How Does Invisalign Work?

woman holding invisalignMany people start off the new year thinking about drastic changes that they want to make to their health or their bodies in general. At our Georgetown dental office, we’ve noticed that we’re getting a lot of questions about Invisalign clear aligners – how they work, how long they take, and lots of other questions about how they can improve your smile. We thought we’d break it all down in our latest blog.

What Exactly is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a series of custom-fitted aligners that we use to move crooked teeth into straight alignment. We can use these in place of traditional metal braces to help correct underbites, overbites, overcrowded, or even big spaces between your teeth.

What Are They Made Of?

Each aligner is custom made for you out of a thermoplastic material – similar to what is used in take-home teeth whitening trays. They’re FDA-approved, and don’t contain any BPA, BPS, latex, or gluten.

Do I Wear Them 24-7? How Long Does This Take?

For the best results, we recommend that patients wear their aligners for 20-22 hours per day. You’ll take them out for things like eating, drinking, and brushing and flossing your teeth. You’ll change the aligners about every other week (based on your individualized treatment plan) and our Georgetown dental team will set up appointments with you about every four to six weeks to check on your progress. On average, patients start seeing results in a matter of weeks, with full treatment finishing in a matter of months.

So, TOTALLY Better Than Metal Braces.

YES! Most people can’t tell that someone is wearing Invisalign because the aligners are virtually invisible. No more metal and no little rubber bands to keep track of. There are no food restrictions, since you take them out to eat and drink. You can even keep them in while playing sports or a musical instruments.

How Do I Get Started?

If you’d like to find out if Invisalign aligners can get you the straighter smile that you’ve always wanted, call our dental office in Georgetown for a complimentary consultation. We’ll answer any other questions you might have and see if Invisalign is the answer for you!