Invisalign®

Step 1 – Consultation & Examination
Your first step is to visit our practise to have a consultation, examination with our orthodontist to determine if Invisalign is suitable for you.

Step 2 – Orthodontic Records
Radiograph/ Photograph and scans are done to assess your case and help the orthodontist develop a comprehensive treatment plan.

Step 3 – Digital Scan
A digital scan of all your teeth are done. This take will take approximately 10-15 mins. This scan is then digitally sent to Align Technology to plan your Invisalign treatment.

Step 4 – Review of chin-cheek ratio
The orthodontist will send a detailed prescription of your treatment to Align Technology. Using advanced digital software Align Technology will create a virtual video of your teeth moving from its initial position to final position.

Your orthodontist will review the video and will make numerous changes as requested to ensure the movements are feasible that they produce the desired result.

This is the most important step as the entire treatment depends on the accuracy of the movement. Only an experienced orthodontist can ensure that the video is an actual representation of the final outcome.

The video will be shared with you and once approved, Align Technology will manufacture the aligner and ship it to us.

Invisalign braces are clear alternative to traditional braces. Here’s why –

APPEARANCE Invisalign straightens teeth without the requirement of wires and brackets. It uses a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called as aligners. When you have a special occasion coming up, you can just remove your aligners and put them back when you’re ready. Even otherwise, they look virtually invisible and saves the embarrassment of metal braces.

DURATION OF TREATMENT Although treatment time varies depending on the severity of misaligned teeth, with Invisalign you’re on your way to the smile you want faster! Also, you require less doctor visits and is therefore, ideal for your busy schedule! Invisalign treatment time is considered to vary between 6 to 18 months.

Invisalign works for many, but not all cases. Our Specialist Orthodontist will examine and assess if you are a suitable candidate for Invisalign.

GAPPED TEETH – Gaps between teeth

OVERBITE – Excessive overlap of upper teeth over the lower teeth

UNDERBITE – Excessive overlap of lower teeth over the upper teeth

OPEN BITE – Gaps between upper and lower teeth

OVERLY CROWDED – Lack of space within your jaw to position teeth normally

CROSS BITE – Top front teeth fall behind your lower front teeth when you bite down

Each aligner is designed to move your teeth by a small amount. Aligners are changed approximately 7-10 days interval. Each succeeding aligner progressively moves your teeth towards the planned final position.

Although Invisalign allows for aligners to be removed for eating and drinking, failing to clean your trays properly afterwards can result in discoloration and a buildup of bacteria.

Do:

• Rinse your aligners when you remove them. Dry saliva and plaque create a perfect breeding ground for foul smelling bacteria.
• Soak your aligners. Denture cleaner, Retainer Brite, and the official Invisalign cleaning crystals are all excellent options for keeping your trays clear and sanitized.
• Brush and floss your teeth before reinserting your aligners. Proper oral hygiene is key to maintaining healthy teeth and avoiding cavities and decay. Since Invisalign is form fitted, failing to brush and floss properly can trap harmful particles between your teeth and aligner, which increases your risk for dental issues in the future.
• Clean your aligners with a clear anti-bacterial soft soap. A clear anti-bacterial soap is an excellent and inexpensive way to keep your aligners clear, fresh, and free from harmful bacteria.
• Brush your aligners gently. Vigorous brushing can scratch your aligners and leave visible etchings.

Don’t:

• Eat or drink (anything but water) while wearing Invisalign. Many foods and drinks can stain or discolor your aligners and cause them to stink.
• Use toothpaste to clean your aligners. Many types of toothpaste (especially those with whitening agents) are abrasive and can dull your aligners or create small traps for bacteria to dwell.
• Use colored soaps. Although anti-bacterial soap is a great way to clean your Invisalign braces, using anything but clear soap can cause your aligners to take on alternative hues and shades.
• Leave your aligners exposed or unprotected while eating. Aside from an increased risk of misplacing them, leaving your aligners in the open exposes them to harmful germs and bacteria. Rinse them, soak them, and then rinse them again before returning them to your mouth.

Every patient is different, so without comprehensive oral examination by our orthodontist, it’s impossible to tell how long treatment will take. However, Invisalign usually takes a little less time than conventional orthodontics. The length of treatment depends on the severity of your case and can only be determined by your dentist; however, the average case takes about 12 months for adults.

We discourage smoking while wearing aligners because it is possible for the aligners to become discolored.

Because of the high sugar content in alcohol, a moderate amount would be fine to consume, if care is taken to clean the teeth and the aligners soon after so as not to trap sugar between them. The same applies for any sugary beverage.

Like regular braces, retainers are required for all patients on completion of the Invisalign® treatment. The orthodontist will make one final scan your teeth in the same process used for the Invisalign trays. Once that scan is complete, we give our patients Vivera retainers from Invisalign that are very durable and accurate. In some cases, we also recommend a bonded wire retainer behind the front teeth.

Several patients make the wrongful assumption that their final Invisalign tray can serve as a retainer in order to save time, money or physical appearances. This cannot work since the trays are not made for long term wear and can become weak over time. Since the trays for Invisalign are only made for month long periods, they can get dirty and discolor very quickly. They are not designed to be cleaned the same way retainers are and will, therefore, get less and less appealing the longer they are worn.

Depending on the complexity of the scan and the extent of crowding or malalignment our orthodontist will estimate the treatment time and give you a treatment plan and cost.

It is also important to understand that there is a range of Invisalign treatment available such as Invisalign, Invisalign Lite, Invisalign Teen. Our orthodontist will recommend the best suitable treatment plan for you.