Invisalign is one of the emerging orthodontic treatments that can be used to straighten crooked teeth and fix misaligned bites. It’s an innovative solution, as it uses a series of clear plastic aligners instead of traditional metal braces’ brackets and wires. But how does Invisalign move teeth? What’s the mechanism behind it?
To help you gain a better understanding, here is the step-by-step guide to how does Invisalign move teeth.
#1 – Your orthodontist will assess your case during the consultation.
Our orthodontist in Bellevue will take digital scans and x-rays of your teeth to determine how much movement is needed or if you are a candidate for Invisalign. An Invisalign candidate is someone who meets the following criteria:
- Mild to moderate bite misalignment or gaps/crowding
- Healthy gums and teeth
- No severe malocclusion (extremely bad bite)
#2 – A treatment plan will be made.
Once the orthodontist has assessed your case, they will create a personalized treatment plan and design the aligners based on how much movement is needed. Your orthodontist will be able to tell you how long the treatment will take and how many aligners you will need.
Malocclusion is categorized into mild, moderate, and severe. Invisalign can be used to correct mild and moderate cases in children, teenage patients, and adults. And since Invisalign uses digital imaging technology, your orthodontist will also be able to show you how your teeth will look after the treatment.
At this point, you may also be able to ask how much Invisalign costs. There are plenty of factors that affect the cost of Invisalign, such as how complex your case is and how many aligners you need.
#3 – The aligners are created with your unique treatment plan.
Once your treatment plan has been approved, the aligners will be created to move your teeth in small increments. This answers, “how does Invisalign move teeth”—it applies gentle pressure to the teeth and gradually moves them into their final positions.
You’ll be given a series of aligners and instructed to wear each aligner for two weeks before moving on to the next. Your orthodontist will also provide you with a set of aligners that are slightly different from the previous set. These aligners move your teeth a little more each time until they reach their ideal position.
The aligners you wear should be changed every two weeks and worn for 22 hours a day. You’ll also need to visit your orthodontist every six weeks for a check-up and switch to the next set of aligners. The average treatment time for how does Invisalign move teeth is 8-16 months, but this depends on how complex your case is.
#4 – You’ll visit the orthodontist every 6 weeks.
Visits to your orthodontist are essential to monitoring how the treatment is progressing, how well the aligners fit, and how your teeth are responding to the treatment. Your orthodontist will make sure that everything is going according to plan, “how does Invisalign move teeth.” They can then make adjustments if needed.
In some cases, your orthodontist may recommend orthodontic accelerator devices such as AcceleDent Aura® to speed up the process. This device is used by applying gentle pressure to align your teeth faster, so you may see visible results after just a few weeks.
But how does Invisalign move teeth with AcceleDent? The device works by using small vibrations to stimulate the bone and help speed up the movement of the teeth.
#5 – You’ll maintain your brand-new smile with retainers.
Once your Invisalign treatment is complete and your teeth are in their ideal position, you’ll need to use retainers to keep them in place. Retainers help to keep your teeth from shifting back into their old positions, so they are an essential part of the Invisalign process.
Your orthodontist will provide you with retainers that should be worn daily for at least 6-12 months after your treatment is complete. After that, you may only need to wear them at night. This step is necessary to maintain your straighter, healthier smile from the Invisalign treatment.
Get the Best Invisalign Treatment with a Trusted Orthodontist in Bellevue & Newcastle, WA
Orthodontic Excellence offers Invisalign in Bellevue & Newcastle, WA as the clear way to straighten teeth if you don’t want the brackets and wires that come with braces. Dr. Megha Anand is an experienced orthodontist in who has helped many patients achieve the smile they always wanted.
Dr. Megha is currently a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, and the Washington State Dental Association. She is a very warm and compassionate person, and she loves interacting with her patients. She believes in providing her patients with the most advanced treatment options and strives to meet their unique needs.
At our practice, we provide treatment for kids, teens, and adults based on their individual needs. Aside from Invisalign, we also offer traditional, ceramic, and self-ligating braces as well as In-Ovation R brackets, surgical orthodontics, AcceleDent Aura, and orthodontic retention.
We use the latest technology in orthodontics to deliver modern and practical solutions for correcting teeth and jaw misalignment. We use the iTero® Element scanner to create digital impressions of teeth and provide a range of modern treatments with the help of 3D scanning, printing, and imaging.
If you want to make the best of your investment, then Orthodontic Excellence is the right place to be. Our two offices are located in Bellevue (12917 SE 38th St #204 Bellevue, WA) and Newcastle (6981 Coal Creek Pkwy SE Newcastle, WA), Washington. Contact us today to book an appointment and start your Invisalign journey with us.
