How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign works by using a series of clear removable aligners, that gently move your teeth into the position we want them to be in. Aligners are a clear removable brace, a bit like a whitening tray or bite guard for grinding teeth. The movement of the teeth happens by the aligners applying controlled gentle pressure on the teeth. Over time, this pressure guides the teeth into their new positions according to your personalised treatment plan made by the orthodontist.

To start, we do an initial consultation and a digital scan which we will send off to Invisalign where the specialist Orthodontist will do a treatment plan specifically for your teeth. Once your aligners have come back we will fit you with them and send you home with some or all the aligners. Each aligner is clearly labelled with your name and numbers so they are easy to keep on top of and change. You generally change your aligners every 7-14 days before moving to the next one.

TOP TIP: Always keep the aligner before in case the one you’re wearing breaks.

For example, if you’re wearing number 5 but moving on to number 6, bin number 4 and keep number 5. This way you have something to fall back on in case the next one doesn’t fit, meaning you won’t lose the progress you have made.

You have to wear your aligners AT LEAST 22 hours out of 24 a day for them to work. If you don’t wear them they won’t do anything. Think of it like riding a bike up a hill, you will wear them for 20 hours and then you take them out and forget to put them back in for 4 hours. All that progress you will have made will relapse quicker than it took to do. Like riding a bike up a hill, it takes a long time to get up there but once you stop pedalling you will be back at the bottom in seconds. Meaning you have to start all over again.

The benefits of Invisalign:

• Clear and discreet — Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible, so most people won’t notice you’re wearing them.
• Custom-fitted — Each set is made to fit your mouth precisely, resulting in effective and comfortable tooth movements.
• Removable — Enjoy your favourite foods and maintain normal brushing and flossing routines.
• Predictable results — Digital planning helps ensure each aligner moves your teeth in a controlled way towards the final goal.