What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces.
Invisalign uses a series of clear removable Aligners to straighten your
teeth without metal wires or brackets. It has been proven effective in
clinical research and in dental practices nationwide. In fact, over 70%
of all U.S. dentists are certified to treat patients with Invisalign.
How Does Invisalign Work?
You wear each set of Aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to
eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next
in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by
week – until they have straightened to the final position your orthodontist
has prescribed. You’ll visit your dentist about once every 6 weeks
to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment
time averages 9-15 months and the average number of Aligners worn during
treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.
How Are Aligners Made?
You’d Be Amazed… The Aligners are made through a combination
of your orthodontist’s expertise and 3-D computer imaging technology.
Look below to find out how easy it is to get started!
The Invisalign System Process
 An Invisalign-certified
practitioner takes records of the patient, including PVS impressions,
intra and extra-oral photos and x-rays. The records are sent to Align
Technology with the desired treatment goals.
 Plaster models are poured
and then scanned to create a highly accurate digital image.
 Using computer-aided-design
software and a computer monitor, a virtual treatment is created with the
teeth moving gradually from the initial position to the final position.
Each stage corresponds to the movement built into a set of Aligners.
 This virtual treatment
is presented in the form of a movie on a computer monitor.
 Upon approval of the treatment,
Align Technology manufacturers the customized Aligners, and sends them
to the treating practitioner, along with any instructions and attachment
templates required.
Sets of Aligners are then distributed to the patient at each appointment.
View the results below!
The Results
Below are cases of actual invisalign patients.
Case #1 - Male
 
Treatment Time: 10 months. Aligners used: 13 Upper, 18 Lower
Case #2 - Female
 
Treatment Time: 22 months, Aligners used: 44 Upper, 27 Lower
FAQ's:
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is the invisible new way to straighten teeth without braces.
Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable Aligners to gradually straighten
teeth, without metal or wires.
Does Invisalign really work?
Yes. In both clinical research and in orthodontic practices nationwide,
Invisalign has been proven effective at straightening teeth.
How does Invisalign work?
Invisalign uses 3-D computer imaging technology to depict the complete
treatment plan from the initial position to the final desired position
from which a series of custom-made “Aligners” are produced.
Each “Aligner” moves teeth incrementally and is worn for about
two weeks, then replaced by the next in the series until the final position
is achieved.
What are the primary benefits of Invisalign?
There are four primary benefits of Invisalign:
1. Invisalign is nearly invisible – you can straighten your teeth
without anyone knowing.
2. Invisalign is removable – you can eat and drink what you want
in treatment; you can also brush and floss normally to maintain good oral
hygiene.
3. Invisalign is comfortable – there are no metal brackets or wires
to cause mouth irritation; no metal or wires also means you spend less
time in the doctor’s chair getting adjustments.
4. Invisalign allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan before
you start – so you can see how your straight teeth will look when
your treatment is complete.
What are the Aligners made of?
Aligners are made of clear, strong medical grade plastic that is virtually
invisible when worn.
What do the Aligners look like?
Aligners are nearly invisible and look similar to clear tooth-whitening
trays, but are custom-made for a better fit to move teeth. Some orthodontists
have referred to them as “contact lenses for teeth.”
Is this a new way to straighten teeth?
For years, orthodontists have used removable appliances for limited treatment.
Today, with the application of computer technology, Invisalign treats
a broader range of cases with greater precision.
Does insurance cover Invisalign?
Because medical benefits differ significantly from policy to policy, each
patient should review their coverage. However, if a patient has orthodontic
coverage, Invisalign should be covered to the same extent as conventional
braces.
Where can I see pictures of finished Invisalign
cases?
To see what just a few of the many thrilled Invisalign orthodontist's
patients are saying about Invisalign, view The Results area.
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