How Does Invisalign Work in Westfield, IN?
Choosing to straighten your smile is a big decision—one that affects your confidence, comfort, and long-term oral health. If you’re exploring Invisalign in Westfield, IN, you may be wondering how this modern orthodontic treatment actually works and whether it’s right for you or your child.
At our Westfield orthodontic practice, we believe orthodontic care should be custom-tailored to each patient, no cookie-cutter approaches here. Clear aligners are one of the tools that Dr. Titus uses to craft your dream smile—and when this expertise couples with an artistic approach and modern technology, the results can be exceptional! When making a decision regarding your orthodontic treatment with Invisalign or clear aligners, it’s important to know what all you’re getting yourself into to set you up for success.
This guide will walk you through how Invisalign works, what to expect during treatment, and why choosing a local Invisalign provider in Westfield, IN makes all the difference.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a brand name that refers to a modern orthodontic treatment modality called clear aligners. And here’s how they work:
Clear aligners are an advanced orthodontic system that uses a series of clear plastic trays, that are custom-made for your teeth, to gradually move your teeth from start to finish into their ideal positions. Each aligner is incrementally different from the last, and as you progress through the series of aligners, you’ll see your smile change!
Each aligner is worn for 1–2 weeks (usually 1 week), applying gentle, controlled pressure that moves your teeth step by step. This treatment is meticulously planned by Dr. Titus, and each tooth movement is intentionally staged to achieve your final result.
Unique features of clear aligners that make them differ from traditional braces:
Clear and discreet
Removable for eating and brushing
Custom, programmed tooth movements at each stage
Wireless
Okay, What Else Do I Need To Know??
#1: Wear Time
Choosing clear aligners over braces offer some benefits, but more than anything the choice between braces and aligners it’s important to know how it may impact your day-to-day life.
One of the most important things to know about Invisalign and clear aligners is that they need to be worn FULL TIME. This doesn’t mean “most” of the time, or “a lot”…in order for the aligners to effectively move the teeth, they need to be worn all hours of the day (both day and night), except for when eating or brushing, translating roughly to 22 hours per day. You must wear them all day and all night, or they simply won’t be able to move your teeth!
With clear aligners, we are trying to mimic how long braces/wires are on the teeth to move them…which is 24/7. Without them, the teeth just won’t move.
The truth is, whenever we have patients who don’t get the results they’re looking for with aligners, it’s simply because they don’t wear them enough. Some people, when they hear what it entails, say “I will be terrible with that, put me in braces instead”...whereas others would rather avoid braces and make a firm resolution to be fully compliant with wearing their aligners. It’s the lifestyle change that is important to consider before you embark, so when you choose aligners this is what you are committing to!
#2: Attachments
Teeth are slippery. Aligners are slippery. In order for the aligner to be able to grip the tooth and place forces in the proper direction to move the teeth, they need a little help. This is where attachments come into play.
Attachments are small, tooth colored bumps that are bonded to your teeth in specific, strategic positions and shapes that are essential to predictable tooth movement. They are made from the same tooth-colored resin material that is used for fillings, so they are also discreet. Not fully invisible, but certainly less noticeable than braces!
Attachments are critical, and without them, your teeth won’t be able to move to the desired positions, the laws of physics won’t allow it.
You WILL have attachments on your teeth, the precise amount and location all depends on your unique case and the tooth movements involved. This includes attachments on the front teeth. If you want an ideal outcome, attachments are imperative!
What’s the Process To Get Started?
Step 1: Your Invisalign Consultation in Westfield, IN
Every smile is different! Your journey begins with a comprehensive consultation in Westfield, IN. This is where we take the time to truly understand your smile goals, concerns, and preferences.
During your consultation, we will:
Perform a thorough orthodontic exam
Take photos and a digital scan of your teeth (no messy impressions!)
Evaluate your smile and facial esthetics, bite, and jaw alignment
Develop your custom treatment plan tailored to your goals
Review your treatment options, pros/cons, and whether Invisalign treatment is the best option for you
This personalized approach ensures your treatment plan supports both optimal function and exceptional esthetics.
Step 2: Digital Smile Planning & Custom Aligners
Using advanced 3D imaging technology, we design a custom aligner treatment plan tailored to your smile. This digital plan allows us to:
Map each tooth movement with precision
Design tooth movements with optimal efficiency and gentle forces
Ensure your bite is healthy and stable
Your custom aligners are then fabricated specifically for you with all our smile design features included—no shortcuts, no cookie cutter outcomes. According to Dr. Shalise Holt, a local orthodontist in Twinsburg, OH, using digital models lets your doctor plan the best moves for each tooth.
Step 3: Starting Your Invisalign Treatment
Once your aligners arrive, we start by bonding the specific attachments that are essential to your treatment. This process is painless and efficient!
We’ll try in your first aligners, and talk you through all the use and care instructions so that you’re comfortable starting your journey. We’ll send you home with several stages for you to wear as you work through the series—we’ll see you at check points along the way to monitor your progress and make adjustments toward your final smile result.
You’ll begin wearing them 22 hours per day, removing them only to eat, drink (anything besides water), brush, and floss.
Step 4: Progress Visits
It’s important for us to see you at scheduled intervals to monitor your progress, ensure proper fit and tracking of tooth movements, replenish you with more aligners, and make refinements and adjustments along the way toward your final result.
We don’t stop until you love your smile! We are passionate about your final smile result, and are with you along the way to get you there!
Step 5: Completing Treatment & Retention
Once we’ve attended to every detail of your smile and bite, it’s time to celebrate your transformation!
We smooth off all your attachments, take final scans and photos and set you up for retainers to maintain your smile. Night time wear of your retainers is what keeps your smile looking perfect for the rest of forever!
Retention is just as important as treatment itself, and we provide clear guidance to ensure your Invisalign results last a lifetime.
Curious What Invisalign Treatment Could Do For You?
Just like any orthodontic treatment endeavor, it’s not about just choosing your appliance, braces or aligners…it’s about choosing the doctor using the appliance to control your treatment outcome. Anyone could offer aligners, but you’re really investing in the doctor’s ability to deliver your ideal treatment result.
Our practice stands apart because we offer:
Personalized/Customized orthodontic care
Artistic attention to smile esthetics
Results-driven treatment
A family-friendly environment
Deep roots in the Westfield, IN community
We don’t believe in rushing treatment or cutting corners. Every Invisalign plan is intentionally crafted to deliver a smile you’ll love—functionally and esthetically.
Call or Text us today to schedule your complimentary Invisalign consultation!
FAQs
1: Can I eat with the aligners in?
You can drink water with your aligners in, but if you eat or drink anything else, you will take your aligners out. We don’t want anything to damage/distort/stain your aligners, and we don’t want any food/plaque to be sitting on your teeth, trapped under your aligners.
2: Do I come in each week to get a new aligner stage?
No, we value your time! We give you several weeks worth (typically anywhere from 8-12 weeks at a time) to work through on your own in between visits. You’ll be in charge of wearing them full time and changing them out at the proper, specified intervals.
3: What can Invisalign treat?
Treatment technology for Invisalign and clear aligners has continued to advance over the years. We have the ability to treat even very complex cases with aligners, so even if you don’t think you’re a candidate, you may be surprised! Every patient is different, the best way to know for sure is to schedule a free Invisalign consultation to develop your custom plan.
4: How do I choose braces or aligners??
This is something you and Dr. Titus will choose together, taking into account your unique desires, circumstances, and goals. Read another of our blog posts here that goes into more detail about deciding between your options.
5:Does Invisalign hurt?
Invisalign uses gentle, gradual pressure to move teeth. Regardless of the appliance to move the teeth, teeth get sore when they are moved, this is an unavoidable fact. However, with our gentle movement protocols, it is a positive seamless experience. You will have less cheek-soreness than traditional braces, but it’s common to feel some pressure and soreness when switching to a new set of aligners—this is normal and temporary, but also a sign that treatment is working!
5: How much does Invisalign cost?
Great question! We actually have a dedicated blog post that goes into this in detail!
