Getting Started With Invisalign®: What to Expect

If you’ve chosen Invisalign® to straighten your smile and improve your oral health, you’ve joined more than 10 million people around the world who’ve made the same wise decision. 

Even though this revolutionary orthodontic treatment came on the scene nearly three decades ago, we understand that it’s new to you and that you likely have questions about how it works and what to expect. Of course, a big part of your Invisalign experience relies on the dental professionals you partner with.

If you’re a new patient, our team of experts at Dentistry on Park in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York, welcomes you to our state-of-the-art offices. If you’re one of our existing patients, you already know we’re dedicated to delivering the highest level of dental care, the latest technology, and effective, proven treatments — which is why we offer Invisalign.

Either way, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible with all of your dental health visits and procedures, including your upcoming Invisalign consultation, so we’ve put together this brief guide to help you know what to expect. 

What Invisalign can do for you

You likely chose Invisalign clear plastic aligners because they’re virtually invisible. But there’s more to Invisalign than the slick design. 

These see-through trays that snap over your teeth are made of a special plastic material that gradually moves your teeth into ideal alignment. Called SmartTrackTM, the patented material has proprietary properties that provide continual, gentle pressure for faster, more precise, more predictable results.

Although Invisalign eliminates the metal wires and brackets of traditional braces, Invisalign aligners have the same goal as braces — to move teeth from the tips all the way down to the roots. This means Invisalign can treat a wide range of common bite issues, such as:

• Overbites
• Underbites
• Crossbites
• Open bite
• Crowded teeth
• Overjet
• Gapped teeth or uneven spacing
• Sideways or crooked teeth

And if you’re a teenager, we have a special version of Invisalign that comes with add-on features to accommodate emerging teeth and address more complex alignment concerns.

How Invisalign compares to traditional braces

All types of orthodontic treatments improve your smile, oral health, and self-confidence, but each comes with some pros and cons. For example, traditional braces are time-tested, and they’re often a better choice for addressing more complex orthodontic issues. 

One of the main advantages of Invisalign is that the trays are removable, so you can pop them out to eat and drink, brush and floss. That’s a game-changer for many people, as are the other benefits they get from Invisalign, including:

• A see-through design that’s nearly undetectable
• Comfortable, smooth construction
• Faster treatment times
• Fewer office visits
• Freedom to eat whatever you want
• Easy care 

Although Invisalign was pricey when it first became available, the cost has dropped considerably and is now more in line with the investment in traditional braces. What’s more, most insurance companies now offer the same coverage for Invisalign as for braces, so your choice is no longer dependent on finances.

What to expect when you get Invisalign 

We start your Invisalign treatment by taking digital 3D images that give us precise models of your teeth. Those images allow us to create a series of clear, plastic aligners based on your mouth and tooth shape. Most patients use between 18-30 aligners during the course of their care.

About every two weeks during treatment, you swap out one set of aligners for the next set in your series. Although you may not be able to see the difference, each set has subtle changes in shape and contours that progressively move your teeth into the right position.

Because you can swap out the aligners on your own, you don’t need to visit our office as often as you would with traditional braces, which need to be adjusted by professionals. Most Invisalign treatments are completed within two years or less.

If you still have questions about what to expect from your Invisalign treatment or if you’re ready to get started, call Dentistry on Park at 212-570-6060 today.