What Happens at a Checkup During Invisalign Treatment

Invisalign® is a breakthrough orthodontic technology that uses a series of transparent aligners to enhance the look of crooked, overlapping, and gapped teeth. If you are considering using Invisalign for your orthodontic treatment, you may be curious about how often you would have to go for checkups and what happens during those appointments. Continue reading learn more about Invisalign and what to anticipate during your follow-up visits.

Why Invisalign checkup appointments are important for treatment progress

To ensure that treatment is going correctly, all patients will need to go for routine Invisalign checkups. During these follow-up visits, the orthodontist might adjust the treatment plan to keep everything on track. Follow-up visits are usually required every four to eight weeks. These meetings are usually brief and often span only about 15 minutes.

What happens during a typical checkup?

While undergoing Invisalign treatment, patients will need to see the orthodontist often to get new trays. The teeth will gradually shift into their optimum position throughout the treatment as patients advance to newer trays. The progress will stop if they fail to switch to new trays. Those month-old aligners will have no impact since they have already moved the teeth to the next point.

Also, the orthodontist still needs to monitor the patient’s progress to ensure that no modification is necessary for the upcoming aligner. Sometimes, patients may need to wear their aligners for longer or shorter periods than anticipated. In these instances, the orthodontist can check and advise patients on the required adjustments. Without their input, treatment may not progress according to plan, causing a setback.

Oral checkup and teeth cleaning

It is still necessary to see the orthodontist regularly to maintain good oral health. Gum disease and cavities are best detected during a routine oral examination. In addition, frequent orthodontic checkups usually involve a thorough cleaning by a hygienist, who will help eliminate plaque buildup and keep the teeth clean.

In reality, orthodontic devices may make routine oral care a bit more challenging, although clear aligners make things easier. This implies that regular appointments are even more essential now than ever. The orthodontist will need to check that the patient is cleaning their teeth properly and that cavities are not forming in hard-to-reach areas.

Checkups after completing Invisalign treatment

Although Invisalign checkups end when patients have used their last tray, these follow-up appointments are necessary. The orthodontist will provide a retainer after treatment. It is critical to follow the instructions for using the retainer.

Retainers, as the name suggests, preserve the position of the newly aligned teeth. Invisalign checkups, in this case, are to make sure the patient is wearing their retainers and that the teeth are maintaining their new positions. If patients fail to use their retainer or miss these visits, the teeth may revert to the state that the treatment corrected.