What is Invisalign treatment and how does it work?

When I was growing up I thought that there were only two options if you were unhappy with your teeth: Braces, which weren’t the most flattering or easiest things to wear, or learning to smile with your mouth closed.

Fast forward to now and there’s a new smile saviour in town: Invisalign Treatment. The name may sound familiar to some, but for those who have never heard of the word, Invisalign treatment is a clear alternative to braces. Instead of using metals and wires, Invisalign treatment uses a series of virtually invisible and removable aligners, which gradually move teeth into the desired position. So you can achieve straighter teeth without everyone noticing.

How does Invisalign work?

Invisalign treatment uses 3D computer imaging technology to depict the series of movements a patient’s teeth need to go through to achieve a straighter, more beautiful smile. This information is then used to produce a series of custom-made aligners to wear throughout the treatment. Each series of aligners move the teeth little by little, and are worn individually for two weeks before being replaced by the next series, and so on until the final position of the teeth is achieved.

How long is the Invisalign treatment?

The average treatment takes around 12 to 18 months, but this is variable depending on the severity of each individual case.. But the great thing about Invisalign treatment is that aside from being near invisible, the treatment is also quite comfortable because there are no metals or wires to cause mouth irritation and thanks to the design, you’ll also spend less time in the orthodontist or dentist’s chair for adjustments. Plus you can take them out as you please whether it’s to brush and floss your teeth, or to eat and drink. So no matter how long your treatment is, you’ll find it has minimal disruption day-to-day.

beautyheaven Invisalign road-test:

So now that you know some facts about Invisalign, bh’s Nat will be undergoing the treatment over the next 14 months, sharing her progress with us along the way, so you can see the difference it makes.

What made you want to try Invisalign treatment?

I (regrettably!) avoided having braces as a kid and now my teeth are moving more and more out of alignment each year - so this has been something on my radar for a while. It actually took a proposal and an impending wedding for me to actually move this item from the 'must investigate' to the 'must do' list. I figure that I'll never have so many photos of me taken in one day ever again - so what better time than now to work on that smile!

What did the Invisalign fitting process involve and how long did it take?

The fitting process was way easier and quicker than I ever could’ve envisioned. After consulting with my Invisalign provider, my teeth were scanned via a super impressive/futuristic 3D X-ray machine that enabled my orthodontist and I to look at my teeth from all different angles. From here, he was able to show me how my teeth would move throughout the estimated 14-month treatment plan with each aligner (the clear plastic mouth guards that fit over your teeth), so I was able to actually see the whole process and know completely what to expect. The whole thing took less than an hour, and after this first appointment it's just a quick check-up every 6-8 weeks to check your progress and pick-up the next series of aligners.

How does Invisalign feel so far?

I'm on my second aligner now, so I've been wearing them for around one month. I’ve only experienced slight pain during the first 24 hours of a new aligner - a very subtle ache and a bit of scraping from the edges of the aligners against the inside of my mouth (which can be fixed with dental wax). After this initial sensitivity, I can't even feel them and I can already see some slight movement happening. And better still - because you have to take them in and out to eat or drink coloured liquids - I find I’m snacking and drinking coffee a lot less, so I’m looking forward to my summer bod AND straighter teeth.

Have you heard of Invisalign before? Are you interested to see how Nat’s treatment goes?

*The view expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of Align Technology, the maker of Invisalign aligners. Invisalign treatment requires a prescription. Invisalign-trained doctors will advise if Invisalign treatment is suitable for you.