So you’ve been thinking about straightening your smile. Maybe you’ve got a few crooked teeth that bother you in photos. Maybe there’s a gap you’ve always wanted to close. But you’ve got questions. How long does this whole Invisalign treatment process actually take? What’s involved? Does it hurt?
We hear you. And we’re here to walk you through exactly what a full Invisalign treatment plan looks like here at MAC Dental. No surprises. No confusing dental jargon. Just a straight answer about straightening your teeth.
Step 1: The Conversation (About 30 Minutes)
It all starts with a visit to our office on McCroskey Street. You’ll sit down with our team, and we’ll talk about what’s bothering you about your smile. Maybe it’s one tooth that’s turned. Maybe it’s crowding on the bottom. Whatever it is, we’ll listen.
We’ll also check your overall oral health. Invisalign can move teeth, but it can’t fix cavities or gum disease. If those issues are present, we’ll take care of them first. That’s just good medicine.
Step 2: The Digital Scan (About 15 Minutes)
Remember those goopy impressions everyone hates? The trays filled with that awful tasting material? We don’t use those anymore.
Instead, we’ll take a digital scan of your teeth. It’s a small wand that moves around your mouth, capturing hundreds of images per second. Within a couple of minutes, a perfect 3D model of your smile appears on our screen. No gagging. No mess. And no waiting for impressions to set.
Step 3: The Treatment Plan (About 1 Week)
We’ll send that digital scan off to Invisalign, and their software maps out the entire movement of your teeth. You’ll get to see a video of your smile shifting week by week until it reaches its final position. It’s pretty cool to watch.
We’ll also go over the timeline with you. Most of our patients finish in 12 to 18 months, but it really depends on how much movement your teeth need. We’ll be honest with you about what’s realistic.
Step 4: Wearing Your Aligners (22 Hours a Day)
Once your custom aligners arrive, you’ll start wearing them. You’ll swap to a new set every week or two, usually right before bed. The first couple of days with a new set can feel tight. That’s normal. It means they’re working.
You’ll take them out to eat, drink anything other than water, and brush your teeth. Then right back in they go. We tell our patients to aim for 22 hours of wear time each day. If you slip up here and there, don’t panic. Just get back on track.
Step 5: Check-Ins Every 6 to 8 Weeks
You won’t need to come into the office every week. Most of our patients stop by every six to eight weeks so we can check their progress and hand off their next few sets of aligners. These appointments are quick. Usually about 15 minutes.
Step 6: The Retainer Phase (For Life)
Here’s where a lot of people get tripped up. Once your teeth are straight, you aren’t done. If you don’t wear a retainer, your teeth will try to shift back to where they started. That’s just how the mouth works.
We’ll set you up with a retainer to wear at night. It’s a small price to pay for keeping that smile you worked so hard for.
Ready to See Your New Smile?
If you’ve been curious about Invisalign but weren’t sure what the process looked like, we hope this helped. Our team in Nixa has guided hundreds of patients through this exact journey. We’d love to do the same for you.
Give us a call at 417.725.3200 or stop by our office off Route 13. Let’s get that first scan scheduled