Deciding to straighten your teeth involves a significant commitment to your oral health and self-confidence. Concerns about cost, time required, and the inconvenience may keep North Andover patients from pursuing clear aligner treatment. Fortunately, our doctors can help remove these barriers to care.
At Osgood Dentistry, we can complete your Invisalign treatment more quickly, at a lower cost, and with better results. Our average price is $1,500 lower than other area practices. We also require fewer check-in appointments than other practices, freeing more of your valuable time.
Our team guides you through every phase of the journey, ensuring you feel comfortable and informed from the very first appointment. We believe that understanding the road ahead eliminates anxiety and sets you up for success. If you are considering Invisalign® or clear aligners, we have prepared this comprehensive guide to walk you through the entire process, from that initial scan to the final reveal of your new smile.
Step 1: The Initial Consultation and Digital Assessment
The journey to a straighter smile begins with a comprehensive evaluation. We need to determine if clear aligners are the right tool to correct your specific orthodontic issues. While Invisalign treats a wide range of alignment problems—including overcrowding, gaps, overbites, and underbites—we must verify that your oral health is stable enough to begin movement.
Assessing Your Unique Needs
We examine your teeth, gums, and jaw structure during this visit. We look for signs of gum disease or untreated cavities that must be addressed before moving teeth. Moving teeth in the presence of active gum disease can cause complications, so we prioritize your foundational oral health above all else. This assessment ensures that your treatment rests on a solid, healthy foundation.
Advanced Digital Scanning
Gone are the days of messy, goopy putty impressions that make you gag. We use a high-tech intraoral scanner to capture a precise 3D digital image of your teeth. This comfortable wand creates a replica of your mouth in minutes. These digital impressions are far more accurate than traditional molds, allowing for better-fitting trays and more predictable results. We can even use this technology to show you a simulation of what your finished smile might look like before you even commit to the treatment.
Step 2: Custom Treatment Planning and Fabrication
Once we have your digital scans, the real magic begins behind the scenes. We send your data to the Invisalign laboratory, where advanced software helps us map out the movement of every single tooth. We customize every shift and rotation to design your ideal bite.
Mapping the Movement
We review a digital roadmap called a ClinCheck. This software video shows the step-by-step transformation of your smile from week one to the finish line. We adjust the plan to ensure the final result meets our high clinical standards. We calculate exactly how much force is required to move specific teeth and determine how many aligner trays you will need. This detailed planning phase eliminates guesswork, giving you a clear timeline for your treatment duration.
Manufacturing Your Aligners
After we finalize and approve the treatment plan, the laboratory fabricates your series of custom aligners. They use a proprietary medical-grade thermoplastic material called SmartTrack, specifically engineered to move teeth with constant, gentle force. Each set of aligners is slightly different from the last, designed to push your teeth incrementally toward their final positions. Once the trays arrive at our North Andover office, usually within a few weeks, we call you in to officially start your transformation.
Step 3: Living with Your Aligners
Receiving your first set of trays marks the active start of your treatment. We ensure the first set fits perfectly and teach you how to insert and remove them correctly. While the aligners are removable, compliance is critical to staying on track.
The 24-Hour Rule
Success depends heavily on your discipline. You must wear the aligners for 22 to 24 hours every day. Failing to wear them for the recommended time allows teeth to shift back, which can delay your progress or affect the fit of your next set of trays. We encourage patients to build a routine immediately, carrying a case and a toothbrush with them to make compliance easier at school or work.
Switching Your Trays
In our office and per Dr. Gharib’s latest training, you will switch to a new set of aligners every 5-7 days, depending on your movements and your specific plan. Each new set may cause mild pressure or tightness for the first day or two. This sensation is normal and actually indicates that the aligners are working to move your teeth. We schedule brief check-up appointments approximately every six to eight weeks to monitor your progress, ensure the teeth are tracking correctly, and hand you the next batch of aligners.
Achieving and Maintaining Your New Smile
Reaching the last tray in your series is an exciting milestone. We conduct a final evaluation to ensure every tooth has moved into its optimal position. We finish most cases in one round; occasionally, we may prescribe a few "refinement" trays to tweak any stubborn teeth that need just a little more movement to be perfect. Once we are satisfied with the alignment, the active movement phase ends, and the retention phase begins.
Retention is lifelong. We provide you with retainers that look very similar to your Invisalign trays but are made of a more durable material designed to hold teeth in place rather than move them. Without retainers, teeth naturally tend to drift back toward their original positions—a phenomenon known as orthodontic relapse. We typically recommend wearing retainers full-time for a short period, then transitioning to night-time wear indefinitely to protect your investment and keep your smile flawless.
Frequently Asked Questions About Invisalign and Clear Aligners
How do I clean my aligners properly?
Keeping your trays clean is vital for oral hygiene and clarity. We recommend rinsing them with lukewarm water every time you take them out. For a deeper clean, gently brush them with a soft toothbrush and clear liquid soap or use specialized cleaning crystals. You should avoid using hot water, which can warp the plastic, and stay away from abrasive toothpastes that can scratch the surface, making the aligners look cloudy and more visible.
Will the aligners affect my speech?
Some patients experience a slight lisp for the first few days after putting in their very first tray. This effect occurs because your tongue is adjusting to the presence of the plastic against the roof of your mouth. This effect is temporary. Your tongue adapts quickly, and most patients resume everyday speech within a few days. We suggest practicing by reading aloud or singing to help your speech return to normal faster.
We are a family-oriented dental practice in North Andover committed to providing compassionate, high-tech care for patients of all ages. Our team focuses on creating healthy, beautiful smiles through comprehensive services ranging from preventive care to advanced orthodontics. We do it better, quicker, and at less cost! If you are ready to explore your options for a straighter smile, please visit our website and contact us to schedule your consultation today.
