Invisalign is a great way to realign your smile. The treatment works using a sequence of clear aligners (called “trays”) custom-fitted to your teeth. You wear each tray for about two weeks before moving on to the next, each time moving the teeth a little more into better alignment. The procedure takes twelve or eighteen months, is virtually invisible, and has no dietary restrictions. However, sometimes the course of treatment needs to be corrected. Read on to learn how Invisalign refinements can help your orthodontic treatment stay on track.

Why Would My Invisalign Treatment Need to Be Corrected?

The Invisalign process requires patients to wear their aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day. They are to be taken out during meals and must be cleaned along with the teeth before they are replaced. Ideally, this process goes off without a hitch until the end of treatment, but complications can arise. Sometimes the teeth do not move as readily as predicted. Other times, the treatment is not going as planned because the patient is not wearing their aligners for a sufficient amount of time each day, or they are not moving to the next aligner as scheduled. In these cases, Invisalign refinements can be necessary.

What Are Invisalign Refinements?

If a patient isn’t progressing in accordance with the treatment plan, Invisalign refinements can help make up the difference. These refinements are additional sets of trays that serve to fill the gap between where the patient is and where they should be in the treatment. They can add a few extra months to the total treatment time and may involve additional costs.

What Is the Process for Invisalign Refinements?

If the orthodontist determines that the patient needs refinements, another scan of the teeth will be taken. From the data gathered, a new set of trays will be manufactured to help move the teeth into the proper position. These trays are provided to the patient, who then uses them in the same way as prescribed for the other aligners. This will also require additional check-in visits to make sure the refinements are doing their job.

The Invisalign process requires effort on the part of the patient, but the results are well worth it. Your treatment requiring refinements does not necessarily mean you have failed in your part of the work, and continuing to wear the aligners as prescribed will have things moving as smoothly as they can. Invisalign is a long-term investment in your dental health resulting in a lifetime with a well-aligned smile.

About the Author

Dr. Lindsey Hammond earned her dental doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. She maintains active memberships with professional organizations including the American Dental Association and the American Academy of General Dentistry. Her practice provides services such as preventive, pediatric, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry in addition to Invisalign. If you’re interested in starting Invisalign treatment, contact her online or dial (918) 254-8686.