Do you want to straighten your teeth without having to get braces? Here's what you should expect from the Invisalign process.

One out of every five orthodontic patients are over 18. While it used to be uncommon for adults to get their teeth straightened, more and more people are realizing how easy the process is at any age. 

Invisalign has been growing in popularity over recent years thanks to a number of factors. If you're an adult or teen who's interested in straightening their teeth, then Invisalign could be exactly what you need. 

So continue reading and we'll walk you through the entire Invisalign process. 

The Invisalign process is fairly simple and comes with minimal discomfort. Let's go over the main steps below. 

Step 1: The First Appointment

The first you have to do is visit your dentist and have them inspect your mouth. They'll let you know if Invisalign is a treatment that's right for you, as it doesn't work for everybody.

If you're a candidate for Invisalign, your dentist will walk you through the treatment protocol and give you an estimate of how long your specific treatment should take. You'll also be joining the millions of people who have satisfied Invisalign customers. 

Step 2: The Molding

Depending on how ready you and your dentist are, you may do the digital molding at that first appointment or you may do it at a later date. Your dentist will utilize x-rays, photographs, and digital scans to create a digital model of your teeth and mouth. They will then send all of this information to the Invisalign lab where your custom aligners will be made. 

Step 3: Fitting Your First Invisalign Retainer

When your Invisalign retainers are ready, you'll go back to your dentist to pick them up. When you try them on for the first time, your dentist might go ahead and fit some little attachments onto your teeth in order to make sure that aligners stay put. 

There are little, clear buttons that are temporary and don't cause any pain. The dentist will then check to make sure that the trays fit. Once they look right, you're good to go!

Step 4: Wearing Your Trays

You'll be expected to wear your trays 20 to 22 hours each day. You should only take them out for eating and brushing your teeth. Otherwise, you should wear them all day and all night.

Also, your trays are molded in the position that your teeth are supposed to adjust to. Because of this, it may be uncomfortable at the start. But as your teeth continue to shift, the trays will become more and more comfortable. 

Step 5: The Follow-Up Appointments

After two weeks or so of wearing your Invisalign retainer, you'll be going back to the dentist. They'll first check to make sure that your teeth are adjusting properly.

They'll then give you your new set of trays which you'll wear for another two weeks. Once you're good, you'll be able to be fitted for your new aligners on your own, which you'll be doing every few weeks. 

Unlike traditional braces, you don't need to have regular dental visits. 

Step 6: The Final Results

After about 12 to 18 months, you should finally be done with your Invisalign retainers. If you wore them as prescribed, then your teeth should be significantly straighter. 

When you're finally done wearing your trays, you'll most likely need to wear a retainer. This is usually worn at night and it's meant to make sure that your teeth don't shift back to their old positions.

Now that you understand how the Invisalign process works, you may have a few more questions about the technique. Below, we've compiled answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Invisalign. 

Does It Hurt to Wear Invisalign?

No, it shouldn't hurt to wear Invisalign. The entire molding and fitting processes should also be totally comfortable.

As we said earlier, it may be uncomfortable as you start wearing each new pair of trays. But that pain should be mild and should go away after just a couple of days.

How Do I Clean Invisalign Retainers?

Cleaning your Invisalign retainers is easy to do and remember. When you go to brush your teeth, remove the trays and run them under warm water. Then, use a toothbrush and a little toothpaste and brush the entire retainer.

Once you're done, give the retainer another rinse under warm water. You also want to make sure that there is any tartar or calcium building up on the trays.

When everything looks good, you can simply pop them back into your mouth and go about your day.

Can I Play Sports with Invisalign?

It's totally fine to be active while wearing Invisalign trays. However, the trays are there to straighten your teeth, not protect them and they should never replace a mouthguard.

If you have to wear a mouthguard, remove your trays and wear the mouthguard instead. Taking your aligners out for a few hours should be totally fine, just remember to put them back in when you're done. 

The Importance of Knowing About the Invisalign Process

As we can see, the Invisalign process is fairly simple and easy. So if you ever find yourself what is the Invisalign meaning, now you have your answer. 



If you're interested in straightening your teeth, or just want to talk to get more information about Invisalign, then contact us today!