Invisalign is a series of custom-made, virtually invisible clear aligners that gradually shift your teeth into place, giving you the results of traditional braces without brackets or wires. Each aligner in the series is worn for one to two weeks before you switch to the next one in the sequence, slowly guiding your smile toward its final position. At Elite Orthodontics, we’re a Platinum Invisalign provider, which means this is one of the treatments we work with most often for patients across Bowie, Washington, DC, and Glenn Dale.
How the Invisalign Process Works, Step by Step
- Digital iTero scan. Instead of biting into a tray of goopy impression material, we use our iTero digital scanner to capture a precise 3D model of your teeth and bite in just a few minutes.
- Custom treatment plan. Dr. Aliu reviews your digital scan and maps out a step-by-step plan showing how your teeth will move over the course of treatment, so you can see a preview of your projected results before you commit.
- Your aligners are printed. Using that digital model, a full series of clear, custom aligner trays is created specifically for your smile.
- You wear each set 20-22 hours a day. Aligners are removable for eating and brushing, but need to stay in for the vast majority of the day to keep your treatment on track.
- You switch trays every 1-2 weeks. Each new set applies slightly more pressure, continuing to shift your teeth toward your goal smile.
- Progress checks with our team. Weโll see you periodically to confirm your teeth are tracking with the plan and make adjustments if needed.
Why iTero Scanning Matters for Invisalign Specifically
Invisalign treatment is only as accurate as the digital model it’s built from, which is part of why our iTero scanner is such a central piece of how we plan Invisalign cases. It lets Dr. Aliu map out a highly precise, tooth-by-tooth movement plan from the very start, rather than relying on a physical mold that can distort slightly during shipping or processing. As a Platinum-level Invisalign provider, our team has planned a substantial number of these cases, and the iTero scan is the first step in nearly every one of them. Because the entire aligner series is manufactured from that initial digital model, the accuracy of the scan directly affects how predictably your teeth track toward the planned result — one more reason we’ve built the scan into virtually every Invisalign consultation.
What to Expect During Invisalign Treatment
Once your aligners arrive, day-to-day life with Invisalign is fairly simple. You’ll wear each tray for the recommended 20-22 hours, taking it out mainly to eat and to brush and floss. Every one to two weeks, you’ll move on to the next tray in your series, continuing the gradual movement your treatment plan mapped out. Along the way, our team will see you periodically — often every six to eight weeks — to confirm your teeth are tracking as expected using another quick iTero scan. If we notice any teeth aren’t moving quite on schedule, we can order a new set of aligners, sometimes called refinement aligners, to get things back on track without starting over.
How Invisalign Differs From Traditional Braces
The biggest difference is visibility and lifestyle flexibility. Because aligners are clear and removable, most people won’t notice you’re in treatment, and you can take them out to eat whatever you like or to brush and floss normally, without navigating around brackets and wires. Traditional braces, on the other hand, stay on your teeth around the clock and require you to avoid certain hard, sticky, or chewy foods for the duration of treatment. Braces can also be a better fit for more complex bite corrections, since they give an orthodontist more direct control over certain tooth movements — which is why Dr. Aliu will always recommend the option that fits your specific case, not just your preference.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Invisalign?
Invisalign works well for a wide range of mild to moderate alignment issues in kids, teens, and adults, including crowding, spacing, and some bite problems. The biggest factor in success isn’t the case itself — it’s compliance. Because the trays are removable, they only work if they’re actually worn for the recommended 20-22 hours a day. Patients who know they’ll stay disciplined about wear time tend to do very well with Invisalign; those who might struggle with that responsibility, especially younger patients, may do better with an appliance that stays in place on its own.
Dr. Aliu will walk through your specific bite, your lifestyle, and your comfort level with the wear-time commitment before recommending Invisalign over another option — the goal is always the treatment that fits your case and your habits, not simply the most popular one.
Caring for Your Aligners
Keeping your aligners clean is a simple part of the daily routine. Rinsing each tray when you take it out, brushing it gently with a soft toothbrush (avoiding toothpaste, which can scratch the plastic), and storing it in its case whenever it’s not in your mouth all help keep your aligners clear and odor-free throughout treatment. It’s also worth building a habit of putting the aligner back in immediately after eating or brushing, since misplaced trays are one of the more common (and avoidable) causes of a delayed treatment timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Invisalign treatment usually take?
Treatment length depends on the complexity of your case, but many patients complete Invisalign treatment within about a year, with milder cases sometimes finishing sooner and more involved cases taking longer.
Does Invisalign hurt?
You may feel some pressure or mild soreness for a day or two after switching to a new tray, similar to the adjustment feeling with braces, but most patients find it far more comfortable day-to-day than traditional brackets and wires.
Can I still play sports or a musical instrument with Invisalign?
Yes — one of the advantages of Invisalign is that the aligners can be removed for activities where that’s more comfortable, though we generally recommend keeping them in as much as possible to stay on schedule.
Is Invisalign more expensive than braces?
Cost varies by case complexity for both options, and neither is consistently cheaper across the board. The best way to get an accurate comparison for your specific smile is a consultation with our team.
What happens if I lose or break an aligner?
Call our office as soon as possible. Depending on where you are in your treatment, we may have you move on to the next tray a bit early or have a replacement made so you don’t lose progress.
Can adults and teens both use the same type of Invisalign?
The core technology is the same, but treatment plans differ based on whether your teeth are fully in or still developing. We cover the specifics for younger patients in our guide to Invisalign for kids.
Do I need to see Dr. Aliu in person, or can Invisalign be planned virtually?
An initial in-person evaluation and iTero scan are typically needed to build an accurate plan, though our team also offers virtual consultation options for certain follow-up conversations.
If you’re curious whether Invisalign is the right fit for you or your child, we’d love to walk you through it. Schedule a consultation with Elite Orthodontics today.