Invisalign is one of the most popular orthodontic treatment methods that people ask us about at our Melbourne and Indian Harbour Beach offices. The clear, invisible aligners that straighten your teeth gradually over time are wildly popular among teens and adults. If you’ve been thinking of getting your teeth straightened, here is some information you should know about Invisalign.

Candidacy

Just about any adult or teen who wants an invisible method of improving their smile can be a candidate for Invisalign. The most common bite and teeth straightening problems can be addressed by Invisalign or Invisalign Teen.

Some patients might be excluded from treatment with Invisalign due to another type of problem, but the only way to know for sure is to schedule an appointment with an Invisalign orthodontist. You should also know that Invisalign does require a lengthy commitment to straighten your teeth. Traditional braces are a faster way to straighten teeth — although they don’t have the benefit of being “invisible.”

Your First Invisalign Appointment

During your first appointment with the orthodontist, we’ll talk about your goals for your smile. We will also lay out a digital map of how the treatment will progress. Once you give your approval for the process, we will get started!

In the first step, we will take a digital scan of your teeth (no need to bite down on a mold). The scan is then sent to a lab, where your first set of aligners will be created. One additional step that may happen at your first appointment is the placing of attachments on your teeth.

These tiny composites can serve as anchor points on your teeth, so that the Invisalign aligners can do their work. This can reduce the number of aligner sets that some patients will need in order to straighten their teeth.

You will then come back to your preferred Melbourne or Indian Harbour Beach office for a secondary appointment to receive your aligners. We will ensure that they fit perfectly and then you’re ready to begin!

The Process

In order for the Invisalign aligners to do their work, they must be worn up to 22 hours per day. Otherwise, you just carry on with your life as normal. The aligners are removable, but should only be taken out for a couple of hours per day (for eating and brushing). Whether you’re awake or sleeping, the aligners will be doing their work and gradually shifting your teeth.

(Note for parents: Invisalign Teen aligners have a small blue dot on them that helps to ensure that your child is wearing them often enough.)

You will switch to a new set of aligners on a regular schedule. We will track your progress at follow-up appointments and you will continue to receive new aligners until the process is done. If you received composite anchors when the process began, those will be filed off of your teeth when you’re done wearing the aligners.

The Switch from Invisalign to Retainers

When you are done with the Invisalign aligners, we will examine your teeth to make sure your smile goals have been met. Sometimes people may want additional small orthodontic changes. If not, then it’s time to move on to retainers.

Your teeth have been straightened with Invisalign, but that does not mean the orthodontic process is over. Your teeth will naturally want to shift back into their original locations. (This is true of both Invisalign and traditional braces.) In order to make sure your teeth stay nice and straight, you will need to be fitted for a retainer.

We will take another scan of your mouth at Melbourne Orthodontics and send the scan to the lab again. In about a week, your new retainers will arrive and be fitted during a follow-up appointment. Be sure to wear your retainers as directed because they will help to keep your teeth in the proper position for years to come.

Contact Us

If you are interested in learning more or think you’re a good candidate for Invisalign, contact us here! We have convenient locations in Melbourne and Indian Harbour Beach, Florida. Reach out to us today to schedule your first appointment.