Because Invisalign® doesn’t look like the braces you remember seeing years ago, you may wonder how they help straighten your teeth. Here, our Medicine Hat dentists explain the details.
How does Invisalign work?
Ever wished you could have straighter teeth but dreaded wearing those ugly metal brackets and enduring the discomfort of traditional braces? You’re not alone. Luckily, Invisalign is an alternative.
Invisalign aligners aren’t the braces you remember seeing on your childhood friends. In fact, they are pretty much the opposite: virtually invisible, custom-modelled for your teeth and perhaps best of all - no metal or wires for teens and adults who want to straighten their teeth discreetly and treat a range of issues, including:
- Overly crowded teeth
- Widely spaced teeth
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Clicking jaws
Step 1: A Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment Plan
You’ll visit your dentist for an oral exam and assessment to determine whether you’d be a good candidate for treatment. We’ll then develop a customized treatment plan to gradually shift your teeth into proper position.
Before beginning treatment, we’ll take x-rays and create moulds of your teeth using iTero scanning technology. At each stage of the process, we review your progress and record the movement of your teeth.
Step 2: Receive Your First Invisalign Trays
You’ll notice each tray is manufactured so your teeth will be slightly straighter than with the previous tray (expect your pearly whites to move up to 0.25 millimetres per tray). You’ll pop in a new set every two weeks. This smooth, comfortable plastic is worn over your teeth, and will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, according to your customized treatment plan.
Once your aligners are in, you’ll need to wear them close to full-time (about 20 hours per day), removing them only to eat, brush and floss. Once you are done with your final trays, you’ll wear a retainer full time for a couple of months, before gradually cutting back use.
Step 3: A fantastic smile
Provided you follow all instructions at every step of the process, Invisalign can provide you with straight teeth and a confident smile, setting you up for healthier gums, reducing your risk of tooth decay, and improving your overall general health.
Our professional dentists in Medicine Hat have been providing Invisalign to our clients for more than 10 years and can help you discover whether you would be a good candidate.