How to Start Invisalign
If you are interested in starting Invisalign orthodontic treatment, the first step is to visit one or more orthodontists (specialists in the movement of teeth/orthodontics) in your area.
The orthodontist will conduct a complimentary examination and inform you if Invisalign aligners will be effective for your specific case and discuss the relative complexity of your orthodontic situation.
Invisalign aligners are great tools in the hands of an experienced orthodontist, who will customize every aspect of the treatment from the first to last aligner, including tooth attachments and aligner modifications, to create the proper forces in the proper sequence to achieve a stable, healthy, and attractive result for your face and smile.
Pro Tip: I recommend seeking an evaluation from the most experienced and qualified orthodontic specialist(s) available. If your case is relatively simple, he or she will inform you. If it is not, you will have the benefit of advice from a knowledgeable diagnostician.
Why? It is important to understand that case complexity is not apparent to the untrained eye, including that of general dentists, who have a different skill set and training than orthodontists. Orthodontists complete a two- to three-year post-doctorate (post-dental school) training and residency in the diagnosis and treatment of tooth movement within the bone. They are the only practitioners legally allowed to be designated as “orthodontist.”
Related: The Ten Most Important Facts about Invisalign: What to Know Before Seeking Treatment
Who Can Have Invisalign?
Invisalign aligners can be used on young children, teenagers, and adults of any age.
Your orthodontist will evaluate if aligners are a good choice for you or your child based on the tooth movements that must be accomplished, the likelihood of consistent aligner wear, and the availability of other tools that may be more effective and/or better suited to you or your child.
Invisalign aligners are not the only “invisible” orthodontic treatment in an orthodontist’s toolbox.
The orthodontist may recommend a fixed appliance, such as Brava, that sits behind the teeth, as an invisible alternative to Invisalign. Fixed appliances actuate a sweeping arc rather than the incremental adjustments created by aligners and are much more efficient for some types of movements, potentially shortening treatment time significantly.
Related: Invisible Orthodontics with Brava Tooth Movers: An Alternative to Invisalign
What is the Best Age to Start Invisalign?
There is no specific age by which one must begin treatment with Invisalign aligners.
Early orthodontic evaluation and possible treatment for young children can be important, however. The position of teeth and jaws can potentially limit root growth or facial or occlusal (bite) development. Evaluation of a child by an orthodontist at age seven is typically recommended for this reason. Fortunately, such evaluations are commonly free of charge.
If you are interested in Invisalign aligners for yourself or an older child, there is no reason to think that age is a limiting factor. Rather, the movements required, and the likelihood of consistent aligner wear will be among the factors determining appropriateness of the Invisalign appliance.
How to Sign Up for Invisalign Treatment
Once an orthodontist is chosen from among those visited for an examination, you will be led through a process that will initiate treatment.
Diagnostic records, if not yet completed, will include an intraoral photographic scan, facial photographs, and necessary low-dose radiographs that the orthodontist will use when customizing your treatment plan through the Invisalign dashboard/control panel.
About your treatment plan:
An experienced orthodontist will specify all movements, their sequences, any necessary tooth attachments, and any other appliances to be used throughout the course of your orthodontic treatment; this process will result in a series of clear Invisalign aligners that are specific to you or your child’s needs.
During treatment planning, the orthodontist should take into account the impact of the proposed treatment on the appearance of your or your child’s face and its soft tissues, both now and over time.
Pro Tip: The goal of excellent treatment planning is to achieve the most aesthetically pleasing result for both the patient’s face and smile that is also stable throughout the patient’s lifespan using only standard retention practices.
To initiate treatment, you will be presented with a contract and payment options. Treatment fees are all inclusive; your fee covers all laboratory, oral appliance, appointment, and initial retention costs.
In most offices, as in ours, a treatment coordinator will review the orthodontist’s diagnosis and your fee with you, and a financial coordinator will assist you in utilizing insurance and choosing amongst your payment options.
Conclusion: How to Begin Invisalign Treatment
To start Invisalign treatment, visit one or more orthodontic specialists in your area for a complimentary initial exam.
You should expect a thorough examination including diagnostic records (photographs, low-dose x-rays), as well as physical evaluation of your teeth, occlusion (bite), and face, along with a series of questions about your goals, your dental history, and other queries depending upon your or your child’s age and stage of growth.
The examination should conclude with recommendations regarding treatment and appropriate appliances, including answers to your questions regarding Invisalign aligners and treatment with them.
If Invisalign aligners are a good choice for you or your child, you may choose to begin the process immediately or visit other orthodontists for additional opinions.
Choose the orthodontist that best suits you or your child.
Because of advanced appliances and techniques, orthodontic appointments are scheduled much further apart than in the past, which means that the location of the orthodontist’s office is of less importance than the orthodontist and your level of comfort with his or her treatment plan, experience, and thoroughness.
Pro Tips:
- Orthodontists are specialists in the field of teeth alignment and must complete post-doctoral (i.e. post-dental school) education, training, and a hospital residency in the specialty to achieve that designation.
- The skill set of orthodontists differs markedly from that of general dentists, enabling them to expertly diagnosis, treatment-plan, and execute orthodontic treatments for their patients.
- Orthodontists can assess the relative complexity of each case, which is not discernable to general dentists, and have a multitude of techniques to employ to achieve optimal results.
- Evaluation by one or more orthodontists is recommended before agreeing to any treatment with Invisalign or any other aligner.
- Invisalign is a tool, not a treatment. It is a wonderful tool in the hands of experienced orthodontists and continues to be the orthodontist’s choice among aligner companies because of its well-developed dashboard (online input panel) that allows the orthodontist to control every aspect of the treatment from the first to last aligner.
- Orthodontists have multiple tools, some of which may better suit you or your child’s treatment.
Related: Orthodontic Tooth Movement and Treatment Methods: Exploring Invisalign, Precision Braces, and Brava
Ready to Begin?
If you are in the Seattle area and would like to schedule an examination in my office to explore orthodontic treatment with Invisalign, use the buttons below. I would be happy to provide a comprehensive examination for you or your child.