The team at Dentistry at 1818 has helped patients throughout the greater Philadelphia have healthy, beautiful smiles. One way that this is achieved is through Invisalign®. Invisalign® is a state-of-the-art orthdontic treatment ideal for teens and adults, allowing patients to have a beautiful smile without the hassles of metal braces.
Many patients interested in Invisalign® wonder about the treatment timeline for care and what that entails. Let’s go over the basics right now.
What is Invisalign®?
Invisalign® is an alternative to traditional orthodontic braces. Rather than using metal brackets and wires like traditional braces, Invisalign® uses clear plastic trays that are custom molded to fit a patient’s teeth. New Invisalign® aligners are used to help in the gradual realignment of the teeth, much like tightening or adjustment visits may be done for traditional braces treatment.
How long does Invisalign® treatment take?
In general, the Invisalign® treatment process will last around seven months to a year. You’ll note that this is roughly the same amount of time that is required for traditional braces treatment.
With that in mind, the treatment timeline for Invisalign® follows a similar trajectory as other kinds of orthodontic treatments. Treatment is implemented, follow-up visits are scheduled, and the whole treatment process may be adjusted as needed given the nature of the patient’s needs.
During your consultation at the practice, an estimated treatment timeline can be provided based on your needs. What follows below is a general overview of the treatment process that occurs during the course of several months.
The Creation of Custom Invisalign® Aligners
Invisalign® aligners are designed using a special computer model based on an impression of the patient’s teeth. The computer creates different custom aligners in sequence to ensure a precise yet gradual realignment of the teeth along the dental ridge in order to improve the appearance of the smile and overall dental health.
Instructions for Wearing Your Invisalign® Alginers
With every new aligner, patients are expected to wear their trays at all times. Patients should only remove their aligners when eating and drinking or when cleaning their teeth. By keeping the Invisalign® aligners in place, optimal revision of the dental alignment is possible.
New Aligners: Replacing Old Ones Every Two Weeks
Every two weeks, the patient will receive a new custom Invisalign® aligner. The old Invisalign® aligner can be discarded and replaced with the new one, which is worn as much as possible. Discomfort is common in the first few days of wearing the new Invisalign® aligner, but it is manageable and the discomfort diminishes as the teeth shift.
Periodic Visits to Monitor the Progress of Invisalign® Treatment
Every few weeks, patients will return to the practice so that their progress can be monitored. This is particularly important when Invisalign® patients may require additional reshaping and revision at the end of the treatment process. Additional visits can be scheduled as needed based on the progress of the overall treatment process.
At the end of Invisalign® treatment, patients will have a straight, beautiful smile that is healthy as well. The best part is that patients will have gone through this months-long treatment process without any visible brackets and wires. In a sense, patients undergo orthodontic treatment without anyone realizing that it was performed.
Learn More About Invisalign®
For more information about Invisalign® and how it can be of great benefit you and your orthodontic health, we encourage you to contact our dental care center today. When you visit Dentistry at 1818, we will be more than happy to go over all of your options for advanced dental care.
