Malocclusion problems commonly affect teens and adults. Although most do not want to live with crooked teeth, the thought of undergoing months or years of treatment with braces causes many patients to continue to avoid orthodontic correction.
At Shemen Dental, patients can undergo a more comfortable and discreet teeth straightening option. Shemen Dental is an Invisalign® Premier Provider. Invisalign® uses a system of clear, plastic aligner trays to gradually shift the teeth and correct the bite. Invisalign® provides results that are comparable to traditional braces, but treatment is much more convenient for our patients.
Here, we go over the typical Invisalign® treatment timeline that our Amarillo, TX patients can expect at Shemen Dental.
Phase One – Treatment Consultation and Planning
Before Invisalign® treatment can begin, patients must meet with our experienced dentists for a treatment consultation. This consultation allows our dentists to thoroughly examine the teeth, and take digital images of the patient’s smile to determine if Invisalign® is a suitable treatment option.
Invisalign® addresses many of the same malocclusion problems as traditional braces, including crooked teeth, overcrowded teeth, gapped teeth, crossbite, overbite, and underbite, so many patients are ideal candidates for Invisalign® treatment.
If we find that a patient is a suitable candidate for Invisalign® treatment, we will proceed to plan out a specific treatment plan. Using digital images, we will determine how many aligners are needed for treatment, the best way to shift the teeth with the aligners, and how long treatment should last. All of these details will be sent to an Invisalign® laboratory so that the patient’s aligner trays can be fabricated.
Phase Two – Receiving Aligner Trays
Within a couple of weeks, we will schedule an appointment for patients to pick up their personalized Invisalign® aligners. At this appointment, we will have the patient try on the first set of aligners. We will also provide more thorough treatment instructions.
Invisalign® aligners fit comfortably against the teeth and can be removed when eating, brushing, and flossing. However, patients must wear their aligners for a minimum of 20 to 22 hours each day to keep treatment going according to schedule.
Phase Three – Progressing Through Aligners
Once treatment begins, patients will need to periodically switch to a new set of aligners to ensure their teeth and jaw receive the pressure that is needed to encourage movement. Although each patient’s treatment will vary slightly, patients typically switch to a new set of aligners every two weeks.
About every six to eight weeks, we will schedule appointments to check on the patient’s progress. If the patient is having any problems or if we determine that the treatment plan needs to be adjusted, we will discuss those issues at these appointments.
Phase Four – Completing Treatment
When patients have progressed through all of the aligner trays, they will have straighter, more evenly spaced teeth. The length of Invisalign® treatment varies for each patient, but most complete Invisalign® treatment in the same time, or less, than the average braces treatment.
To ensure that the results of Invisalign® treatment are long-lasting, we usually provide patients with a customized retainer. We may instruct patients to wear this retainer full-time for a short period of time after completing Invisalign® treatment, but after that time period has ended, it should be sufficient to wear the retainer just while sleeping.
Contact Us
Invisalign® is a great alternative to traditional braces. Invisalign® effectively straightens the teeth without requiring patients to wear metal brackets and wires on their teeth. If you would like to find out if you are an ideal candidate for Invisalign® treatment, contact us at your earliest convenience.
