How are Invisalign braces made?

Have you ever wondered what it takes to make Invisalign braces? What is the process, and exactly how tailored is it?

So what exactly happens at the orthodontist when you decide to get your teeth straightened with Invisalign?

The first step is for the orthodontist to take X-rays and photographs of the patient’s teeth. They will also take a dental impression and send it to Align Technology labs. The X-rays and photographs will give the Align Technology professionals an idea of what the appearance of the patient’s teeth look like.

The impression will be put through a computer program that will then create a three-dimensional model. Technicians, assess the original mould, to decide how much to straighten the aligner to its final position and program this through the machine.

This process has to be done in stages for the best and most-accurate results. The Invisalign usually last two weeks at a time before a new impression needs to be created. These new impressions help monitor the changes in teeth alignment and to check that the teeth are moving as they should be. This is how you can be sure that your Invisalign braces are suited to your teeth and tailored to make the corrections you want.

The average time for treatment can range depending on the complexity of your teeth. If you need minor changes like minor crowding or minor spacing, this treatment can be as short as 20 weeks. However, the bigger issues can be around a year.

Some things you need to know about your Invisalign braces:

  • They must be worn 20-22 hours a day
  • Treatment time can increase if not worn for hours recommended by your orthodontist
  • Retainers are usually given after regular Invisalign treatment; they need to be worn at least at night.

If you need advice and more information, contact The Invisalign Doctor to learn more.