In this day and age, pretty much everyone has heard of Invisalign for aligning teeth. Today, Innovative Orthodontics is going to give you a crash course on this topic and answer the question: How do you monitor progress using clear aligner trays?
All About Invisalign
To understand how we monitor progress with this treatment, let’s first take a closer look at some of the qualities and benefits of it.
- Gradual Movement: Like traditional braces clear aligners provide gentle and consistent pressure to shift your teeth into desired positions. Each set of aligner trays is slightly different from the one before, which causes your teeth to move.
- Correction of Orthodontic Issues: The primary use of Invisalign is to correct alignment, which can manifest in issues like crooked teeth, gaps between teeth, underbites, overbites, crossbites, or open bites.
- Improved Oral Health: By aligning your teeth and jaws properly, your overall oral health can be vastly improved. You’ll find it’s much easier to effectively brush and floss, reducing the risk of cavities and gum disease.
- Aesthetic Appeal: One benefit of Invisalign is that both during and after treatment, there are aesthetic advantages. Clear aligners are popular for being nearly invisible, which is a great option for patients who prefer a discreet method.
- Comfort: Made from smooth plastic, clear aligners are generally considered more comfortable than traditional braces since they don’t have brackets or wires. These elements can irritate the mouth on occasion.
- Removability: Unlike fixed braces, these are removable, which allows you to eat, drink, floss, and brush without restrictions. That being said, it’s important to keep your aligners in for 20-22 hours a day for proper results.
- Customized Fit: Clear aligners are completely customized to your dental structure, which ensures a precise and effective treatment.
- Predictable Results: We’ll expand more on this—but one of the great parts of Invisalign is the detailed treatment plan. You get a preview of exactly how your smile will turn out from the beginning.
Tracking Progress
Now we’ll cover how exactly we keep track of your progress and alignment. The end goal is to match your teeth with that of our projected treatment plan. We do this by combining in-person and digital visits, digital technology, and your own compliance.
- Initial Assessment and Digital Imaging
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- 3D Scans and Treatment Plan: The Invisalign software generates a step-by-step treatment plan to show us the movement of your teeth from their current position to their final position. As time passes, we will use this initial step as a resource.
- Regular Check-Ups
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- Scheduled Appointments: As rudimentary as it may sound, showing up for your appointments as scheduled is a fundamental part of your treatment. During these appointments, Dr. Waters or Dr. Clayton will assess your progress. These will usually take place every 6-8 weeks.
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- Review of Aligner Fit: We will continuously check how well your aligners fit your teeth since a proper fit is essential for effective treatment. If they aren’t fitting as expected, it might indicate that your teeth aren’t moving according to plan.
- Comparison with Treatment Plan:
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- Adjustments to Plan: If, for whatever reason, your teeth are not aligning as planned, our doctors will make necessary adjustments to your custom treatment plan. This can involve making new aligner trays or making modifications to the existing ones.
- Patient Feedback:
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- Compliance and Experience: We’ll discuss your experience with your aligners, including any discomfort or issues you may experience along the way. It’s also important to ensure you’re diligently following wear guidelines each day. Our ultimate goal is to ensure your individual needs are being met throughout this process.
FAQs
Here are some additional details that might be helpful for you as you embark on your clear aligner treatment with Innovative Orthodontics:
Q: What happens if I lose an aligner?
You should always contact our office immediately if you lose an aligner. Depending on your progress, we might advise you to wear your previous set or move on to the next one. The main thing is not to delay and take action promptly.
Q: Will I need to use retainers after aligner treatment?
Yes, retainers are typically still required after Invisalign treatment is over. This helps to maintain the position of your new smile.
Q: Can I just track treatment from home?
While your results will be visible to the eye, the step of visiting Innovative Orthodontics regularly isn’t an optional one! A critical aspect of professional alignment is that you have experts overseeing the process. Don’t try to go at it alone!
Staying on Track
We love the fact that we are able to help guide you along the way during this journey, andwe promise we won’t lead you astray! Our three incredible offices are here to serve you in the communities of Savannah, Rincon, and Pooler.