How Does Invisalign Straighten Your Teeth?

If you are considering Invisalign, you probably have a few questions. It’s becoming very popular in orthodontic treatment mainly because people like that the aligners are almost invisible. It’s used to treat misaligned, crooked, or protruding teeth. How long it takes for successful treatment varies from one patient to the next.

How It Works

Before you go looking for Invisalign near me, you have to learn how they work. It’s a whole process that has to be done right for the treatment to work. The dental care professional must give you a thorough examination first to prepare the custom-made invisible aligners. While they help you get your perfect smile, you will be wearing a series of aligners. You will receive a new set after two weeks until you achieve the correct teeth. They are created to predict how the teeth will move. The first one will move the teeth slightly, so the next one will build upon what the first aligners did. The assessment from your consultation will include taking impressions of the teeth you want to straighten. It’s the only way your orthodontist will know how to go about the treatment. So this is how the aligners will work.

1. Interproximal Reduction (IPR)

The orthodontist needs enough space to help straighten your teeth. So the interproximal reduction is only necessary if the space is small. The process will be performed by hand before you receive your Invisalign. Even though they are removing some enamel from your teeth, the process will not be uncomfortable. Remember creating more space is the whole idea of the process. So you will notice some minor gaps between your teeth. However, as your treatment progresses, the gaps will keep going smaller and smaller until they are fully closed. IPR is not a new procedure to most orthodontists; it’s used with other teeth-straightening methods aside from Invisalign. So depending on your teeth situation, you should be ready in case the orthodontist requests for IPR. It’s meant to help the Invisalign treatment work in the best way possible. Invisalign is ideal for rectifying spacing and crowding issues; that is why IPR can be a part of it.

2. Attachments

Like most patients, you will probably receive Invisalign attachments. After the dental care expert makes a 3-D image of your jaw and mouth, they will create a plan to push the teeth into place. The plan is also used to create the series of invisible aligners you will be using throughout the process. The aligners apply pressure on the teeth gradually, which moves until they are in the correct alignment. The attachments are small bumps that are customized to bond with your teeth. They are tooth-colored and will be placed in precise locations on the teeth. Attachments are the grips that hold aligners onto the teeth to aid with the treatment. They are the pressure points that make the teeth shift easier. You are needed to wear the aligners for no less than twenty hours a day. Most of the instructions you will get from the orthodontist. Sometimes the aligners or braces are not enough to move the teeth into the ideal position. They need additional force to complete the process. But before you start the Invisalign treatment, the professional will discuss whether you need attachments or other appliances.

3. Invisalign Elastics

Invisalign elastics are discreet rubber bands that are used to connect the bottom and top teeth rows. They help provide extra force to the invisible aligners and help get the bottom and top rows into their right place. The elastics will be hooked onto the attachments. They are excellent in treating the alignment of the bite. They are also switched according to your orthodontist’s instructions. How many of them will also be determined by the condition you are trying to treat. But mostly, you will need to wear two of them with the invisible aligners. If you are required to change them yourself, you can use a mirror in the early stages. But soon, you will not even have to think hard about it when changing. You have to learn because you may need to wear the rubber bands throughout the whole Invisalign treatment.

Conclusion

Invisalign works by pushing the teeth into the desired location using clear plastic aligners. There is a series of them you will need to change after a few weeks. They all work to get the teeth in the best position. These are some of the things that make the process a success. You will get expert advice from your orthodontist on what needs to be done to ensure the Invisalign works.

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