Straight teeth, no braces

Invisalign is a modern approach to straightening teeth. The method uses a series of custom-made aligners to straighten your teeth. Not only will you achieve a great smile but there’ll be very little interference in your daily life and most people won’t even know you’re having treatment. 

What is Invisalign?

So, what exactly is Invisalign? Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment system which has revolutionised the orthodontic industry, both here in New Zealand and overseas. It uses a series of clear, plastic aligners designed specifically for you. These aligners look like thin sports mouthguards – the type you’d wear when playing rugby or hockey, just much more discreet! 

There are no brackets or archwires like those used for traditional braces; instead, your teeth are guided into position by each set of aligners.

How does Invisalign work?

You may be asking yourself, if Invisalign doesn’t use brackets or archwires, how can the system possibly straighten your teeth? Well, it all starts with a little bit of technology. 

Here at Auckland City Orthodontics, we use the iTero IntraOral Digital Scanner to take 3D impressions of your teeth. Using these impressions, we can accurately plan how much your teeth need to move in order to straighten them. We then send away to have Invisalign custom make your aligners to match these impressions. 

Your Invisalign aligners must be worn for two weeks at a time. After the fortnight is up, you need to replace your aligners with the next set in the series. Every set of aligners has been specifically designed to guide your teeth into position by applying gentle pressure. Throughout the course of your treatment, your teeth will eventually straighten and achieve the beautiful smile you’re after. 

What do Invisalign aligners look like?

Invisalign aligners look just like clear plastic mouthguards. They slot over your top and bottom teeth and are both smooth and comfortable to wear. This is one of the advantages of Invisalign and why it’s such a popular treatment method for many of our patients – these aligners are virtually invisible. The clear plastic can hardly be seen against your teeth and because there are no metal brackets or archwires attached to the front of your teeth, most people won’t even know you’re having treatment. 

Invisalign for Teens

Most Invisalign treatment takes between 12 and 18 months, though minor corrections can be achieved in between three and six months. But Invisalign also has a version of its aligners specifically for teen patients. They look just like the full Invisalign aligners but have the addition of a blue dot wear indicator on them. This helps teen patients track how long they have been wearing each set of aligners, which should be between 20 and 22 hours per day for the best results! 

5 facts about Invisalign

1. The aligners are removable, so you can take them out to eat, brush and floss.
2. The aligners are virtually invisible, so you can achieve straight teeth without needing to feel self-conscious about having treatment.
3. Invisalign is suitable for all ages and orthodontic problems, both major and minor.
4. There are four different types of Invisalign: Invisalign Full, Invisalign Teen, Invisalign Lite and Invisalign i7
5. You can book a free consultation to find out if Invisalign is right for you. 

Discover the benefits of Invisalign. Book your free consultation with the experienced team at Auckland City Orthodontics today.