Invisalign Treatment has been a popular choice for those who need to straighten their teeth. Invisalign is a system of clear aligners. It can be taken out and put back in, depending on the time frame. Invisalign is not a one-size-fits-all system, so it will work differently for different people. It all depends on your teeth’s shift and how many millimetres they are off from being aligned. Plus, this also depends on how long it takes you to get your teeth straightened out with traditional methods.
What is Invisalign Treatment and How Does it Work?
The Invisalign treatment was developed to make braces more discreet. The aligner is custom-made for the patient’s mouth and teeth, which makes it easier to wear than traditional braces. There are no metal brackets, wires, or other metal components that can be seen when looking at their mouth. This also helps the patient feel more confident about their smile.
How an Invisalign Treatment Works?
The process starts with a series of 3D digital impressions of your teeth, which are then sent off to the lab. The lab then sends you a set of aligners that are custom made to fit your mouth and teeth perfectly. You wear each aligner for about 2 weeks before moving on to the next one. A special type of orthodontic ruler is used to help schedule and plan the specific movements needed to gradually shift the patient’s teeth.
Invisalign allows patients to have a healthy smile in just 18 months with treatments scheduled every six weeks. It also helps patients avoid the pain, discomfort, long treatment time, cost, and dental problems associated with traditional braces. Given that, it works by using a series of clear aligners that are worn for two or three weeks at a time. The aligner creates gentle pressure on your teeth in order to create a more natural space for your teeth.
There are two main types of retainers:
Removable Retainers
Wire retainers are also known as Hawley retainers. Clear retainers, on the other hand, resemble an Invisalign tray or a 3D retainer.
Fixed Retainers
The fixed retainer is a thin, metal wire glued to back of your teeth. This type of retainer stays in your mouth permanently and provides extra insurance that your teeth won’t move after Invisalign treatment- it doesn’t mean you have to keep it forever.
What are the Advantages of an Invisalign Treatment?
- It is a painless treatment that is customized to the patient’s mouth.
- The aligners are removable, so patients can eat and talk while wearing them.
- The results are not permanent, so patients can stop treatment at any time.
- Invisalign also brings many aesthetic benefits to a patient’s smile.
How to Choose an Orthodontist for Your Treatment?
Choosing a good orthodontist is not an easy task. You need to make sure that the orthodontist you choose has good experience in the said treatment and is one of the best places to get it done.
An orthodontist with experience in Invisalign will be able to provide you with a better understanding of the treatment and will have better solutions for your dental issues. If your teeth are crooked, then it’s time to get an expert opinion. In such a case, you might want to see a Maxillofacial Surgeon.
After successfully completing your treatment, you might be excited to not have to spend as much time at your dentist. However, before you start planning out what you will do with all of your free time, make sure that you still think about attending the dentist regularly. Though you will not have to visit the orthodontist’s office as often, you’ll need to go for a follow-up appointment within a few weeks.
The orthodontist follow-up appointment, will make sure that you are on track to reach your goal length and check for any problems or complicating factors. A follow up 6 months or a year in the future might be recommended.
What do my teeth look like after complete treatment?
When your aligning devices are removed, you should notice a huge improvement in your teeth’s alignment. There will be some minor gaps and some crowding but this will not be very common. Before treatment, if you notice any crooked or twisted teeth, it’s important to know that when your smile looks good, all of your teeth are straight. You’ll also notice that chewing & biting are much easier.
Do I still need to use a Retainer After my Treatment?
The use of metal braces in orthodontics has been around for a long time and is, for the most part, used when other approaches don’t work. Most people who chose to wear aligners instead of traditional braces tend to dislike it because it was not their first preference.
It’s also important to wear a retainer after getting braces so your teeth stay in their new, improved position while they reshape themselves. If you don’t like metal retainers, there are clear options which may suit your needs better.
One of the most important factors to consider after Invisalign treatment is, once your treatment is finished, continue to take excellent care of your teeth through routine dental visits and retainers. This is the last stage you need to go through to maintain the benefits the clear aligners have brought for your teeth.
Remember these things when you are using retainer:
- It is essential that you avoid foods like the sticky ones, and remove them before your mouth gets full.
- A lot of people tend to forget about their retainer when they have a drink. So be sure to take it out when you’re at the coffee shop or, in general, any place with a hot beverage. Hot drinks can damage your retainer and also cause it to melt.
- It is important to clean your aligners, just like any other piece of orthodontic equipment. Rinse them with water when you are finished using them, but it doesn’t have to be rigorous. You might find that dentists recommend cleaning in some cases based on the type of material they are made from.
- Besides wearing your retainer, proper oral health should also be practiced. This is really crucial for maintaining what Invisalign did for your oral health.
- Brushing & flossing are the most common practices among dental care professionals. To reduce your chances of developing gum disease, experts recommend brushing at least twice or thrice a day and flossing before sleeping.
Conclusion
Invisalign’s main goal is to give you a straight & pretty smile. Achieving the perfect smile takes time, but these clear aligners can move your teeth more than 1mm per day.
Hopefully our guide to what happens after the last Invisalign tray gave you a good idea of the steps you’ll need to take post-treatment in order to maintain your healthy smile. Whenever you have any questions or concerns after completing Invisalign, feel free to call our office. My team would be happy to help you. If you haven’t started treatment yet and hope for a straighter, healthier smile, please contact us. You can even book an online appointment before you actually visit us.