As 2024 wraps up, maybe you’ve thought of getting Invisalign. It’d be a wise move – treatment would make your smile straighter than ever, greatly enhancing your looks. Just remember that you should know the basics about the Invisalign process first; you won’t know if aligners suit you otherwise. Your Chevy Chase dentist can even help you get started with that. So, read on to learn the five key steps of a proper Invisalign treatment today.
Your Initial Consultation
Before anything else, the Invisalign process starts with a consultation. This visit lets a dentist confirm whether treatment is right for you.
Note that Invisalign can’t fix every orthodontic issue. You may be better off with a different treatment if you have certain complex conditions. That’s especially true if you have severely angled and rotated teeth; a dentist may recommend another procedure.
Getting Diagnostic Records
If a dentist decides you qualify for Invisalign, they’ll proceed to gather some extra details. This additional information is often called “diagnostic records.”
Dentists usually have set methods for getting diagnostic records. A team may take photos and dental x-rays of your smile with a special scanner, or they’ll use a handheld wand to create a virtual model of your teeth and gums. They’ll then use the resulting information to create effective and comfortable aligner trays.
Receiving the Clear Aligners
After using the records to make your aligners, a dentist will give them to you at your first placement visit. The dental team will also make last-minute adjustments so the trays fit well.
Of course, the placement visit will also include a few other matters. It’ll generally teach you how to care for your new trays, as well as helpful tips on wearing and using them. The session will also show you how to know when to transition to your next aligner set.
Attending Follow-up Visits
A dentist won’t just send you on your way after the initial placement. During the Invisalign process, you’ll return to their office periodically for follow-up sessions.
These follow-up appointments are usually smooth, quick, and easy. All in all, the dentist just needs ten minutes or so to see if your treatment is proceeding well. They’ll then send you home with your next set of aligners to wear!
Using Your Retainers
Once you’re done with your Invisalign trays, you’ll have to wear a retainer. This device will preserve your hard-earned treatment results.
Using your new retainer shouldn’t be too tricky. To do so, you must wear it for twenty hours daily for six months to a year. You can then transition to wearing them nightly.
If this Invisalign process sounds good, talk to your dentist about a treatment plan soon!
About the Practice
Avant Dentistry is based in Chevy Chase, MD. Led by Dr. Annie Yu, our practice aims to give patients the healthy mouths they truly need and deserve! We pursue that goal by offering preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments, ensuring your results truly suit your smile. Our office is also a certified Invisalign provider, so we can easily straighten out your teeth. For more details or to book a visit, please reach us on our website or by phone at (240)-332-1599.