Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How Invisalign Works
Your Invisalign® clear aligners are custom-made for you. The aligners are virtually invisible and fit snugly over your teeth.
Each aligner shifts your teeth slightly, moving them horizontally and vertically and even rotating them when needed. Your aligners are engineered to use the right amount of force in the right place at the right time.
When you change to the next set of aligners (typically every week) your teeth gradually move into position, following a custom treatment plan mapped out by your doctor.
Only Invisalign clear aligners are made of proprietary, multilayer SmartTrack® material to gently shift your teeth into place.
Invisalign Treatment Process
From consultation to confident new smile, you’ll know what to expect every step of the way. Get started today with a complimentary consultation from Texas Orthodontics.
Your first consultation
Choosing Invisalign treatment is an important dental and financial decision, so it’s essential that you find the right doctor for you. You may want to meet with several experienced Invisalign-trained doctors to find the one you feel most comfortable with.
At your initial consultation, your doctor will discuss your needs and evaluate whether Invisalign treatment is right for you.
Your custom treatment plan
Your doctor will use a scanner such as the iTero® digital scanning system to create fast, precise 3D digital images of your teeth. (Some doctors will take physical impressions.)
Then your doctor will map out a precise treatment plan, including the exact movements of your teeth and how long your treatment will be. You’ll even get to see how your teeth will move and preview your new smile.
Your Invisalign clear aligners
Your custom-made aligners will be made of our proprietary SmartTrack® material. They’re virtually invisible, so most people won’t even notice you’re wearing them.
Wear your Invisalign clear aligners 20 to 22 hours a day for the best results, taking them out to eat and to brush and floss.
Your progress
As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth will gently and gradually shift into place. Your doctor may recommend that you begin wearing a new set of aligners every week and schedule check-ups every six weeks or so.
At every stage you’ll be able to see your progress and imagine how far your new smile will take you.
Taking care of your new smile
When your treatment is complete, ask your doctor about a Vivera® retainer. Vivera retainers are custom-made using the same state-of-the-art technology as Invisalign clear aligners.
Treatable Cases
Is Invisalign® treatment appropriate for you? For the majority of cases, the answer is yes. Invisalign treatment is clinically proven to be effective for a broad range of teeth straightening cases, from mild to complex. And, we’re continuously innovating to expand that range and get even better results.
See actual results from cases like yours.
These are some common concerns doctors treat with Invisalign clear aligners:
Gapped Teeth
Gaps between teeth can occur with abnormal continued growth of the jawbone. Missing teeth can also cause the surrounding teeth to shift due to the extra space, creating gaps in your teeth. Spacing issues and gaps between teeth can lead to gum problems (due to lack of protection by the teeth), periodontal pockets and increased risk of periodontal disease.
Overbite
Overbite occurs when the upper teeth bite over the lower teeth. It’s typically caused by genetics, bad oral habits, or overdevelopment of the bone that supports the teeth. This can lead to gum problems or irritation, and/or wear on the lower teeth, and can cause painful jaw and joint problems.
Underbite
Underbite can occur when the lower teeth protrude past the front teeth. It’s usually caused by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or both. It can also be caused by missing upper teeth. This can prevent the normal function of front teeth or molars, which can lead to tooth wear. It can also cause painful jaw and joint problems.
Open Bite
Open bite often occurs when some teeth are unable to make physical contact with the opposing teeth for a proper bite. Most often caused by a genetic abnormal jaw structure or excessive thumb-sucking, an open bite can cause poor or painful chewing, and even speech impairment. It can also lead to greater issues like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
Overly Crowded
Teeth crowding occurs when there is simply a lack of room within your jaw for all of your teeth to fit normally. When left untreated, overly crowded teeth can get worse over time, and result in severely crooked teeth. This crowding can lead to plaque accumulation, tooth decay and an increased chance of gum disease.
Crossbite
Crossbite can occur when the upper and lower jaws are both misaligned. It causes one or more upper teeth to bite on the inside of the lower teeth, and can happen on both the front and the sides of the mouth. This can cause wear of the teeth, gum disease and bone loss.
Living With Invisalign Aligners
One of the best things about Invisalign® treatment is the minimal impact it has on your everyday life. Since the aligners are so comfortable, you should be able to wear them for the recommended 20 to 22 hours a day without much effort. Here are some comments from people going through treatment:
Maintain Oral Hygiene
The aligners are easily removable, so you can continue to brush and floss your teeth as you normally would. Cleaning your aligners is just as easy with the Invisalign cleaning kit. Or you can simply brush and rinse them in lukewarm water. That’s it! Achieving that great smile couldn’t be easier!
Actual Results
When considering Invisalign or braces, before and after pictures can be an important part of the decision-making process. If you’re curious about how effectively Invisalign can treat your case, take a look at a few success stories of previous Invisalign patients. Each of these individuals had their own unique orthodontic and dental issues that were successfully treated with Invisalign.
Overly Crowded
Patient’s Chief Concern
This-26-year old female believed there wasn’t enough room within her jaw for all of her teeth to fit normally. Her doctor told her that when left untreated, overly crowded teeth can cause dental decay, and increase in the chances of gum disease, and can prevent the normal function of teeth. She was treated with Invisalign over the course of approximately 10 months.
Crossbite
Patient’s Chief Concern
This 27-year-old female was unhappy that her upper and lower jaws seemed to be misaligned. This caused her upper teeth to bite on the inside of her lower teeth, and she could tell it was causing excessive wear. Her doctors told her this issue could also cause gum disease and bone loss. Her Invisalign treatment lasted approximately nine months.
Gapped Teeth
Patient’s Chief Concern
56-year-old male was concerned that his teeth were abnormally spaced and very far apart. His doctor told him that, while this might just seem unattractive, spacing issues in teeth can also cause some periodontal diseases. His Invisalign treatment lasted approximately 10 months.
Overbite
Patient’s Chief Concern
38-year-old female was concerned that her upper teeth overlapped her lower teeth too much. Not only is this a cosmetic issue, but it can lead to health problems later in life, so she was anxious to get it fixed. She was treated with Invisalign in approximately 20 months.
Vivera Retainers from the Makers of Invisalign
It took time, effort, and investment to create your confident and beautiful smile. To make sure it lasts, consider Vivera®retainers from the makers of Invisalign®. Whether you’ve used Invisalign or traditional wire braces, you can benefit from Vivera retainers.
Importance of Retainers
Studies show that without retainers straight teeth can gradually shift back towards their initial position. This is a common occurrence with all orthodontic treatment, but is one that can easily be overcome. Wearing Vivera retainers after traditional braces or Invisalign treatment means you are keeping your teeth in their new position and protecting your smile and investment.
Why Choose Vivera Retainers
Vivera retainers are custom made for you with the same state-of-the-art technology used to make Invisalign aligners. Because the retainers are custom made from an impression or scan of your teeth, you will benefit from a precise fit and therefore more comfortable fit.
Vivera’s proprietary material is 30% stronger*, which helps maintain your teeth in the desired position. It also reduces the risk of the retainer cracking or breaking, which means a more durable retainer that you can count on.
How to Order Vivera Retainers
If you are about to finish treatment, tell your doctor that you choose Vivera retainers.
For new Vivera patients:
- As one of Texas Orthodontics specialists for more information
- They will take a digital impression or scan of your teeth
- Your specialized orthodontist will order new sets of retainers and give you a call when they have been delivered
For existing patients who wish to order new sets of Vivera Retainers:
- Make an appointment with your Invisalign doctor
- A new impression or scan may or may not be required to determine if your teeth have shifted
- Your provider will order new sets of retainers and give you a call when they have been delivered
Copyright 2019 - All rights reserved.
Designed by iMediSuite - Inteveo