What To Expect With Invisalign

Invisalign is an alternative to traditional braces that use a series of clear, removable aligners to gently straighten teeth over time. Unlike traditional braces, no wires or brackets are required in Invisalign to align your teeth. Instead, these aligners are custom-made to fit your individual smile. 

Your orthodontist will create a treatment plan for you based on the changes you'd like to see in your smile and will use X-rays and pictures to monitor your progress throughout your treatment. The entire process takes about twelve months on average, and patients wear each aligner for about two weeks at a time before switching to the next tray in the series. Typically there are no food restrictions during treatment, and no painful adjustments are necessary because you simply swap out your trays at home on your own schedule.

How Invisalign Works

Each set of Invisalign aligners is worn for two weeks at a time, then switched out for the next one in the series. Each aligner is designed to fit comfortably over your teeth and gradually shift them into place to adjust your smile. Every two weeks or so, you'll return to your dentist's office for a follow-up appointment, where they will check on the progress of your treatment and make any needed adjustments to your treatment plan.

If the patient participates in sports or other activities where they might damage their teeth or cause discomfort wearing the aligners, they can take them out temporarily. However, we do recommend that they wear their aligners as recommended for best results. If a patient forgets to wear their aligners, they should continue with their routine the next day instead of taking the aligners out and not wearing them again until the next scheduled time. This can cause a longer treatment process than if the patient wears the aligners according to the treatment plan created by the orthodontist.

The Benefits of Invisalign Treatment

There are many benefits of choosing Invisalign to straighten your smile. Some of the primary benefits of this treatment include:

• They are comfortable and nearly invisible to others, so they won't affect how others view you.
• You can remove the aligners to eat and brush and floss as normal, so there is no need to worry about eating certain foods that could damage your appliances.
• Aligners are changed every few weeks, so you never have to worry about difficult and painful adjustments.
• Treatment often lasts just as long as metal braces depending on your individual needs.

Is Invisalign Right For Me?

Invisalign can be used to treat mild cases of misalignment as well as more complex cases. The best way to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign is to schedule an appointment with an orthodontist for a consultation. At that time, your orthodontist can evaluate the health and position of your teeth and decide if Invisalign would be a good fit for you. If you are eligible for treatment, a treatment plan will be created for you. During your first appointment, you will receive the first pair of aligners. You will wear them for two weeks straight and then switch them out for the next pair in your series. You will be seen about once a month by your orthodontist to monitor your progress and receive new sets of aligners.

Contact our orthodontist in Hamilton, MT, and orthodontist in Stevensville, MT, at 1116 W Main St, Hamilton, MT 59840, or 3920 US Hwy 93, Stevensville, MT 59870. You can call (406) 363-2200 to learn more.