Invisalign has taken the world of modern dentistry by storm! Millions of patients have turned towards the clear aligners to achieve straighter and healthier smiles. But if you’re curious about the Invisalign treatment process in Willow Grove, you might have some questions you’d like answered before you commit to treatment. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process so that you can know exactly what to expect during your Invisalign journey.
Step 1. The Initial Consultation
Invisalign can be used to target various orthodontic issues including crooked or misaligned teeth, overcrowding, and even bite problems in some cases! However, it has difficulty trying to correct severely angled or rotated teeth, as well as closing large spaces. During your consultation, your mouth will be given a thorough examination to determine if your smile can benefit from wearing the aligners.
Step 2. Diagnostic Records
If you’re deemed eligible for clear aligner therapy, your provider will still need a little more information before proceeding. They’ll take photographs of your face and smile along with a couple of X-rays. They can also utilize scanning technology to create a 3D replica of your mouth. Once they’ve gathered all the information they need, they’ll send it to a lab where your aligners will be custom manufactured for your smile.
Step 3. Getting Your Aligners
It might take a couple of weeks for your aligners to arrive, and your provider will schedule an appointment to make sure they fit correctly before you leave. Sometimes you’ll receive “buttons” which are small, tooth-colored bumps made from composite resin that are attached to your teeth to help keep your aligners in place. Before you leave, your dentist will also ensure that you know how to remove, clean, and generally care for your aligners.
Step 4. Follow-Up Appointments
You’ll need to periodically visit your provider’s office for checkups to ensure that your treatment is going according to plan. Sometimes you might need a button tweaked or an aligner adjusted, but this is quickly handled. Assuming your treatment is right on track, you’ll receive your next set of aligners to begin wearing to match your teeth’s progress.
Step 5. Final Refinements
After you’ve finished wearing your initial Invisalign trays, you might need a refinement—which isn’t a big deal at all! This simply means that your desired results are still a few minor adjustments away; during the Invisalign process, teeth sometimes need additional corrective movements to achieve an optimal position. In most cases, only one or two refinements are necessary.
Step 6. Button Removal & Getting Your Retainers
Once your teeth are properly aligned, you’re still not quite finished yet. If you received any buttons for your trays, they’ll need to be removed by your dentist. Of course, the main thing here is the acquisition of your retainers. In order to ensure that your smile doesn’t revert to its original and crooked state, you’ll need to wear these important appliances. They are usually similar in appearance to the Invisalign aligners, and you’ll wear them less frequently as time passes.
The Invisalign treatment process in Willow Grove isn’t complicated by any means, which is certainly part of why so many patients opt for this means of smile enhancement. That said, if you’re curious about what Invisalign can do for your teeth, don’t hesitate to speak with your dentist.
About the Practice
Advanced Smile Design is proud to serve the dental needs of Willow Grove and the surrounding communities under the leadership of Dr. Poorvi Gandhi and Dr. Krunal Patel. Their practice is pleased to offer many different services including preventive, cosmetic, and restorative options. If you have any questions about the article or would like to arrange a visit, you can contact the practice online or over the phone for assistance: (215) 659-3334.
