How Does Invisalign® Work?

After taking a 3D scan of your mouth, Dr. Reynolds will create a customized digital treatment plan that maps out the exact movements of your teeth. Based on that plan, a series of Invisalign® clear aligners will be created just for you. Each aligner is designed to apply just the right amount of force to the right place at the right time to move your teeth into their proper position. Dr. Reynolds will be with you each step of the way to monitor your progress.

Invisalign® clear aligners are made of a soft, flexible thermoplastic material called SmartTrack®. They are FDA-approved and don’t contain any BPAs, BPS’, latex, or gluten. Invisalign clear aligners are thin, fit comfortably and snugly over your teeth, and are virtually invisible.

The duration of your Invisalign® treatment will depend on several factors, including how complex your orthodontic issues are and how often you wear your clear aligners. Dr. Reynolds will determine how long your treatment will take based upon your specific needs, but the average treatment time is between 12 and 18 months.

For the best results and shortest possible treatment time, you should wear your Invisalign® clear aligners 20 to 22 hours per day. You should only take them out when you are eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing.

Invisalign® works by applying gentle, constant force to move your teeth into the desired position. Because of this, some people do feel temporary discomfort during the first few days of wearing a new set of aligners. It is generally described as a feeling of “pressure” and is completely normal.

Once you receive your Invisalign® clear aligners, Dr. Reynolds will schedule a follow-up appointment in six weeks. After that, you will come in once every 8 to 10 weeks until your treatment is complete.