Your Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started With Invisalign® 

You’ve done your homework and made your choice. You’re ready to move forward with Invisalign® as your choice for straightening a crooked smile. 

With seven locations in the Bronx and New York City, New York Dental Health is your choice for all aspects of oral care. To help you understand the  Invisalign process, here’s your step-by-step guide to getting started. 

Planning your treatment

The process starts in consultation with our team. We review your case, your current condition, and your treatment goals to assure that Invisalign is the right choice for you. 

While Invisalign is a versatile system, some dental conditions require steps beyond the scope of any clear aligner system. These conditions are rare, so it’s likely Invisalign will work for you. 

Next, we make high-resolution digital scans of your teeth, the basis for the design of your treatment and the manufacture of your custom trays. If you’ve had clumsy alginate impressions in the past, relax. The digital scanner is about the size of a toothbrush. There’s no full mouth or feeling of claustrophobia. 

Receiving your trays

That’s it; the next step is action. Your first set of aligners arrives and we check the fit and sequence. You have similar appointments at the start of each batch of aligner trays to assure your treatment is on track. 

Depending on your personalized treatment plan, you’ll be advancing through your trays about every two weeks when used according to instructions. Each tray moves your teeth closer to their final destination. 

Using your trays

Unlike braces, your Invisalign trays remove easily for eating and cleaning. However, there’s a downside connected with removability. 

You need the discipline to wear your trays 22 hours a day or more for your treatment to stay on schedule. Leaving your aligners out for a few days can cause backward movement of your teeth instead of forward progress. 

Wear your aligners as much as possible, including when you’re asleep, to stay on track. Pop them out at meal and snack times, though be sure to clean or rinse your mouth and trays so you don’t trap food debris against your teeth, a potential source of increased tooth decay. 

Don’t worry, we provide you with comprehensive care guidelines when you pick up your first trays. It’s a great time to ask any questions you might have about your Invisalign treatment. 

Maintain your progress

Like conventional orthodontics, your treatment doesn’t end with your last tray or the removal of braces. You maintain your progress by wearing a custom retainer that holds your smile in its final place as your mouth settles into its new alignment. 

Your new smile starts today with a visit to New York Dental Health. You can book a consultation online or by phone.