Over the past few years clear aligner therapy has become one of the most talked about solutions in orthodontics, and for good reason. More people are coming to the realisation that getting your teeth straight doesn’t have to mean putting up with metal brackets and wires. The results that clear aligners are producing are genuinely impressive in a lot of different situations. We want to explain how Invisalign works in Parkland in a way that makes sense so you can get a clear idea of whether it’s the right fit for you. Invisalign aligners gently move teeth into alignment without metal braces. Each Invisalign tray is clear, comfortable, and custom-made, allowing patients to remove them easily for meals or brushing. This treatment offers a discreet and effective way to achieve a confident smile.
Invisalign works by creating a set of clear aligners that are tailored to you and that you wear over your teeth. You swap them out every week or so. There’s a tiny difference between each one, and it’s this variation that makes your teeth shift. As you go through each one, your teeth slowly move into place. The aligners are made of a smooth clear material that fits snugly against the teeth and is really hard to notice, even for people close by. Before we even start creating a single aligner at Marrecau Orthodontics we take advantage of cutting edge digital scanning equipment to get a complete picture of what the treatment plan should be, meaning that every step of the way is carefully thought out from the very beginning. Invisalign Teen gives younger patients a flexible and comfortable way to straighten their teeth. The aligners are nearly invisible, easy to wear, and perfect for active teens. Invisalign Teen also includes wear indicators that help track progress throughout treatment.
We start with a thorough consultation where we take a super accurate digital image of your teeth and jaw. This scan is then used to create a 3D model of your mouth and a full treatment plan that shows exactly how your teeth will move from start to finish. One thing that lots of our patients really like about Invisalign is the fact that they can see what they’ll look like at the end before they’ve even agreed to anything. Knowing what to expect before you start any form of orthodontic treatment takes away a lot of the uncertainty that naturally comes with it.
In Parkland, Invisalign works by following a pretty straightforward schedule. You wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day and take them out to eat, drink anything other than water, and give your teeth a good clean and floss. Then back they go. You move on to the next set in the series every 7 to 14 days and each new set carries on moving your teeth a bit further. We make sure everything is running to plan at Marrecau Orthodontics by scheduling regular catch-up sessions with you during treatment.
Sometimes we have to put a tiny tooth coloured attachment on some of your teeth to give the aligners a bit of an extra push. These are incredibly discreet and match the colour of your teeth, and they come off when treatment is finished. We can also use elastics to sort out any issues with the way your upper and lower teeth meet, working with the aligners to help move your jaw into a better position over time.
The amount of time treatment takes is different for everyone but most Parkland patients finish their Invisalign in about 12 to 18 months. The one thing to remember to stay on track is to wear the aligners as instructed. The people who are really diligent about it always get results that are as good, if not better, than what was originally planned.
After the bulk of the treatment is over, you get to wear retainers to keep your teeth in their new position while the bone around them fully heals up. This part is just as important as the treatment itself and we make sure that every patient knows what wearing a retainer means before you finish the program. We’d love to have you come in and have a chat with one of our experts to see if Invisalign is going to work for you.