Invisalign Treatment Process

The advent of clear aligner therapy is one of the most significant developments in orthodontics over the past 30 years. Among the many clear aligners available, Invisalign treatment (Align Technology, Tempe, AZ) is the most widely used. The transparency of the Invisalign appliance enhances its esthetic appeal for those adult patients who are averse to wearing conventional fixed orthodontic appliances.

The revolutionary aspect of Invisalign® is the scanning in and imaging of high precision casts made from very accurate impressions. This allows the patient’s teeth to be replicated as an ‘on screen’ 3-D model, which can be manipulated and ‘virtually’ corrected through a treatment plan developed by the orthodontist and translated by Invisalign® using sophisticated propriety software. The clinician has the ability to view the ‘virtual’ models from malocclusion to correction, movement by movement. The patient’s treatment can be reviewed aligner-by-aligner, and corrections made before the treatment plan is validated. Changes are made through the system until the result achieved is to the clinician’s liking. Only then are the actual aligners made and dispatched.

WHAT IS THE INVISALIGN APPLIANCE?

The Invisalign appliance involves a series of aligners made from a transparent, thin (typically less than 1 mm) plastic material formed with CAD CAM laboratory techniques. These aligners are similar to the splints that cover the clinical crowns and the marginal gingiva. Each aligner is designed to move the teeth a maximum of about 0.25 to 0.3 mm over a 2-week period, and is worn in a specific sequence. Excellent compliance is mandatory since the appliance has to be worn a minimum of 20 to 22 hours a day and each aligner should be worn 400 hours to be effective.

THE ADVANTAGES OF INVISALIGN® OVER CONVENTIONAL APPLIANCES

• IDEAL AESTHETICS: the aligners are relatively invisible, apart from a slight sheen to the teeth in close-up. This is the biggest draw card for the patient seeking orthodontic correction and should not be underestimated when it comes to compliance and cooperation.
• EASE OF USE FOR THE PATIENT: the aligners are easy to insert and remove, and can be done reasonably discretely just out of view of company.
• COMFORT OF WEAR: wearing time and compliance is not a problem. Speech is usually only affected for around 24 hours.
• SIMPLICITY OF CARE AND BETTER ORAL HYGIENE: the aligners need no special treatment. Brushing with a toothbrush and toothpaste at tooth cleaning times is all that is needed. Oral hygiene is much easier for the patient, with no appliances in place when cleaning is undertaken, thereby giving much improved oral health throughout treatment.

WHAT IS THE INVISALIGN TREATMENT PROCESS?

Invisalign treatment starts with a consultation with an invisalign-trained doctor. The doctor will evaluate your smile and then map out a precise, customized digital treatment plan that showcases the step-by-step transformation of your smile. once you approve your plan, your unique aligners will be created. you will wear each set of aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day, changing to a new set of aligners every 1 to 2 weeks, as directed by your doctor. each set of aligners will gently and gradually shift your teeth into place, according to your treatment plan, until you reach your beautiful new smile.

 The entire process of making the Invisalign aligners is a marvel of modern technology. Without the aid of computers and technologically advanced machinery, it would be impossible to fabricate aligners in such large numbers and with such great accuracy.

Dr. Smriti Malhotra Nanda is an Orthodontist and a Platinum Invisalign Dentist in Defence Colony, Delhi and DLF Phase 2, Gurgaon.