Many of the people who come into our office want to know how Invisalign really moves teeth. It’s fun to learn about the science behind clear aligners and knowing how they work will make you feel better about choosing this treatment. We love to talk about how small plastic trays that look simple can make a big difference in your smile over time.
The first step is a thorough look at your teeth and a digital scan. When you come to see us at Marrecau Orthodontics in Parkland, we use state of the art 3D imaging technology to get a picture of where each tooth is in your mouth. This digital model is what we use to plan your entire treatment. Digital scans are quick, accurate and give us all the information we need. They are better than traditional impressions which can be painful and sometimes wrong.
We use special software to map out the entire journey your teeth will take from where they are now to where they will end up. This means we have to plan out every little movement of each tooth during your treatment. The program breaks this trip down into stages and each stage is linked to a different set of aligners. We can even show you a virtual model of how your teeth will move step by step. This helps you see the change before you even start treatment. Adult orthodontic treatment helps improve both oral health and appearance with subtle solutions like Invisalign and clear braces. Many adults choose treatment to gain confidence and a healthier smile that fits their lifestyle.
Once we have your treatment plan we will make a set of custom aligners just for your teeth. Each aligner is a little different from the one before it and is meant to move your teeth a little closer to where they will end up. The aligners are made of a smooth, transparent plastic that fits snugly over your teeth. The fit is perfect because each aligner is made to the exact measurements from your digital scan.
Invisalign uses controlled force to move your teeth. Your new aligners won’t fit because they are made to move your teeth to the next position not the one they are in now. This puts light pressure on your teeth. Your body responds to this pressure by changing the bone around your tooth roots which allows the teeth to slowly move into their new positions. This is the same biological process that happens with regular braces except instead of metal brackets and wires, clear plastic trays are used.
You will wear each pair of aligners for one to two weeks. During this time your teeth are gradually moving into the position that this aligner is meant to put them in. When your teeth are in that position you move to the next set of aligners which keeps moving them towards your final goal. This step by step process ensures you are always moving forward with your treatment.
To work you need to wear the aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours a day. You can only take them off to eat, drink anything other than water or brush your teeth. The consistent pressure from wearing the aligners for most of the day is what makes the teeth move. Your treatment will take longer if you don’t wear them enough because your teeth won’t move as planned. Modern orthodontics offers different types of braces, including metal, ceramic, and clear options. Each type of braces provides a comfortable and precise way to align teeth while fitting the patient’s needs and goals.
During your treatment at our Parkland office you will come see us from time to time so we can check on your progress. We check to see if your teeth are moving as expected and give you your next few sets of aligners at these appointments. Most of the time these trips are short and easy. We can change your treatment plan if we see that anything isn’t going as planned.
In some cases minor attachments need to be placed on some teeth to help the aligners work better. These are small bumps that look like teeth and are made of composite material. They give the aligners something to hold onto. The attachments help make the right kind of movements for teeth that are in harder to move locations. You can hardly see them and they come off at the end of treatment.
Most patients take between 12 to 18 months to complete the whole process. However, simple cases may be done faster and complex cases may take longer. The exact time frame depends on how much your teeth need to move. Your smile will change slowly over the course of treatment as your teeth move into better positions.