What to Expect From the Invisalign Process

It’s important for patients to have realistic expectations of what to expect from their treatment. This allows them to make an informed decision about the right treatment plan for their needs.

If you head into treatment without a realistic view of what to expect, you might find that you struggle to wear the aligners for the required time every day. This will ultimately lead to poor treatment outcomes. With this in mind, let’s explore what you can expect to experience from your treatment plan.

The initial consultation

Every Invisalign treatment plan begins with a consultation. During this appointment, your orthodontist wants to achieve a few things. They want to check that you are a suitable candidate.

They also want to scan your teeth to prepare for the treatment plan. They want to ask you questions about your lifestyle and your oral health. And finally, they want to give you an opportunity to ask questions. Try writing down your questions ahead of your appointment so you don’t forget anything. Popular questions include:

• Will the treatment hurt?

• How long will the treatment take?

• What can I eat during treatment?

• How do I care for the aligners?

• What are some things I should avoid?

• Can I play sports with my aligners?

• Should I wear my aligners at night time?

Receiving your aligners

If you decide to go ahead with treatment, your dentist will use the scans from your consultation to prepare your treatment plan. The aligners will then be created in a lab and returned to your dentist. You’ll need to visit your dentist again to get your aligners and to learn more about the treatment.

Everyday care

It can take some time to get used to wearing aligners all day every day, but there are tips and tricks we can share to make life easier.

Your speech might change a little as you get used to wearing the aligners, but this will quickly pass. If you notice the edges of the aligners are hurting your gums or cheeks, visit the dentist as these can be adjusted or softened with orthodontic wax.

You’ll need to remember to take them out before you eat or drink. You can leave them in if you’re drinking water, but only water. You’ll also need to learn how to care for your aligners, including cleaning them twice a day.

Aligner changes

With most treatment plans, you’ll need to change your aligners every 10-14 days. You’re likely to notice some mild discomfort on the days following an aligner change. This is because the new aligners will place the most pressure on your teeth, but you’ll soon get used to these strange sensations.

You can use over the counter pain medication to manage this pain. Remember, if you don’t wear your aligners often enough the treatment, aligner changes will be more uncomfortable because your teeth won’t be ready. This could also cause the treatment to fail over time.

Ending your treatment

When you reach the final aligner in your case, you’ll need to be prepared to visit the dentist. By this point, your teeth will probably look close to perfect, but some of our patients like to complete their treatment with composite bonding and teeth whitening to put the finishing touches on their smiles.

You will also need to wear a retainer at night time to make sure your teeth don’t shift out of alignment again. Remember that your teeth will want to fall into the easiest alignment pattern, and this is rarely perfectly straight. By wearing your retainer at night time, you can stop your teeth from moving out of alignment.

Final thoughts

If you still have questions about the Invisalign process, we recommend booking a consultation with our orthodontics team. We can walk you through the process step by step so you have a better understanding of what to expect.

Remember that every patient is different, so treatment can vary between individuals. This is why we recommend booking a consultation to learn more about what treatment will look like for you.