05 Apr Understanding Invisalign: Everything You Need To Know

Understanding Invisalign: Everything You Need To Know

Invisalign is a new and effective way to help people get a perfect smile. The process involves placing a thin plastic aligner in your mouth for a few months to achieve a straight and beautiful smile. It’s important to understand that this straightening procedure does not happen by chance. Invisalign spent countless hours and resources learning how our teeth react to their system. Through their research, they have created a simple process to straighten teeth quickly and easily.

If you want to find out how getting Invisalign can help you achieve an ideal smile, you have reached the right place to have all of your questions answered.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment using clear aligners to help move your teeth into place. These plastic aligners are much easier to maintain than traditional metal braces. Before starting your treatment, you need to book an appointment with a local dentist for a consultation. During this appointment, a professional will assess your suitability for the treatment. You can also ask your dentist any questions regarding how Invisalign works.

The dentist will take an X-ray, then scan or mold your teeth to map their starting positions. If things look good, our team will use software that shows you the final position of your teeth to give you an idea of what they will look like after the treatment. After designing your smile and ensuring you will be satisfied with the result, you can approve and start the treatment.

The Treatment

Your first set of Invisalign aligners within two weeks. Once they arrive, you must come in for a fitting appointment. Your dentist will check to see if your aligners fit well. Remember, depending on your dentist’s instructions, you will need to change your aligners every few weeks. It’s important to wear your aligners for at least 20 hours a day. The longer you wear your Invisalign aligners, the faster your teeth will move into place. You should only remove your aligners to brush, eat, and drink.

Once your treatment is completed and your teeth are straight, you will need to wear Invisalign retainers. These retainers help prevent your teeth from returning to their original position and preserve your perfect smile. The process can be completed in as little as three months, depending on the total tooth movement required. Your dentist will discuss the amount of time it will take to complete the treatment with you at the beginning of treatment and throughout the process. Not wearing the aligners at least 20 hours a day would likely increase the amount of time needed to straighten your teeth.

How Does Invisalign Move Your Teeth?

As you know by now, Invisalign helps you move your teeth into place using clear plastic aligning trays. It does this by pivoting or tipping them, pushing them into your gums, rotating them, or pulling them further out. The series of trays will slightly differ, with the first tray looking like your current teeth and the last looking like your final result. Each tray will be 0.25 mm different, so your teeth will move 1mm for every four trays.

Your Bone Has To Remodel

Your teeth must be moved to straighten your smile, but how can you move your teeth through solid bone? The roots of your teeth are attached to the bone, but between your bone and the root of your teeth is a ligament. The periodontal ligament is like a cushion for teeth with busy cells inside.

Some cells help remove the bone in the direction of your moving teeth, and some add new bone where your tooth has moved out of. The remodeling process usually begins from the pressure exerted by the Invisalign trays pushing your teeth. Once you finish your treatment, it will take some time for your bone to harden around your teeth. This is why you must use retainers towards the end of your treatment.

Attachments

Invisalign attachments are buttons made using a composite material stuck to the front of your teeth. They are added like a white filling but don’t require injections or drilling. Since these fillings are usually the same color as your teeth, they are hardly noticeable. These attachments act as a lever to help move your teeth in place. The trays will lock into these attachments and push against them to help you with tooth movement. Towards the end of your treatment, these attachments will be removed without any remaining trace on your teeth.

Over 14 million people have used Invisalign to improve their smiles.. So, if you wish to have a confident smile but don’t want unsightly metal braces, consider getting Invisalign treatment immediately!

Contact Todays Dental for Professional Assistance Today!

Our team from Todays Dental has years of experience with Invisalign. We can quickly check the current condition of your teeth and recommend the optimal treatment to enhance your smile. One of our experienced dentists will guide you through each step of the process and ensure you get a smile you can be proud of. Book your appointment today at one of our two convenient locations in Plainfield, IL or in Beverly (Chicago, IL) at todaysdentalofil.com!