If you are interested in Invisalign®, the first step is to book a consultation with your dentist or orthodontist to determine whether Invisalign® treatment is the right choice for you.
If you decide to try Invisalign®, in order to make your custom aligners your dentist or orthodontist will take impressions of your teeth in order to create a 3D map of your mouth. You will be given your customized Invisalign® aligners, which are easy to put on—simply slip them over your teeth.
Based on your case, the dentist will ask you to change your set of trays every 7-10 days to make sure the appropriate amount of pressure is being put on your teeth at all times for the most effective, efficient straightening process.
You will go in to your Invisalign® dentist or orthodontist for an evaluation every 6 weeks or so. Your dentist will check on the progress of the treatment and may recommend adding small, unnoticeable attachments to certain teeth if you need additional pressure to speed up the straightening process.
You will need to wear your Invisalign® aligners for 20-22 hours a day in order for them to be the most effective. However, the aligners are simple and easy to remove, so you can remove them for activities that they make difficult such as brushing and flossing your teeth, eating certain foods, participating in sports, and playing wind instruments.
Since you can easily remove your Invisalign® aligners, it is very easy to clean them, too—use water with a toothbrush and a little gentle soap to clean them twice daily. Be sure to rinse your aligners every time you remove them from your mouth.