Suitability
Once you have taken the leap and decided to straighten out your smile to perfect it further you enter the world of orthodontics where numerous treatments come to light. Searches on the internet provide link after link of possible treatments and it soon becomes a minefield. Luckily our patients are never alone with this decision, as our dental team will be here to inform and guide them about their possible options.
Once the choices have been narrowed down and Invisalign W1 appears to be a possible choice you will be invited to a consultation. It is during this time that a series of photographs, X-rays and in some cases moulds will take place. This process allows our dental team to check how suitable this particular treatment will be for your individual case and present you with alternatives if they believe it to be unsuitable at that particular moment in time. This is rare though and in some cases where severe misalignment is apparent, patients begin with traditional braces and switch to Invisalign W1 after a certain amount of progress has been achieved.
If the treatment is suitable, the photographs and X-rays are then created into a custom-made 3D treatment plan to show you what your dream smile will look like by the end. Having a visual goal along with the support of our dental team ensures that your dream smile can be achieved.
How it works
Invisalign W1 consists of a series of custom-made, transparent aligners which are removable by the patient. Each aligner set provided to you is to be worn for 22 hours a day with each set being worn for approximately two weeks, your dental team will advise you about this. These aligners whilst inconspicuous in appearance work by pushing the teeth into a new aligned position. Each set pushes the teeth in a particular direction and is then followed by a number of different sets which guides them incrementally to their desired situation. This gentle approach ensures that there is minimal discomfort during the treatment and that the sought-after result is therefore easily attained.
Once you begin your Invisalign treatment, after the first appointment where the first aligners are fitted and you are instructed how to proceed with the following sets, the dental team will take a back seat and monitor your progress every one to two months depending on your alignment problem. This enables the patient to have more control over their treatment and puts some of the responsibility in their hands.
What happens after the treatment?
Whilst we would all love to have a one-off treatment and that be it for life, unfortunately our bodies often have a different point of view and this is the same with our teeth. When teeth have been realigned they can, if left to their own devices, gradually shift back into their original positions. This is why once the desired result has been achieved a final aligner will be created and is to be worn going forward. This aligner is exactly the same in appearance to the previous aligners, but will help maintain the improved smile and prevent any shifting of the teeth.
All dental treatments and procedures can carry potential risks, therefore please contact our dental team for more information and advice on Invisalign treatment to make sure it is the right teeth straightening procedure for you.