This treatment is virtually invisible and allows you to continue eating the meals you love without worrying about food getting stuck or breaking brackets. Patients also don’t have to deal with any discomfort from wires or brackets. You can carry on brushing and flossing as usual without having to work around brackets, but we do still recommend rinsing after every meal. Even after you receive your aligners, it’s an almost uninterrupted routine.
For many patients, clear aligners are a great choice. Adults are often especially good candidates for this treatment option. From the first consultation to the final appointment, our team is with you every step of the way throughout the process.
What Do I Need to Know About Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners gently shift your teeth over time to achieve a straight smile. With comprehensive Invisalign treatment, it’s important that the aligners are worn 20 to 22 hours every day. Your orthodontist will discuss with you whether this is the right option for you or your child because patients must commit to consistently wearing the aligners to see results.
One option we recommend for patients is to use the blue compliance indicator to make sure the aligners are worn enough. Parents can also use the indicator to check on how often their teens are wearing their aligners. The blue dots can’t be seen when worn and are designed to fade with regular, constant use.
Clear aligners can be removed, and should be removed when you’re eating or drinking a sugary beverage. Beyond that, you can also remove the aligners for special occasions and to see the progress of your smile. Cleaning the clear aligners is easy—just rinse them off and gently brush them. You should also remove the aligners to brush and floss your own teeth.
Patients start seeing results in as little as a few weeks.
The Clear Aligner Treatment Process
We offer free initial consultations for any patient looking for orthodontic care. When you first come in, and in the appointments following that initial visit, your orthodontist will create an individual treatment plan for you. Typically, the Invisalign process involves the following steps:
Initial Visit
First, an orthodontist examines your teeth and then scans your smile to create a 3D image of your mouth. This process maps the movements in your teeth that will be created by the Invisalign aligners and shows you how your smile will look at the end of treatment.
During this meeting, our team also makes sure to discuss financing options and answer any questions you have about the process. We work together to decide on the right treatment plan for you.
Making the Custom Clear Aligners
Your orthodontist will order custom aligners using the information gained from the previous appointment. The 3D images of your teeth help determine the most optimal shape for your aligners. They are crafted through an intelligent printing process, using a 3D printer that makes clear aligners out of SmartTrack. This is a material created specifically for Invisalign.
Once printed, the aligners are individually hand-trimmed to fit snug and comfortable against your gum line. They’ll undergo a quality check to ensure everything is as it should be and that there are no issues.
Follow-Up Visits
When your aligners are ready, you return to the orthodontist and try them on. During this appointment, your orthodontist will ensure that the aligners fit well, answer any new questions, and let you know what to expect throughout treatment.
Typically, patients wear each aligner for a week or two before changing them. When you visit the orthodontist, we give you multiple sets of aligners so you only have to visit the orthodontic office every six to eight weeks.
Final Visit With Aligners
The average amount of time patients wear Invisalign aligners is around 12 to 18 months. On your final visit with us, we make sure everything is good and settle any necessary items of concern. Once you no longer have to wear aligners, be sure you start wearing your retainer so that your teeth don’t shift back after all the progress made to straighten your smile.t plans available for patients, including a 12-month, zero-down, zero-interest, in-house financing plan. All of our metro Atlanta offices also accept most major insurance providers.
If you’re interested in Invisalign aligners, contact us today by filling out this short online form or calling us at (903) 509-0505. For patients looking for affordable clear aligners options in Tyler, TX, the East Texas Dental Group team is here to help you figure out which treatment is the right plan for your family.