- Suitable: for 18+
- Used to Treat: Crooked teeth, gappy teeth, open bites, underbites, crossbites
- Treatment Time: 4-18 months depending on complexity
- Not suitable for: Those who think they may forget to wear the aligners
Invisalign has revolutionised adult orthodontic treatment, and now adults of all ages are coming forward ready to transform their smiles. Teeth straightening and orthodontic treatment were not very common in adults until quite recently. The bulky appearance of metal fixed braces was a significant barrier for most.
- Initially, we used Invisalign to correct mild cases of crooked teeth and overcrowding.
As the technology has advanced, and as orthodontists have been gaining experience and expertise in aligner therapy, there now isn’t much we won’t take on with Invisalign. For many patients, Invisalign is actually the preferred appliance ahead of fixed metal or clear braces.
Invisalign works by wearing a series of clear plastic aligners
Invisalign works by wearing a series of clear plastic aligners that gradually move your teeth into the desired position. Like any orthodontic appliance, they work by applying a constant gentle force to your teeth, which instigates a biological reaction in the jaw bones which allows the teeth to move through the bone.
Your initial consultation
After your initial consultation with your specialist orthodontist, you will have a series of records that include x-rays, photographs and a 3D digital scan using our iTero scanner. This all gets sent off to Invisalign to produce a bespoke treatment plan that will be reviewed and modified by your orthodontist. This plan is developed on the Invisalign software and is called a Clincheck.
Make a plan
Once we have all agreed upon the plan and are happy with the proposed results, we will approve the Clincheck and ask Invisalign to manufacture the aligners. After this planning process, which takes approximately 4 weeks, we are ready to get started.
Day 1
On the day we start you Invisalign treatment, we will fit ‘attachments’ to your teeth. These are small tooth-coloured bumps made from composite resin. They are used to help the aligners grip to your teeth and enhance the effectiveness of the Invisalign treatment. Placement is a straightforward and painless process. The attachments will remain on your teeth until the end of the Invisalign treatment.
We will then fit your first aligners and make sure you are happy taking them out and putting them back in. We go through aftercare instructions with you and will normally give you approximately 6 aligners to take home and work your way through, changing to a new aligner each week.
20 to 22 hours every single day
he aligners must be worn for 20 to 22 hours every single day. Anything less than this will likely compromise the final result. They are just removed for eating, cleaning, and drinking anything other than plain water.
You will typically have to return every 6 to 8 weeks for your orthodontist to monitor the progress of your Invisalign treatment. Once you reach the end of your treatment, your orthodontist will examine your teeth and discuss with you whether further aligners are required to perfect the result.
If a decision is made to continue with further treatment, a new digital iTero scan will be taken and sent to Invisalign to allow us to create some additional aligners.
These refinements are a routine part of any Invisalign treatment plan and are included in the cost of your treatment.
Once you are happy with the result, we will plan to finish off your orthodontic treatment.
On the last day your orthodontist will remove all of the attachments and will fit your retainers, so you are ready to go and show off your new smile!
