Maybe you needed braces when you were younger but family finances prevented you from receiving them. Maybe you wore braces in high school but years of forgetting to wear your retainer have caused your teeth to regress back to their former, less-than-ideal position. Whatever the reason, you’re interested in pursuing lightweight, comfortable, convenient Invisalign clear aligner orthodontics. You’ve heard that you’ll spend less time at the orthodontist’s office with Invisalign, but before you settle on a treatment plan you need to learn more about what to expect from your Invisalign appointments.
The Initial Consultation
Your first appointment will be the longest because you and your orthodontist have a lot of ground to cover, so expect to spend an hour to an hour and a half at the office. First, he will need to take impressions of your upper and lower teeth (which will serve as the models for your aligners), digital photographs of your face and teeth, and digital x-rays. Your orthodontist sends these records and impressions to Invisalign headquarters, where skilled technicians use them to design your treatment plan. They will even create a 3D digital mock-up of what your teeth will look like once you’ve completed your treatment.
Receiving Your First Set of Aligners
At the secondary appointment, expect to spend about an hour at the office while you and your orthodontist accomplish several much needed tasks, including:
- Placing attachments, tiny, inconspicuous nubs of tooth-colored composite resin that aid in the efficient movement of the teeth.
- Fitting the first aligner.
- Practicing taking the aligner out and replacing it.
- Going over day-to-day instructions for wear and care, such as how many hours per day you need to wear the aligner, instructions for cleaning your teeth and the aligners, and general guidelines for eating and drinking.
Subsequent Invisalign Checkups
Every 6-12 weeks (depending on your treatment plan) you will return to the office for a short, 15 minute appointment so your orthodontist can check your progress and dispense your next series of aligner trays.
Your Final Appointment
At your final treatment appointment, you can expect to stay for 45 minutes to an hour, as your orthodontist removes the attachment nubs, takes impressions for creating your retainer (if needed), and take “after” pictures so you have complete before-and-after documentation of your progress.
About Dr. Cabal
Dr. Ciro Cabal is a dedicated family orthodontist whose lifelong passion for providing exceptional dental care continues to this day as he serves patients of all ages from Ft. Worth, Azle, Saginaw, Springtown, Weatherford, Haslet, and the surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call Lake Country Orthodontics today at (817) 236-7846.
