Invisalign®

What is Involved?

The Process

Initial Consultation

Our dental specialist/ dentist will find out the details of your medical and dental history, go through a consultation and examination and take digital X-rays of your teeth to enable a thorough and detailed diagnosis to ascertain if you are suitable for Invisalign.

If you are found to be suitable for Invisalign® treatment, an impression of your teeth will be taken as well as photographs of your teeth and facial profile. An impression of your teeth is also taken to fabricate the aligners. Our dental specialist/ dentist will create a comprehensive customised treatment plan for you.

Treatment

• Second visit
  2 weeks later, the information previously submitted on your dental condition and your teeth impression will have been incorporated into the Clincheck 3-D software program. This software allows your dental specialist/ dentist to show you a 3-D visualization of your tooth movements and treatment outcomes. This software maps out a precise treatment plan, including the exact movements of your teeth and the approximate length of treatment. Changes can be made to the treatment plan at this point. Once the proposed plan is confirmed, your aligners will be fabricated at the Invisalign® Headquarters.
• Third visit
  4 to 6 weeks later, based on your individual treatment plan, a series of custom-made, clear aligners will be fabricated. These aligners are made of a smooth, comfortable, BPA-free plastic that do not irritate the cheeks and gums.A patient start-up and orthodontic care kit will also be given to you. Your dental specialist/ dentist will prescribe your aligners based on your treatment progress. You will need to wear the aligners throughout the day, and remove them when you eat or to brush and floss your teeth. As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth gently and gradually begin to shift into place.
• Review visits
  The first review visit will be approximately 2 to 3 weeks after you have started wearing the aligners. Your dental specialist/ dentist will check your aligners for fit and comfort.Subsequently, you will be given 2 to 3 sets of aligners. Each pair of aligners is worn for about 2 to 3 weeks before progressing to the next pair.You will sequentially move up each pair of aligners till the next review with your dental specialist/ dentist. Review visits are scheduled about 6 to 8 weeks apart.For best results and a timely outcome, you should wear your aligners throughout the day, unless you are eating and/ or drinking. Ideally, you should wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day.Sometimes, your tooth may need to be filed down a little to obtain space to align the teeth. Tooth coloured composite attachments are also sometimes bonded to your teeth to obtain more control in certain tooth movements.

Follow Up Care

You should be able to resume your normal daily activities immediately with no down time. Some individuals may take a day or two to get used to the appliance in their mouths. There may be a general feeling of tightness as teeth are being shifted but the edges of the aligners should not cut you. Speech may be affected for the first couple of days, but you will get used to it and be able to speak normally with continuous wear.

Keep your aligners clean by brushing them with your toothbrush and toothpaste when you go about your daily oral regime. When rinsing your mouth, use cool water. Do not soak your aligners in any special solutions or hot water as it will cause the plastic to distort. Always carry your aligner case with you and keep your aligners in them upon removal to prevent losing, breaking or distorting them.

At the end of treatment, you will require retainers. They maintain your teeth in the corrected positions and are usually worn at night.

Your new smile requires the same care as your natural teeth – flossing, brushing and regular dental check-ups and maintenance every 6 months will ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy.