How Invisalign Works & Treatment Process

Initial free consultation

STEP 1 The first step in getting Invisalign is to schedule a consultation with a qualified Invisalign provider, like the experts at Cork City Dentist. During your consultation, we’ll evaluate your dental health and determine if Invisalign is the right treatment option for you. We will discuss your needs and wants/concerns. A rough quote and timeline can be given at this free appointment. If it is, we’ll create a customised treatment plan that includes a series of clear, custom-made aligners that will gradually shift your teeth into their correct position.

Records appointment

STEP 2, the records appointment: at this visit, there will be four jobs. 1) take an overall x-ray called an OPG. This checks your jaws for any pathology or disease. It also checks for extra teeth. Another factor of interest in this x-ray is the general size and form of the roots present. 2) we take a set of photos with 6-10 images of your teeth inside your mouth and four outside your mouth of your face and jaws. 3) we take a hyper-accurate scan of your teeth in their current position- no gooey impressions are required because we have invested in the latest technology- thank you, digital! 4) we fill out a long form detailing your mouth as it is now.

STEP 3 You receive a copy of our consent form which has all the details pertaining to your particular treatment- how much will the treatment cost exactly, including details of payment plans possible – how long will the treatment take as best can be judged- what are the risks of your orthodontic treatment, (usually not many thank god). There will also be details about your responsibilities to your Invisalign journey, such as the expected wear time of aligners and the upkeep of oral hygiene. Along with the consent form, you will receive an animation of how your treatment is likely to progress according to the Invisaligns algorithm and their experience of 11 million plus cases completed. This is called a ‘Clincheck’ and is fantastically exciting. It will show your teeth moving aligner by aligner to the end goal.

Approving the Clincheck and Consent

STEP 4 Once you are happy with everything, then the aligners are fabricated. An appointment is required to place some clear/white attachments on some of your teeth to help with the planned movements. My forever example of this follows- if one was trying to rotate a football with one hand, it takes more work. However, if the football had a little stick attached to it you could push the stick to rotate it very quickly. From this appointment, you will leave with your aligners in. You will be clear on what’s required of you and how to care for them and your teeth. At this stage, your teeth have already started moving- hooray!

Fitting

At your fitting a template is used to add some tooth coloured temporary attachments to the teeth. These help keep the aligners snugly in place and give the aligners something to facilitate particular movements. For example if you are trying to rotate a tooth with a round outline then something projecting from the tooth slightly is a great help.

Monitoring 

STEP 5 Review appointments happen about every 6-8 weeks depending on the treatment plan. At these appointments, three things are generally checked

STEP 3 You receive a copy of our consent form which has all the details pertaining to your particular treatment- how much will the treatment cost exactly, including details of payment plans possible – how long will the treatment take as best can be judged- what are the risks of your orthodontic treatment, (usually not many thank god). There will also be details about your responsibilities to your Invisalign journey, such as the expected wear time of aligners and the upkeep of oral hygiene. Along with the consent form, you will receive an animation of how your treatment is likely to progress according to the Invisaligns algorithm and their experience of 11 million plus cases completed. This is called a ‘Clincheck’ and is fantastically exciting. It will show your teeth moving aligner by aligner to the end goal.

Approving the Clincheck and Consent

STEP 4 Once you are happy with everything, then the aligners are fabricated. An appointment is required to place some clear/white attachments on some of your teeth to help with the planned movements. My forever example of this follows- if one was trying to rotate a football with one hand, it takes more work. However, if the football had a little stick attached to it you could push the stick to rotate it very quickly. From this appointment, you will leave with your aligners in. You will be clear on what’s required of you and how to care for them and your teeth. At this stage, your teeth have already started moving- hooray!

Fitting

At your fitting a template is used to add some tooth coloured temporary attachments to the teeth. These help keep the aligners snugly in place and give the aligners something to facilitate particular movements. For example if you are trying to rotate a tooth with a round outline then something projecting from the tooth slightly is a great help.

Monitoring 

STEP 5 Review appointments happen about every 6-8 weeks depending on the treatment plan. At these appointments, three things are generally checked

STEP 6 You are finished your initial run of aligners- so what’s next? For the vast amount of people, there will be a few small issues to clear up. This is mainly because we are not robots, and there is an infinite variety to us. Our teeth will not move exactly as the computer planned. So usually, some extra aligners are ordered following a new scan and pictures. This is called refinement, and often people will have a couple of them. This should not be viewed as some sort of a failure of treatment; it is just part of it. This does NOT represent an extra cost; it is part of the original quotation.

Finished Result 
STEP 7 Hooray, you’re finished, and let me tell you, you are gorgeous. Now we have to keep it that way. After your final aligner, your attachments are removed, and records are taken, including pictures of your final position. Generally, one set of retainers is supplied the next day, including a wear schedule. Some stronger retainers are also constructed and fitted approximately a month later.
STEP 8 A retainer review appointment is scheduled for about four months after the end of treatment. This is just to check on the state of your retainers and to stress the need for continually wearing your retainers- at least a night a week forever but much more than that in a couple of years following treatment.