How Does Invisalign Work In North Tampa?
Many of the people who come to Miller Orthodontics for clear aligner treatment want to know how it works. How do plastic trays slowly move your teeth into better positions? The science behind Invisalign is actually pretty cool and knowing how it works helps patients understand why they have to follow the treatment guidelines to get the results they want.
The basic idea is the same as what makes traditional braces work. When you apply small, continuous pressure to your teeth over time they can move through the bone that surrounds them. For decades, orthodontists have used this natural process to straighten teeth, whether we use metal braces or clear aligners. The difference is how that pressure is applied. A series of custom made trays that each apply a little bit of pressure to your teeth move your teeth with clear aligners. This is not the same as brackets and wires which need to be changed every so often.
The first step is to do a full digital scan of your teeth. In our North Tampa office we use the latest imaging technology to get exact 3D information on where each tooth is right now. This computerized model is the basis for the whole plan for your care. We use special software to calculate out exactly how your teeth need to move to get to where they should be. We figure out which teeth need to move, how much they need to turn and what the final alignment should look like. Once we have the whole treatment plan we will make a set of custom aligners just for you. Each aligner in the series is a little bit different from the others. The first aligner fits your teeth as they are now, but it gently pushes on some spots to get them to move. After wearing the first aligner for about 1-2 weeks your teeth will have moved a little bit. Then you put on the second aligner which fits your teeth in their new position and pushes them to move even further. This happens with all the aligners until your teeth are where you want them to be.
The aligners are made of a smooth, clear plastic that fits over your teeth. When you put on a new aligner you may feel tightness or pressure in some areas. This is a good sign because it means the aligner is pushing on your teeth to move them. The pressure is usually the worst for the first day or two after you get a new aligner. Your teeth will get used to it and the ache will go away.
You need to wear the aligners for at least 22 hours a day because your teeth need continuous pressure to move correctly. If you only wear your aligners for a few hours at a time your teeth won’t move permanently. Your teeth may move a little when you wear the aligners but they usually go back to where they were before when you don’t wear them for a long time. Wearing them most of the time makes sure the movement goes where we want it to.
The fact that the aligners can be taken out is good and bad. You can take them out to eat and brush your teeth which is way easier than with traditional braces. But this also means you have to be strict about putting them back in. You have to wear the aligners as directed at all times for the treatment to work. You will need to come in for regular check-ups during your treatment so we can check on your teeth. Sometimes teeth progress as planned and other times we need to make small changes to the plan. Modern treatment planning is very accurate but since everyone’s teeth are different we sometimes have to make tiny adjustments to the plan to get the best results. These exams help us catch problems early and keep your treatment on track.
This process has a lot to do with the bone around your teeth. When you put pressure on a tooth the bone on one side slowly breaks down and new bone forms on the other side. This remodeling process is what lets the tooth move through the jawbone. It takes months instead of weeks for orthodontic treatment to work. The movement is gradual which is important because it lets the bone remodel itself and gives you results that last.
Once your teeth are in the right position you will need to wear a retainer to keep them there. Your teeth want to go back to where they were before especially in the months after treatment is over. The retainer holds them in place until the bone around them heals completely. This part of the treatment is super important because it makes sure all the work you did to straighten your teeth stays that way over time.
At Miller Orthodontics we have helped many patients near North Tampa get beautiful healthy smiles with clear aligner technology. Contact us to schedule an appointment to learn more about this treatment. We will go over the whole process with you, show you what your treatment plan will look like and answer any questions you have about how clear aligners can change your smile.
Dr. Zack Miller, DDS, of Miller Orthodontics, earned his dental degree from the University of Maryland and completed his orthodontic residency at the University of Colorado. As an active member of the American Association of Orthodontists, he is dedicated to creating healthy, confident smiles through personalized and transparent care.