Clear aligners are a great option for any patients hoping to alter the appearance of their smile. Our Langley dentists talk about treatment using Invisalign and how clear aligners are made.
If you're thinking about using Invisalign clear aligners instead of braces for your orthodontic treatment, you might be curious about how they're made.
What Are Invisalign Clear Aligners Made of?
Invisalign clear aligners are an orthodontic treatment similar to braces, but they can be removed to eat and drink. As opposed to the metal and brackets found in traditional braces, Invisalign clear aligners are made of clear, transparent plastic. High-molecular-weight, USP Class VI medical-grade polyurethane resins that are BPA-free.
Custom Fitting Invisalign Clear Aligners
Just as with traditional orthodontic treatment using metal braces, each case is unique and will require a specific treatment plan.
Invisalign aligners are custom-made to snugly fit the shape of your mouth and are specifically designed to help you achieve your smile goals.
During the consultation, you will meet with your dentist in person so that X-rays, impressions, and photographs of your teeth can be taken. Your dentist can create a personalized treatment plan for you based on these images and X-rays and discuss it with you. After you approve the anticipated outcomes, your clear aligners will be manufactured.
Our iTero Impression Scanner (3D computer imaging technology) will create a model of your teeth, capturing images of each tooth for extremely accurate scans. You'll also get a sneak peek at how your teeth will look once your treatment is completed.
Quadrant and full bite scans are completed so the dentist can assess your malocclusion in context with the rest of your mouth.
The complete model and scanned images are then sent to Align Technologies, where the aligners are created.
How Treatment With Invisalign Clear Aligners Works
Throughout your treatment with Invisalign clear aligners, you will be changing your aligners as your teeth slowly shift into their new desired positions.
On average, Invisalign treatment lasts about a year, and you'll likely wear each new set of aligners for two weeks before moving on to the next set. This indicates that you will likely use at least 50 sets of aligners during your treatment.