Invisalign —
Invisible Braces
What is Invisalign?
How Does Invisalign Work?
You wear each set of Aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position your Invisalign provider has prescribed. You’ll visit your doctor about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages 9-15 months, and the average number of Aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.
How Are Aligners Made?
You’d be amazed…the Aligners are made through a combination of your doctor’s expertise and 3-D computer imaging technology.
The Process
1. An Invisalign-certified practitioner takes records of the patient, including PVS impressions, intra- and extra-oral photos and x-rays. The records are sent to Align Technology with the desired treatment goals.
2. Plaster models are poured and then scanned to create a highly accurate digital image.
3. A virtual treatment is created with the teeth moving gradually from initial to final position. Each stage corresponds to the movement built into a set of Aligners.
4. This virtual treatment is presented in the form of a movie.
5. Upon approval of the treatment, Align Technology manufacturers the customized Aligners and sends them to the treating practitioner, along with any instructions and attachment templates required.
6. Sets of Aligners are then distributed to the patient at each appointment.
