Easy steps to straighten teeth with Invisalign

Invisalign Aligners Step-by-Step Process

The Perfect Smile clinic’s orthodontists have been providing our patients with fast, affordable and successful Invisalign treatments for many years.

What’s unique about Invisalign is that it offers patients the chance to straighten their teeth in half the time of traditional wired braces and is much more discreet in comparison.

As the aligners are near invisible, the treatment has been popular amongst teens and adults alike, who want to improve gaps, overcrowded and crooked teeth, overbites and underbites but don’t want the stigma of a ‘mouth full of metal’.

So, what does the treatment involve? The seven stages of Invisalign…

Step one: A consultation with expert orthodontists

Whilst the Invisalign treatment may be of definite interest to you, it is important that we conduct an assessment to determine if you qualify for the treatment or need something stronger.

On top of this, we will also need to examine your teeth and mouth in detail to ascertain the suitability of this type of treatment in your particular case.

We also look to see if other types of treatment are needed either before or after the Invisalign treatment. For example, gum disease will need to be treated prior to wearing this particular kind of clear aligner technology.

Here, our professional dental staff and hygienists will look for disorders or symptoms of gum infection, disease and tooth decay.

These diagnoses and underlying problems will need to be treated beforehand.

This is because they pose a threat to your oral health and hygiene condition and the orthodontists will need to minimise this risk before proceeding to ensure effective and stable outcomes.

You will then be given a treatment plan of action that will outline the process involved.

Our consultants will then discuss all your possible Invisalign types and options that are available to you.

Step two: Accurate treatment planning

Once we have decided together which type of Invisalign is the treatment of choice, we will then take some impressions of your teeth to create special moulds.

We will also take a scan/photographs of your teeth.

The information collected is then used to plan how we are going to create your new smile.

One tool we use, as part of the Invisalign diagnostics, is a computer-derived 3D digital animated visualization of your treatment.

This allows the dentist to correctly design the entire treatment process.

Many patients find this aspect of a virtual treatment simulation very reassuring as they can see how we have mapped out the treatment from start to finish. Read reviews.

At this time we will be able to tell you exactly how long your specific treatment will take.

Step three: Preliminary treatments

Some patients may need a slight amount of preliminary treatment to better accommodate the tooth movement.

This usually involves a small amount of filing of severely crowded teeth.

The amount of tooth involved is very little (maximum 0.6mm) and we always remain in enamel.

This is a better alternative to tooth extraction for space.

Your treatment may also require the placement of “attachments”. These are small tooth coloured composite (plastic) attachments that are bonded onto certain teeth.

They have an “active” surface that facilitates tooth movement. They are taken off at the end of treatment.

Any preliminary work that is necessary will occur before the construction of the aligners.

Step four: Manufacturing your bespoke aligners

The Invisalign Outcome Simulator will be used to verify the diagnosis and your treatment plan.

Once approved your dentist, like Dr Gurs Sehmi will order a special sequence of aligners that are unique to you.

They are made in the Align Technology laboratories using advanced 3D computer imaging technology.

It takes around 1-2 weeks for us to get your specific aligners back from the laboratory.

Step five: The Invisalign Treatment

You will be given a sequence of clear aligners. Each aligner will be specifically numbered making it easy for you to distinguish which one to use.

You will need to wear each one for approximately 2 weeks or as advised by your dentist.

Your dentist will give you a certain number of aligners to start with.

This means that unlike more traditional braces you do not have to keep coming back for multiple orthodontic adjustment appointments or checkups.

Usually, patients come back every 6-8 weeks (in some instances of high compliance longer). Many patients have found this unique factor very accommodating with their lifestyle, sports, activities or work commitments.

Your dentist will explain the total number of appointments that are needed to complete the treatment.

However, unlike traditional braces, there are much fewer appointments involved with this type of treatment.

Step six: Avoid retention

Once the treatment is completed and you are happy with the alignment of your teeth, you will need a retainer to prevent any relapse of treatment.

Your dentist will advise you of the best retentions systems.

This may be a fixed option or a removable option. In most cases, both types of retention are used to secure the teeth in the new position.

Step seven: Review

You will be given a review appointment at the end of your treatment to assess your new smile, we welcome all of our patients to all of our chains in Harley Street and Hertford.

Your dentist will check that the treatment is secure and that you are following any oral care maintenance program selected for you.

Call the team on 01992 552115 to schedule an appointment.

Invisalign tips:

Medically reviewed & updated on July 22, 2021

Our free no obligation Initial Consultation will be with our dentist and/or our Treatment Coordinators. The suitability of options discussed will ultimately be dependent upon your clinical assessment with a dentist at the practice.