Straightening your teeth is a great way to improve your smile. It can also prevent tooth damage and make speaking, breathing and chewing easier. Invisalign treatment is an alternative to traditional metal braces and helps straighten, space and align teeth.
Although the treatment has been around for years, many people still have questions about it. This article explores the timeline for Invisalign treatment, discusses cases where it may be essential, and explains why the treatment timeline can vary from one situation to the other.
WHAT IS INVISALIGN?
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that straightens teeth. It is also used to treat open bites, underbites, crossbites and overcrowded teeth. The treatment is an alternative to metal braces and can be taken on and off. Invisalign uses a series of custom-made, invisible braces that cover your teeth and gradually pull them into the proper position. Both adults and teenagers can wear Invisalign.
THE PROCESS OF GETTING INVISALIGN TREATMENT
Getting Invisalign treatment is a straightforward process. The steps include:
1. CONSULTING WITH YOUR ORTHODONTIST
Invisalign treatment doesn’t work for all orthodontic issues. Your dentist will determine whether Invisalign is right for you during a consultation. Beyond clinical considerations, your dentist will also consider your willingness or ability to keep the trays in your mouth for almost 24 hours a day. In addition, they will check your dental records and gather information using x-rays, photographs, bite registration and dental impressions.
2. DEVELOPING A TREATMENT PLAN
Your dentist will use data collected in the step above to generate a 3-D rendering of your teeth and model how they will move to their desired positions. When the modelling is complete, they make the trays. It may take up to a month for the aligners to be ready.
3. RECEIVING YOUR FIRST TRAY
Once your Invisalign tray is ready, your dental office will contact you. Your dentist may fit small attachments on your teeth to help the trays remain in position. These clear buttons are temporary and painless to install. Afterwards, your dentist will check if your aligners fit and complete the fitting of the first tray. They will then explain your aftercare programme.
4. FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS
You’ll wait a few weeks before booking a follow-up appointment. Your dentist will then examine your tray fit and tooth movements.
The process is complete once you’ve worn a series of Invisalign trays. You’ll visit the dentist periodically for them to monitor your progress, but you won’t need to see the dentist every time you replace an aligner. If your treatment is not going according to plan, you may require a new digital scan to order an extra set of aligners.
After some time, your teeth will straighten. The outcome depends on how misaligned your teeth were initially, but you should see beautiful results if you wear the trays as advised.
THE TIMELINE FOR INVISALIGN TREATMENT
There is no single timeline for how long Invisalign treatments will take. For some patients, the timeline is shorter, while it takes a bit longer for others. The average Invisalign treatment lasts between 12 to 18 months. At North Vancouver Dental Clinic, Invisalign treatments are tailored to the needs of individual patients.
INVISALIGN TREATMENT FOR CROWDED TEETH
Your teeth may push into one another or overlap due to crowding in your mouth. The length of time it takes Invisalign to treat this problem depends on how crowded your mouth is at the start of the process. Invisalign can treat mild crowding in approximately six months, while more extreme cases take longer to correct.
INVISALIGN TREATMENT FOR GAPPED TEETH
Gapping in your teeth can be corrected more quickly than overcrowding. Bringing your teeth closer together is easier than pushing them apart. Invisalign can remedy mild gapping concerns in about eight weeks. Extreme cases will take longer, but the timeline should not exceed 12 months.
WHY DO TREATMENT TIMELINES VARY
Depending on a few factors, you may need to wear your Invisalign trays for more time than other patients, or less. Determining factors include the type of alignment issue that must be corrected and its severity, your willingness to wear Invisalign, and your age. Not wearing your trays consistently, for example, will slow the process down. Taking your trays out effectively halts your progress, lengthening the treatment period.
The Invisalign timeline treatment can also be affected by your age due to the slower movement of your teeth as you get older. Older patients tend to have longer treatment times than younger patients.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NORTH VANCOUVER DENTAL CLINIC?
If you have questions concerning Invisalign treatment in North Vancouver, contact Peak Dental Arts today.
Our team of North Vancouver dentists has years of experience giving patients healthier, brighter smiles with Invisalign treatments.
We are conveniently located on Marine Drive and Lower Lonsdale. Contact us today to schedule your next dental appointment. Call us at 604-770-2222 or schedule an appointment using our online form.
