March 24, 2025
More than 22 million people worldwide have chosen Invisalign treatment to straighten their teeth. It's not hard to see why - this highly popular orthodontic treatment straightens teeth discreetly without metal brackets and wires.
If you're asking ‘how does Invisalign work?', here's the short answer - you wear a series of clear aligners that are slightly different from each other to shift your gapped or crooked teeth into new positions.
Below is exactly how the process looks, from your first consultation through to the end of Invisalign treatment.
To kickstart your Invisalign journey, you'll need to book a consultation with a qualified Invisalign doctor.
During this appointment, your specialist will examine your teeth and tell you honestly whether you're a suitable candidate for Invisalign. Here is where you can ask anything you're unsure about, including what your personalised treatment plan will look like, how long treatment will last, and how much it will cost. At Riverside Dental, there's no obligation to book treatment on the day.
Accurate scans of your teeth will be taken using a high-tech scanner, the iTero digital scanner, to build a 3D image of your teeth in minutes, rather than traditional mould-and-tray impressions.
These images will be used to produce a simulation of what your new smile will look like and to craft your bespoke Invisalign clear aligners.
The next step towards a straighter smile begins by wearing your new clear trays for the first time. But you won't stick with your original set for long - Invisalign treatment works by wearing a series of these custom aligners that are replaced every one - two weeks (depending on your treatment plan) to shift your teeth into more desirable positions.
These aligners are made from SmartTrack - Invisalign's medical-grade thermoplastic material, which applies constant pressure and controlled force to your teeth, ensuring more predictable tooth movement when transforming your smile.
How many aligners you'll need to wear depends on the severity of your alignment issues and how long it will take to help you achieve a new, confident smile.
Invisalign treatment effectiveness depends on you wearing your aligners for the recommended minimum of 22 hours a day throughout the treatment duration to achieve the best results.
You should only remove your aligners for eating, drinking and brushing your teeth, as strong bite forces and liquids other than water, such as coffee, can break, warp or stain them.
Additionally, to maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine, you need to have complete access to your teeth to clean them thoroughly, which is why the aligners need to be removed when brushing and flossing.
Throughout the process, you should be cleaning your aligners every morning and evening with a soft toothbrush and lukewarm water. Don't use hot water as it can warp the tray, impacting your progress. Also, be sure to carry a case with you so you have somewhere to put them when eating.
If you lose or damage a set, contact your dentist rather than skipping to the next aligner in the series, as that can move your teeth off the plan your dentist has mapped out.
Every 6-8 weeks, you'll need to visit your Invisalign dentist to ensure everything is moving as it should. These appointments also give you the chance to flag any issues you may be experiencing or to ask further questions.
Or if you are eligible for Virtual Care, you can upload your photos for us to review remotely, so that you do not need to come to the practice; you will still have direct communication with the team and all the support as you would if you were to come to the practice.
As treatment concludes, your specialist will give you the go-ahead to stop wearing the aligners and provide you with a bespoke Invisalign retainer - this is to keep your teeth straight and in their new desirable positions and prevent shifting. We recommend wearing this indefinitely to protect the results.
Most Invisalign treatments take between 6 and 18 months, and many patients notice a difference within the first three months. How long it takes depends on how far your teeth need to move and how many aligners are required, which your dentist can only judge once they've seen your scan.
Simpler cases can finish in as little as three to six months; more complex crowding or spacing issues take longer.
A consultation with an experienced dentist will give you a clearer idea of how long you can expect treatment to take.
Invisalign handles dental issues such as mild to moderate crowding, gaps, and bite issues well, and can also correct overbites, underbites and crossbites in many cases.
More complex cases sometimes need traditional braces instead, or Invisalign fitted with small tooth-coloured attachments that give the removable aligners extra grip for trickier tooth movements.
Some cases also need a small amount of enamel reshaping between teeth to create space for movement, which your dentist will explain if it applies to your treatment plan.
Many who choose Invisalign treatment prefer its inconspicuousness over unsightly braces, and the fact that the plastic provides optimal patient comfort.
The only way to know for sure whether this orthodontic treatment is suitable for you is by booking a consultation with Dr Bim Sawhney (GDC number: 83670) - our Clinical Lead and leading cosmetic dentist with a special interest in Orthodontics.
Do you want to gain a more appealing smile discreetly? If so, Invisalign could be the perfect solution.
Here at Riverside Dental, we're the first and only Diamond Invisalign provider in Norwich, so you can relax knowing you're receiving treatment from an experienced dental professional.
Get in touch today to book an initial consultation.
Monday
8:00am - 8:00pm
Tuesday
9:00am - 5:30pm
Wednesday
8:00am - 8:00pm
Thursday
8:00am - 4:00pm (12pm-8pm every 4th Thursday)
Friday
9:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday
8:00am - 2:00pm
Sunday
Closed
Copyright Riverside Dental 2024
