If you have clear aligners then you probably know how they work, but have you ever wondered how they are made? Our Surrey dentists talk about treatment with Invisalign and how your clear aligners are made.
Whether you only considering Invisalign clear aligners for your orthodontic treatment or you have already been using them, you might be curious about how they're made.
Are Invisalign Clear Aligners really made of plastic?
There are many different options for orthodontic treatment, and while metal braces are the traditional treatment, another increasingly popular option is Invisalign clear aligners. Invisalign clear aligners are made of clear, transparent plastic rather than the metal and brackets found in traditional braces. They're made of BPA-free, USP Class VI medical-grade polyurethane resins with a high molecular weight.
How do Invisalign clear aligners fit my teeth so well?
As with traditional orthodontic treatment using metal braces, you will need to follow a customized treatment plan that has been tailored to your unique orthodontic needs.
Invisalign aligners are always custom-made in order to fit your teeth well to help you achieve your smile goals.
During the consultation, you'll meet with your dentist in person so that X-rays, impressions, and photographs of your teeth can be taken. Your dentist can create a personalized treatment plan based on these images and X-rays and discuss it with you. Your clear aligners will be made after you approve the expected results.
Your dentists or orthodontist may also use an iTero Impression Scanner (3D computer imaging technology) to create a model of your teeth, capturing images of each tooth for extremely accurate scans. You'll also get a sneak peek at how your teeth will look once your treatment is completed.
Quadrant and full bite scans are completed so the dentist can assess your malocclusion in context with the rest of your mouth.
The complete model and scanned images are then sent to Align Technologies, where the aligners are created.
What can I expect during treatment with Invisalign?
One of the main ways that clear aligners differ from traditional braces is that you will be changing your aligners every two weeks to help move your treatment along.
Invisalign treatment lasts about a year on average which means that you'll most likely use 50 or more sets of aligners throughout your treatment.