Invisalign For Teens in Houston, TX

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is widely considered one of the best orthodontic procedures for teens and adults. Invisalign is the world’s leading provider of clear or transparent aligners for orthodontic treatments. During your Invisalign treatment in Houston, TX, you have to wear a series of thermoplastic aligners that gradually shift your teeth in the desired direction. Each Invisalign for teen is designed according to different stages in your orthodontic treatment. You have to change your Invisalign aligners once every week or two. Each aligner shifts your teeth by a few increments until your teeth are perfectly aligned.

The best part about Invisalign for teens is that you don’t have to worry about visibility — there are no metal brackets or wires, so they’re not visible to people. Furthermore, you can also remove your Invisalign aligners whenever you want, especially while brushing or eating foods. This allows you to eat whatever you want without worrying about the stains, which is a common concern with traditional metallic brackets. Because you can brush and floss easily, you don’t have to worry about oral hygiene either. As such, Invisalign aligners address all the problems associated with traditional metallic brackets.

What is Invisalign process?

Whether you’re getting Invisalign for teens or Invisalign for adults, the procedure is similar for everyone. Generally speaking, your Invisalign treatment in Houston, TX, starts with a consultation and evaluation, followed by a treatment plan, following which you receive the Invisalign aligners. In most cases, the entire procedure for Invisalign for teens in Houston lasts for 9 to 18 months, a significant reduction from traditional braces that have to be worn for an average of 2 to 3 years. Below, we provide a step-by-step overview of your Invisalign treatment in Houston, TX.

Step 2: Treatment Planning

Once the Houston Invisalign dentist determines you need Invisalign, you can proceed with the treatment planning stage. In this stage, the Invisalign Houston dentist will use a special digital wand for digital impressions of your teeth, which will then be processed via a computer. The Invisalign dentist will use digital impressions to curate the ideal treatment plan for you. Once it’s prepared, you can see a complete overview of your Invisalign process, which is basically a prediction of how your teeth will look at various stages of your treatment. You’ll receive a time-lapse of your complete Invisalign journey from the beginning to the end of the treatment.

Step 5: Retainers

After the final Invisalign aligners, you’ll have to wear retainers for up to 6 months. These retainers protect your teeth and preserve your teeth in their correct position, preventing your teeth from moving back into their original position. Initially, you’ll have to wear the retainers for most of the day, but you can slowly reduce how long you wear the retainers.

Step 3: Preparation

After the treatment planning, the Houston Invisalign dentist will send the impressions and the treatment plan to the dental laboratory. It might take around 2 weeks for the laboratory to prepare your specific Invisalign aligners. Once the Invisalign aligners are prepared, you’ll have to return for the fitting. Depending on your specific condition, the dentist in Houston, TX, might have to adjust your teeth and add attachments. These attachments guide the treatment and help the aligners remain secured on your teeth. Finally, the dentist will help you wear your first set of Invisalign aligners.

Step 4: Invisalign Teen Aligners

You will receive a collection of Invisalign aligners corresponding to different stages of your treatment. Each Invisalign aligner will be numbered, starting from 1 and until the end of your treatment. Most patients need 20 to 30 Invisalign aligners for the complete orthodontic procedure, but extreme cases may also require up to 50 aligners. Initially, you’ll be asked to wear each Invisalign aligner for 2 weeks, but you can eventually start replacing the aligners once every 7 to 10 days (if your Invisalign dentist recommends that). You must wear the Invisalign aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours per day to ensure optimal treatment.

Step 5: Retainers

After the final Invisalign aligners, you’ll have to wear retainers for up to 6 months. These retainers protect your teeth and preserve your teeth in their correct position, preventing your teeth from moving back into their original position. Initially, you’ll have to wear the retainers for most of the day, but you can slowly reduce how long you wear the retainers.