How Does Invisalign Work?

You’ve probably heard of Invisalign before, especially as the trend of clear aligners becomes more mainstream. But in this era of information, it can be difficult to sort through all the information (and misinformation) when trying to inform yourself about a particular product.

When it comes to Invisalign, there is a whole bunch of facts, figures and information surrounding this modern orthodontic treatment. In this introductory part, we will go over what Invisalign is in its’ entirety. 

Let’s start at the beginning, what is Invisalign?

Invisalign does what it name implies, it invisibly aligns your teeth through clear retainers. It’s an invisible aligner. Invisalign are clear aligner trays that are custom made for your teeth through a 3D scan or putty impressions. 

These clear aligners move your teeth gradually through applied force. Each tray is slightly differ than the last one, you would switch your trays every 1-2 weeks, dependent on your orthodontic treatment plan. 

How many trays you’ll receive for your treatment will also be dependent on your orthodontists recommendations for treating your specific case. 

What is Invisalign made of?
All clear retainers are made of some variation of a thermoplastic. For Invisalign specifically it made with a patented thermoplastic called SmartTrack. SmartTrack is exclusively made for Invisalign, many competitors will use a similar or variant of a different of thermoplastic than Invisalign.  

Invisalign’s material is FDA-approved and also contain no BPA, BPS, latex and gluten free.

What can Invisalign fix?
Invisalign is a great alternative to braces, especially for adults and teens who don’t want to rock the brace-face look! Advancements in Invisalign makes it a suitable treatment option for almost all common teeth straightening and bite issues. 

Back in 2010, Invisalign introduced SmartForce Attachments, these little buttons that adhered on the front of the tooth to help the clear aligners make complex movements. The attachments allow Invisalign to apply force in the right direction, it’s easiest to think of them like handles. They allow the tooth to be rotated and moved into alignment.