An Invisalign® Dentist Takes These Steps to Create the Aligners

We believe that patients should know all about a treatment option before they pursue it, which is why we have compiled this helpful list of facts and statistics. 

A consultation with an Invisalign dentist is the first step to having straighter teeth using this revolutionary product. For decades people have used the same methods to straighten and realign their teeth, now with the invention of Invisalign® there is something new and better available. The first time you meet with our dentist it is to get an evaluation, which will tell us if you are eligible for the treatment. Typically most people are. However, since there are a few cases where the procedure may not be as effective, or the treatment may be hampered by some other underlying condition, we use the first visit to explore that potential. One important thing to note is that we do not use Invisalign with children, since the product is designed for adults and teenagers who have a full set of mature teeth. It also gives you the chance to have a conversation with the team and the dentist to ask any questions that you may have while getting a better understanding of the process used to give you better-aligned teeth. Once it is determined, through an exam and conversation, that you are a good candidate, we will proceed to the record gathering stage.

As an Invisalign dentist, we take a lot of measurements, photographs, and x-rays to make sure that we provide the laboratory with exact details about your mouth. We will also take a dental impression, upon which the lab will base their modeling. For us, the objective is to give the laboratory a perfect picture of your teeth so that their fabrication and modeling can be extremely precise, fitting perfectly in your mouth and working to give you straighter teeth. Essentially the dental impression, taken by your Invisalign dentist, serves as a replica of the teeth that the technicians use to work with.

The technicians will scan the dental impression of your teeth, creating a three-dimensional model of your teeth on their computer. They will then use a simulation to formulate a plan for how to get your teeth from where they are today, to where we, as your Invisalign® dentist, want them to be at the end of the treatment. The simulation mimics the actual movement curve that your teeth will take once the aligners are placed on them. All of this is on a computer, which gives us access to it so that we can make changes and tweaks along the way. Once we have perfected the plan, the technicians will fabricate the aligners.

Invisalign works by gradually moving the teeth from their current position, into a new position, using pressure from these aligners. The aligners work in increments of 1/10th mm, which means that each time you place a new aligner into your mouth, it will be 1/10th of a millimeter straighter than your teeth. As you continue to wear the aligner, we recommend no less than 20 hours per day, your teeth will start to move so that they can fit tray perfectly. Once your teeth are in exact alignment with the Invisalign® tray, it will be time to move to the next tray and continue the process.  As an Invisalign® dentist, we will supervise the process to ensure optimal results.