Introduction to Invisalign

Since 1998, Invisalign® has been available in the United States. By 2001, the company went public and was valued at $1 billion. Worldwide, countless image-conscious people have transformed their smiles and self-confidence with Invisalign clear, removable orthodontic aligners.

Since 1998, Invisalign has developed many product lines. The original Invisalign is for teens and adults, and it has three subcategories (Express, Light, and Comprehensive) for different case types. 

However, the company also offers:

• Invisalign Teen
• Invisalign First (phase 1 ortho)
• Invisalign i7 (for crowded teeth)
• Invisalign Full (complex cases)
• Vivera Retainers
• Invisalign Whitening (ortho with whitening)

In today’s blog, we’ll focus on basic, traditional Invisalign and explain:

• What Invisalign Is
• What Invisalign Does
• What to Expect During Treatment
• How to Maintain A Great Smile Post-Invisalign

What Invisalign Is

At Harmony Orthodontics, Dr. Wint Tun provides Invisalign as an alternative to traditional braces. Invisalign is a custom therapy that uses digital scans of the patient’s dentition to create a progressive treatment plan with clear, disposable aligners. 

Then an Invisalign lab fabricates a series of aligners for a patient, based on designs produced by proprietary software. Each clear acrylic aligner fits snugly and securely over the upper, lower, or both arches of teeth. 

What Invisalign Does

Over six to 18 months, Invisalign’s custom-made aligners can reposition teeth to improve appearance and oral function.

Some Invisalign products accomplish other things. For instance, the Invisalign First aligner helps expand a child’s palate. Also, Invisalign Whitening simultaneously accomplishes teeth movement and whitening.

What to Expect During Treatment

We will send your case to our Invisalign lab, and then you’ll return to our office once the aligners arrive. Dr. Tun will guide you through how to wear and care for your aligners. She’ll explain what you need to do to see desired results by your projected treatment completion date. 

Wear your aligners for 22 hours a day. Remove them when cleaning teeth, eating a meal, or attending a special event.

If an aligner is lost or damaged, the patient should contact our office immediately, so we can order a replacement. Neglecting to wear an aligner can, in a short time, allow teeth to begin shifting back toward their initial position. 

Clean your aligners daily. Rinse them with cool (never hot) water and an unscented, transparent soap, like dish or hand soap. If your aligner discolors because you ate or drank staining foods while wearing the aligners, you can clean them at home. Mix half lukewarm water with half hydrogen peroxide and soak your aligners in the solution for about 20 minutes. Rinse and reinsert them.

Six-week check-in visits allow Dr. Tun to evaluate progress and answer any questions you have about your treatment.

How to Maintain A Great Smile Post-Invisalign

After Invisalign treatment is complete, you’ll need to wear a retainer. At first, you’ll wear it all day, every day for a few weeks to a few months, according to Dr. Tun’s instructions. Then you should wear your retainer every night while you sleep so that teeth retain their positions. Upon request, Dr. Tun can bond the retainer to the back of your teeth, making it permanent, so you won’t lose it or forget to wear it. 

If you’d like a no-cost, no-obligation Invisalign consultation at our Tomball, TX, orthodontist office, call us at 832-699-3683. As a board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Tun has the training, experience, and professionalism to deliver excellent service and head-turning results!