​If you’re interested in Invisalign, we first have to determine if it is right for you. Beyond clinical considerations, we also have to consider a patient’s ability or willingness to wear the trays as recommended.

Once you’ve decided to begin Invisalign treatment, we take x-rays, photographs and scans of your teeth. These records are sent to the Invisalign company along with our instructions of how we want the teeth to move. Invisalign technicians input the information into a computer to generate a 3-D rendering of your teeth and how they will move to their desired positions with the treatment. Once you are satistfied with the treatment plan, we ask Invisalign to make your customized trays.

Come back to our office when the aligners are ready, and we will give them to you. They are all different and are meant to be worn in a specific order. Each aligner should be used for two weeks. As your treatment progresses, each new aligner will serve to bring your teeth into straighter and straighter positions. You can take out an aligner to eat or brush, but otherwise, you should basically always be wearing one during the treatment process. (If you don’t, your teeth movements won’t progress according to plan, and as you put in new aligners, they won’t fit correctly.) 

If after your first set of trays, you still want to make some minor adjustments or refinement, Invisalign will provide you with more trays at no additional cost.  

You will need to wear retainers after treatment is complete to prevent your teeth from returning to the original misalignment. Invisalign's retainer is called Vivera which are similar to the regular Invisalign trays, but they’re a little thicker and more durable.  It is essential to wear your retainer during the months immediately after treatment, but ideally you should wear a retainer every day or at least a few days a week for the rest of your life. Your teeth are always shifting and moving, the retainer will keep your teeth in place.