Many general and family dentists now offer Invisalign® treatment. While these practitioners receive sufficient training from the aligner company, a qualified orthodontist provides a higher level of care.
Orthodontists spend years honing their knowledge of facial anatomy and tooth movement, which results in better, longer-lasting Invisalign outcomes.
How Invisalign Works
Invisalign uses clear, medical-grade plastic trays to shift your teeth over time. Your orthodontist will ask you to change to the next aligner in the series approximately every one to two weeks.
As treatment progresses, each tray brings the teeth closer to their ideal positions. After 12 to 18 months, you will have the smile you've always wanted.
Advantages of Invisalign
Discreet
Teens and adults often prefer to keep their orthodontic treatment private. Invisalign allows them to change their smiles without brackets and wires intruding on their appearance.
Comfortable
The aligners are smooth to the touch, and patients quickly become accustomed to wearing them. They do not irritate tender oral tissues like braces can.
Quick Treatment
Invisalign treatment may be faster than braces. The average treatment time is roughly 12 to 18 months, while braces may take up to three years.
Improved Oral Health
Invisalign patients have better oral health outcomes than braces patients because it is challenging to clean around brackets and wires.
No Food Restrictions
Braces patients must avoid many types of food, including hard, crunchy, and sticky choices. Invisalign comes out to allow patients to eat freely.
Easy Care
Caring for braces can be challenging. Since patients can remove their aligners, Invisalign allows easier maintenance and further improves patients' oral health.
The Invisalign Treatment Process
Step 1: Consultation
You will meet with your orthodontist and have the opportunity to ask questions about any part of the process. Your orthodontist will help you decide whether Invisalign is the proper choice or whether another orthodontic system may be better for you.
Step 2: Design
Your orthodontist will take a series of images with an intraoral scanner. This scanner will create a 3-D digital model of your mouth, enabling your doctor to visualize how your teeth will move. Your orthodontist will use this data to design a graduated set of aligners to correct your smile.
Step 3: Wearing Your Aligners
After the aligners return from the Invisalign lab, you will have a fitting appointment. Your orthodontist will ensure the trays fit smoothly and comfortably, preparing you for changing them once every one to two weeks. They will also ensure you understand how to use and care for the aligners. You will return to the office every six to eight weeks for check-ups.
Step 4: Retainer
After the aligner series is complete, your teeth will be in ideal positions. To protect your new smile, you must wear a retainer as prescribed, whether at night, during the day, or both. If you do not keep up with retainer wear, your teeth will want to shift back to their original position.
Benefits of Receiving Invisalign Treatment From an Orthodontist
- Orthodontists understand tooth movement better than general dentists. They know how moving teeth affects a patient's oral and overall health.
- If something goes wrong, a general dentist may not know how to help you. An orthodontist can handle complications without the need to send you to another specialist.
- Orthodontic specialists have more advanced design skills than general dentists. Rather than simply following the instructions given from the aligner company, they can create a highly individualized plan for the best results.
Frequently Asked Questions About Invisalign
How will the aligners affect my hygiene habits?
Fortunately, Invisalign treatment makes it easy to keep your teeth clean and maintain excellent oral hygiene. Since you will remove your aligners for cleaning, you can easily brush and floss.
What makes someone an ideal candidate for Invisalign?
- Mild to moderate orthodontic correction needs
- No active gum disease or tooth decay
- Fully erupted permanent teeth
- Excellent oral hygiene habits
- Willing to wear the aligners 20-22 hours daily for at least 12 to 18 months
- Ready to take control of their orthodontic treatment
Call Andover Orthodontics
If you are ready to consider straightening your teeth, Invisalign can help. Our skilled orthodontist, Dr. Anthony Broccoli, is highly experienced with Invisalign and creates beautiful, healthy smiles. Please call our Andover, MA, office at 978-475-0450 to book your consultation today.
