Ever since their launch in 1999, Invisalign® clear aligners have been catapulted into success and in the frame of the public eye. Clear aligners, in general, have gained a massive following in recent years and have been increasing in popularity among care seekers. Despite its unwavering reputation, there are plenty of questions about clear aligner systems that are left unanswered.
Considering how elusive aligner therapy is, do we really know everything we need to about this phantom procedure? Well, not really. Patients are often left scratching their heads, unsure of what to expect before beginning an orthodontic treatment with clear aligners.
Here is a little helping hand to understand the pre-prep process of aligner treatment and what you can expect going into it.
We understand that aligners, much like traditional braces, help shift teeth to their desired locations over a period of time. Contrary to what clear aligners like Invisalign® have been glorified for, it isn’t entirely about aesthetic sufficiency when it comes to aligner design. Instead, the goal of aligner treatment is to create an ideal and healthy “bite” – one where the top and bottom teeth fit together properly.
So, before starting the process of teeth alignment, it is important that the orthodontist understands the extent of your oral malocclusion and the issues you face on a daily basis due to it. During the initial visit to the dental office, the orthodontist will examine the patient and take a complete diagnostic history to further understand the particular malalignment issue.
These diagnostic records will include x-rays, photographs of the patient’s face and teeth, and impressions or digital scans of the teeth. From that information, the dentist can then arrive at a diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan that best suits the needs of the patient. This will include the type of aligner to be used, which teeth will require moving and in what direction and in what order.
Seeing x-rays on this list might baffle you. Why do you need x-rays taken to move teeth? X-rays aren’t required to shift teeth and do not contribute physically to make orthodontic treatment go faster or easier. But, it is required for dentists and orthodontists to take x-rays of a patient’s teeth before carrying on with orthodontic treatment. This is because by getting a visual of the inner alignment of the mouth, we can determine the health of the teeth.
Sometimes, through an x-ray, the dentist might be able to see that a tooth that needs moving is not attached to the jaw bone properly. Or, at times, the tooth may not be strong enough to withstand the movement that comes with orthodontic treatment. These problems that may be invisible to the naked eye can only be uncovered with the help of x-rays.
At the start of the procedure, your dentist will also take pictures of your smile from the front and sides of your mouth. These pictures serve a simple purpose – they help the dentist see how your smile frames your aesthetics and how can be improved. Also, they act as great before pictures that help your dentist guide your teeth into the right alignment for you to look your absolute best.
3D intraoral scans or impressions of your teeth will be taken to allow the dentist to see what your teeth look like together and register your bite. This is then used to construct a real-life or digital replica of your teeth so that they can see what your newly designed smile at the end of the orthodontic procedure would look like.
Different brands of aligners will be compatible with different intraoral scanners, for example, iTero® intraoral scanners are compatible with Invisalign® aligners.
Assessing the health of your teeth and gums before getting aligners is imperative for the treatment process. Periodontal exams include evaluating the health of the gums, the overall oral hygiene, and the possibility of gingival diseases. As for dental evaluations, they mainly look to see if your teeth have incurred any damage like dental caries or attrition, that can hamper the overall orthodontic treatment.
Getting the essential diagnostics out of the way before you begin your orthodontic journey will ensure that you do not come across any obstacles during the process of teeth straightening. These records will also help your orthodontist anticipate any issues and deal with them in a timely manner.