What to Expect When You Get Invisalign – The Entire Process

Getting braces is something that many teens and adults dread and put off. They want to achieve a straighter smile, but they aren’t thrilled about committing to a year or more of metal brackets and wires. The good news is that metal braces aren’t the only solution to misalignment. Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners to slowly shift the teeth into their new locations. The best part is that they are almost completely invisible! Here is what you can expect during the Invisalign process – start to finish.

Consultation

The first step of the Invisalign process is to attend a consultation. At this time, you and your dentist will discuss whether or not you are a good candidate for this treatment. Invisalign is able to address a wide range of misalignment issues, but there are still some that are too complicated and require traditional braces to fix. If you are a good candidate, you will discuss how the process works, including the timeline and your payment options.

Preparation

Next comes the preparation process. At this point, X-rays are taken of your teeth and a model of your smile is created. This is used so your orthodontist can craft a customized treatment plan to meet your needs.

Receiving Your Aligners

After just a few weeks, your dentist may decide to make some small adjustments, like adding buttons to your teeth. These are small, tooth-colored bumps that are made from cosmetic resin and placed on the front-facing surfaces of some of the teeth. Their purpose is to keep the aligners in place, allowing the right amount of pressure to be put on the teeth.

Follow-Up Appointments

You will need to return to the dental office from time to time to make sure that your teeth are moving as expected. Even with a detailed plan, your teeth can still move in unanticipated ways. It’s important to catch issues in their tracks so they can be corrected quickly, and you can stay on track with your treatment.

Refinements

After completing your series of clear aligners, your dentist will closely examine your teeth to see if any refinements are needed. This is when you receive additional trays at the end of your treatment to make some finishing tweaks. This helps to ensure that you are happy with your final results.

Retainers

At this point, any buttons are removed, and your clear aligners will be swapped out for retainers. Your retainers will look just like your Invisalign trays, but their purpose is to prevent your teeth from moving back to their original locations.

Metal braces are an excellent option for addressing misalignment, but Invisalign offers unique benefits, like being more comfortable and discreet. This way, you can achieve a perfectly straight smile without taking away from your appearance in the meantime.

About the Practice

At Harris Parkway Dental Care, Dr. Rasheed Zahawi and Dr. Yaritza Vazquez work together to serve patients in Fort Worth. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. To learn more about Invisalign or to schedule a consultation, visit their website or call (817) 423-2223.