

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3. Maintain a routine

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You need to wear your aligners for a minimum of 22 hours a day to achieve the best results. 

The only time you should remove your aligners is when eating, drinking and brushing your teeth. Invisalign trays must be taken out in these instances as strong bite forces and liquids other than water, such as coffee, can warp or stain them.

 Additionally, to maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine, you need to have complete access to your teeth to clean them thoroughly, which is why the aligners need to be removed when brushing and flossing.

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4. Visit your Invisalign dentist regularly

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Throughout the entire Invisalign process, you should attend regular check-ups at your dentists every 6-8 weeks to ensure everything is moving as it should. 

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5. Finishing treatment

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As treatment concludes, your specialist will give you the go-ahead to stop wearing the aligners and also provide you with a bespoke Invisalign retainer - this is to keep your teeth in their new desirable positions and prevent shifting. 

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How long does Invisalign treatment take?

On average, it usually takes between 6-18 months to straighten teeth using Invisalign, with most noticing a difference to their smile after just 3 months. However, this depends on the complexity of your case. 

A consultation with an experienced dentist will give you a clearer idea of how long you can expect treatment to last!

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Contact us to book your Invisalign consultation

Do you want to gain a more appealing smile discreetly? If so, Invisalign could be the perfect solution.

Here at Riverside Dental, we’re the first and only Diamond Invisalign provider in Norwich, so you can relax knowing you're receiving treatment from an experienced dental professional.

‍Get in touch today to find out even more about how Invisalign works, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.  

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