How to Tell if Your Invisalign is Working?

If you’ve been wearing Invisalign for a little while, you might be wondering how to tell if it’s working. And, more importantly, when will it start tracking?

Here are a few things to look for:

What are the signs that your Invisalign is working?

1. Your teeth are moving as expected

When using Invisalign clear aligners, the movement of your teeth will be carefully planned out using 3-D models of your mouth. This allows a specialist to create a time-lapse series of images showing exactly how your teeth will move. It’s possible that some teeth are more stubborn than others, so your orthodontist may need to revise your treatment plan if backtracking doesn’t work. To check if your aligners are fitting properly, they should snugly fit around your teeth and not be loose or rocking. Invisalign works by applying gentle pressure on the teeth, so some people may experience slight pain or discomfort.

2. Your orthodontist checks your progress regularly

How often does your orthodontist check your progress with Invisalign? Generally, your doctor will schedule regular appointments every four to six weeks to ensure that your Invisalign treatment is progressing as planned. Additionally, remote monitoring systems such as apps can be used to assess the fit of your aligners and determine if your teeth are moving, which can even accelerate your treatment. In cases where backtracking doesn’t work and the aligners still don’t fit properly, your dentist may revise your treatment plan. Finally, your orthodontist may also recommend that you use retainers to prevent teeth from shifting back after treatment.

3. You can see a visible change in your smile

When wearing Invisalign, it is possible to start noticing a change in your smile as quickly as six weeks into the treatment. However, the exact time frame of noticeable changes will depend on the complexity of the case and the natural state of the smile. Some patients may see a difference in as little as two weeks, while others may take longer. Throughout your treatment, you will be given new aligner trays every two weeks to ensure that your teeth are continually moving into the desired position. With each new Invisalign set, your smile will become straighter than it was previously. Therefore, it is important to take photos of your smile before each new set of aligners, as this will provide a better view of the changes taking place. If you do not seem to be seeing significant changes, talk to your orthodontist for their professional opinion. With the help of Invisalign, you can achieve a beautiful, straight smile in roughly 12 months.

4. You are wearing your aligners as directed

To ensure that your Invisalign treatment is working properly, you should wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day. Take them out only to eat and drink (except for water), and to brush and floss. Make sure your aligners fit snugly around your teeth without gaps or rocking movement. You may also experience slight pain or discomfort when the aligners are tracking properly.

To wear your Invisalign aligners properly, follow these steps:

Clean your aligners thoroughly before inserting them.
Insert the aligners carefully and make sure they fit snugly and securely around your teeth.
Wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day, unless instructed otherwise by your dentist.
Take the aligners out only to eat and drink (except water), and to brush and floss.
Monitor your teeth for any changes, and alert your dentist if you notice any gaps in the aligners or if they stop fitting securely.
Avoid smoking, drinking non-water beverages while wearing your aligners, and storing your aligners in high heat or humidity.
Practice good oral hygiene and attend all of your scheduled appointments with your dentist.

5. You feel that the treatment is progressing smoothly

Your doctor will schedule regular appointments, usually about once every four to six weeks, to ensure your Invisalign treatment is progressing as planned.
If backtracking doesn’t work and your aligners still don’t fit properly, your dentist may need to revise your treatment.
After a certain point, your trays don’t contribute to pain and discomfort.
You can also monitor progress with remote monitoring systems. This uses computer analysis to assess the fit of your aligners and determine whether or not your teeth are moving.
When you visit your hygienist, they may ask you if you floss daily. Pay attention to your response and the response of other patients. If you hear phrases like “I try to wear them,” or “I mostly wear them,” this could be a sign that the patient is not wearing their aligners as directed.
As your Invisalign aligners gradually shift your teeth into their proper position, your gums are re-forming around each tooth as it moves. Be sure to talk to your doctor about any concerns.
Finally, be aware that if a patient is absent from your office for an extended period of time, they may not be dedicated to the treatment process.

6. Your orthodontist is adjusting your treatment plan as necessary

Your orthodontist can adjust your Invisalign treatment plan as necessary by following these steps:

Take images and impressions of your mouth.
Work with Invisalign to develop an updated treatment plan that will ensure the aligners track properly.
Schedule regular appointments, usually about once every four to six weeks, to ensure the treatment is progressing as planned.
If backtracking and proper aligner fit still don’t work, your orthodontist may order refinement trays or additional aligners to complete, fine-tune, and make the final necessary adjustments.
After treatment is complete, ask your doctor if you need retainers to prevent your teeth from shifting back.

7. You are satisfied with the results so far

How likely are you to be satisfied with the results so far with Invisalign? It’s important to wear your Invisalign aligners 20 to 22 hours a day to achieve the desired results. Additionally, remote monitoring systems can provide computer analysis to assess the fit of your aligners and determine whether your teeth are moving, which can accelerate the treatment process. Ultimately, following the instructions and using the assistance of remote monitoring systems can help you achieve the desired outcome with Invisalign.

8. You are keeping up with your retainers

To make sure you are keeping up with your retainers for Invisalign, it is important to follow a few simple steps.

Visit your dentist or orthodontist regularly to check the progress of your treatment. Your doctor will schedule regular appointments, usually about once every four to six weeks, to make sure your Invisalign treatment is progressing as planned.
Change your retainers every 1-2 weeks. It is important to maintain a calendar to keep track of when to change your trays and schedule follow-up appointments.
Insert new trays at night. New trays will cause your teeth to feel sore, which means they are working. Wearing new trays at night will reduce the soreness you might feel throughout the day.
Manage your diet. Avoid snacking and wear your trays throughout the day.
Drink plenty of water. Your trays will cause you to salivate a lot more, so it’s essential to stay hydrated.
Carry a retainer case. Put your trays in the case every time you eat to prevent you from accidentally throwing them away.
Use a Vivera™ retainer. Vivera™ retainers are a great option for maintaining your new smile.

Following these steps will help you make sure you are keeping up with your retainers for Invisalign.

9. Your treatment plan is being explained to you clearly

In order to tell if your treatment plan is being explained to you clearly with Invisalign, you should ask your orthodontist to show you an animated preview of your teeth’ movements. This way, you can actually see what changes you can expect, and the order in which they will happen. You should also have a consultation with your doctor to discuss your teeth-straightening goals, as well as treatment costs. Your doctor will also examine your smile in order to determine your specific needs and may recommend a dental checkup and cleaning before you begin Invisalign treatment. Additionally, your orthodontist will use a sophisticated computer model to help account for common variables and create a time-lapse series of images showing exactly how your teeth will move. Finally, if you suspect that you may need a treatment revision, you should consult your orthodontist and have new impressions taken.

How long does it take for Invisalign to track?

It typically takes 12-18 months for Invisalign to track, but you should start to see results in a matter of weeks. To ensure that your Invisalign is tracking correctly, you should make sure your aligners are completely fixed to the teeth, fitted perfectly with the edge of your teeth, and do not have any large gaps. Additionally, you should also make sure any Invisalign attachments you’re wearing are adequately engaged and that you are wearing your aligners at least 22 hours a day.

FAQ

Why are my teeth not moving with Invisalign?

There are several common causes of Invisalign teeth not moving, and understanding them can help you stay on track with your Invisalign treatment. Poor tracking, improper wearing, and an inaccurate treatment plan are some of the most common causes. Poor tracking occurs when the aligners don’t fit properly around the teeth, which can happen when you switch trays too early or don’t wear them enough. Improper wearing can result in teeth not moving because the aligners aren’t receiving the right amount of force to move the teeth. An inaccurate treatment plan can also lead to teeth not moving if the plan isn’t properly tailored to the individual’s teeth. SmartForce attachments, which are small tooth-colored shapes that are attached to the teeth, can also be used to help ensure proper tracking and motion of the teeth. If you don’t notice movement after five months or halfway through your treatment, you should bring this issue up with your dentist or orthodontist.

Does every Invisalign tray hurt?

The short answer is no, not every Invisalign tray will hurt. In fact, many patients don’t experience any pain or discomfort when switching to a new tray. This might be because the doctor has not made any adjustments to the first tray, or simply because the patient is getting used to wearing them. However, it’s normal to experience some discomfort when switching to new trays, especially when you’re just starting your Invisalign treatment. To help minimize any discomfort, you can suck on ice cubes or take over-the-counter pain medicines. Additionally, switching to new trays at night can help as well because you will likely sleep through any pain or discomfort.

As you progress in your treatment, the amount of pain or discomfort you experience may decrease. This is because the pressure of the trays gradually shifts your teeth, and after a certain point, your trays may no longer contribute to pain or discomfort. You should also check that your trays are fitting properly, as gaps within the trays can negatively affect your aligners’ ability to track with your teeth. Finally, if you are having difficulty fitting your new trays onto your teeth, you can use Invisalign “Chewies” to help seat them properly.

How long does it take to scan teeth for Invisalign?

Invisalign uses advanced 3D modeling software to plan out your smile transformation. The process begins with a scan of your teeth, which is imported into Invisalign’s software. This scan typically takes a few minutes and is typically done with a handheld scanner. Once the scan is complete, your orthodontist will create a detailed plan for how each individual tooth should move over the course of treatment. This plan is used to create a series of nearly invisible clear plastic trays that fit around your teeth. The length of treatment depends on multiple factors, like how complex your case is and how often you wear your aligners. On average, Invisalign treatment time is 12 to 18 months. You should start noticing a difference in your smile in as little as 6 weeks.

How do you know Invisalign isn’t tracking?

Are you wondering how to tell if Invisalign isn’t tracking? Invisalign clear aligners should fit snugly over your teeth and if you notice a gap between your teeth and the aligner, this could be a sign of improper tracking. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you determine if your Invisalign is tracking correctly:

Check to see if there are noticeable gaps between your aligner and the edges of your teeth.
Make sure you are wearing your aligners for the prescribed amount of time – at least 22 hours a day.
Use chewie aligner seaters to help ensure your aligners are seated properly.
If your teeth need extra help, ask your Invisalign doctor about Invisalign attachments or buttons.
If your teeth are still not tracking well, consider backtracking to your previous set of aligners.

If you’re experiencing tracking issues with your Invisalign, the steps above can help you determine if your aligners are tracking properly and provide solutions for correcting the problem.

How should new Invisalign trays feel?

When you first begin wearing your Invisalign trays, you may feel slight discomfort and pressure, which is normal as your trays are working to gradually shift your teeth. For proper tracking, the trays should fit snugly around all of your teeth, with no gaps. They should also fit securely to the edge of your teeth, with no spaces between your trays and teeth. If your aligners seem like they are not fitting properly around any of your teeth, it could be a sign that they are not tracking correctly and you will need to alert your dentist.

To help with the discomfort, some people like to wait until bedtime when they put in a new set of aligners, so they can sleep through the first several hours that are typically the most painful. Additionally, you can take over-the-counter pain medications to help minimize pain throughout the day, especially the first few days of a new set of trays.

While it might be uncomfortable at first, it is important to remember that this is a sign that your Invisalign trays are working, and it will all be worth it in the end when you have that perfect smile.