Here’s the Technology Behind Invisalign Retainers

The time when unsightly fixed braces — that’d act as a clear metal-mouthed signpost to let everyone know that you were undergoing orthodontic treatment every time you smiled — were your only option is well and truly in the past. You’ll already have heard about Invisalign clear retainers, which gently shift the teeth into more aesthetic and functional positions very discretely, but how do they work?

The fact that Invisalign offers high-tech orthodontic treatment becomes apparently right from the start, as prospective patients no longer need to have traditional tooth molds taken. Rather, a three-dimensional image is created in no time using an iTero Element Scanner.

This scan is then sent to Invisalign, which works with the orthodontist to make a computer-guided road map using ClinCheck software. This modern approach allows for amazing accuracy in predicting how the teeth will shift over time, and your series of custom-made Invisalign clear aligners are designed to be replaced every few weeks to change with your smile.

Patients who simply need to know what results they can expect before beginning Invisalign treatment are also in luck — thanks to the computerized analysis and planning, your orthodontist will be able to show you exactly how your treatment will progress.

Invisalign’s comfortable and convenient clear retainers slide seamlessly over the patient’s own teeth, preventing the problems associated with traditional, wired, braces, such as chapped lips, bleeding gums, and irritation within the mouth. While patients need to be able to commit to wearing their clear aligners almost 24 hours a day for the treatment to be successful, the fact that they can be removed does offer another clear advantage. Invisalign can be taken off to eat, to brush your teeth without restrictions, and even for an important meeting or social event.

Although the length of Invisalign treatment will vary from one case to the