The virtually invisible aligners, which are made of a thermoplastic material uniquely developed for the Invisalign® treatment plan, look similar to teeth-whitening trays. A series of Invisalign® aligners are custom-made for you, to move your teeth in the sequence determined by your assigned dentist or orthodontist.
Over the course of treatment, you will be supplied with a series of aligners. Each aligner will make slight adjustments to tooth position, a process that is mapped out in advance by your assigned dentist or orthodontist, specifically for your situation. When the aligners are placed on the teeth, they cause the teeth to gradually shift from their current position. After 1-2 weeks, you will begin using the next set of aligners, which will continue the teeth straightening process.
Through the use of Invisalign's patented thermoplastic design, Invisalign aligners move your teeth through the appropriate placement of controlled force. The main difference is that Invisalign not only controls the force, but also the timing of the force application. During each stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move. These movements are determined by your assigned dentist or orthodontist as your unique Invisalign treatment plan is mapped out.
Invisalign® aligners are virtually invisible. No one may even notice that you're wearing them, making Invisalign® a seamless fit with your lifestyle. Invisalign® aligners are removable. For the best results and a timely outcome, aligners should be worn for 22 to 23 hours per day. However, unlike with braces, you have the flexibility to remove your aligners to eat and drink what you want during treatment. And you can also remove the aligners to brush and floss as you normally would, for fresh breath and good oral hygiene. There are no metal brackets or wires that could cause irritation to your mouth, an advantage over traditional braces. Since follow-up appointments are virtual, you'll be able to do so at your convenience. Peak Smiles allows you to view your virtual results and treatment plan before you start so you can see how your straight teeth may look when your treatment is complete. Instead of imagining how much better it can be, you'll be able to see it for yourself.
The length of treatment depends on the severity of your case and can only be determined by your assigned dentist or orthodontist; however, the average case takes about 3-12 months for adults. The length of time necessary for a teen may be even less.
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We find that aligners are most effective when worn 22 to 23 hours per day and removed only for eating major meals, brushing and flossing. They can be left on for all drinks and even snacking!
No office visits are required! We will arrange Virtual Follow-up appointments every 8-12 weeks, either online or with the MyInvisalign App. The goal of these follow-up virtual appointments is to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
While Invisalign® moves your teeth without the pain and anxiety metal braces can cause, some people experience temporary discomfort for a few days at the beginning of each new stage of treatment. This is normal and is typically described as a feeling of pressure. It's also a sign that Invisalign® is working, as they continue to move your teeth to their final destination. This discomfort typically goes away in a couple of days.
No. The aligners must be in place a minimum of 22 to 23 hours a day for the treatment to be effective. Teeth require slow, steady pressure to obtain predicted tooth movements. Wearing the aligners far less will extend treatment time significantly
Similar to other orthodontic treatments, Invisalign aligners may temporarily affect the speech of some people, and you may have a slight lisp for a day or two. However, as your tongue gets used to having aligners in your mouth, any lisp caused by the aligners should disappear.
No. Thanks to the removable nature of the aligners, you can eat and drink whatever you want while in treatment. In fact, you're required to remove your aligners to eat but may be kept on your teeth for most drinks. So, unlike undergoing traditional treatment using wires and brackets, there is no need to restrict your consumption of any of your favorite foods and snacks unless you are instructed otherwise. Also, it is important that you rinse your mouth, chew sugarless gum or brush your teeth after each meal and prior to reinserting your aligners to maintain fresh breath and proper hygiene.
We discourage smoking while wearing aligners because it is possible for the aligners to become discoloured.
Because of the high sugar content in alcohol, a moderate amount would be fine to consume, as long as care is taken to clean the teeth and the aligners soon after so as not to trap sugar between them. The same applies for any sugary beverage.
No, gum will stick to the aligners. We recommend removing your aligners for all major meals. The ideal time to chew gum would be just before placing the aligners back in.
We find that aligners are most effective when worn 22 to 23 hours per day and removed only for eating, brushing and flossing.
We will recommend virtual follow-up appointments every 8-12 weeks, either online or with the MyInvisalign® App. The goal of these follow-ups is to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned, that the aligners are fitting well.
It is very unlikely that your aligners would ever fall out, no matter what you were doing at the time: sleeping, talking, laughing, etc. The aligners are designed to fit firmly on the teeth, so this should not be a cause for concern.
Well over 14 million people worldwide have been treated with Invisalign.
The virtually invisible aligners, which are made of a thermoplastic material uniquely developed for the Invisalign treatment plan, look similar to teeth whitening trays. They are stiffer and thinner than teeth whitening trays. A series of Invisalign aligners are custom-made for you, to move your teeth in the sequence determined by your assigned dentist or orthodontist.
No. Invisalign® aligners, Invisalign® Retainers and Vivera Retainers do not contain Bisphenol-A or phthalate plasticizers. These aligners and retainers are made with USP Class VI medical-grade, high molecular weight, polyurethane resins. Tests have been conducted to determine the biocompatibility of these materials, and show that they are biocompatible and pass all applicable regulatory requirements and thresholds for human wear in the mouth.
Invisalign is a trusted company with 25+ years experience.
Align Technology, Inc., the company that manufactures Invisalign, was founded in 1997. Align Corporation entered Canada in 2002.
Invisalign aligners are classified as Class II medical devices by the FDA, and Align
Technology, Inc., received the necessary 510K clearance from the FDA to be able to sell and market the Invisalign system in 1998
Invisalign® is appropriate for pre-teens, teens and adults who have shed most or all of their baby teeth and have most or all of their permanent teeth in place. Customers as young as 11 year old have completed Invisalign® treatment.
Your aligners can be cleaned by brushing them and rinsing them in cold water. Retainer Brite Tablets or other cleaning tablets are also great at removing a build-up of food debris or stains on the internal aspect of the aligners.
Once active treatment has been completed, Invisalign Retainers or Vivera Retainers, both made by Invisalign would be the best solution for Clear Retainers that can be worn to prevent teeth from moving out of alignment.
Both modern clear aligners and traditional wire and brackets straighten teeth, but there are some key differences between the two options.
Please click on the following link to view a chart designed to help you understand those differences to help you make the best decision about your orthodontic care.
At Peak Smiles, we use Invisalign® exclusively as a modality to straighten teeth. Treatment with the dentist providing traditional braces or another dentist would have to remove the brackets and wires in order to begin Invisalign® Treatment with Peak Smiles.
Yes! Invisalign with Peak Smiles is a perfect solution to correct the alignment of teeth for people that have undergone previous treatment with traditional braces at some point in their past, often during their youth. Adults can have treatment with Invisalign without having to go through the trauma and social awkwardness of wearing metal braces.
If the veneers, crowns and all other restorations are intact, then Invisalign may be used to correct the alignment of the teeth by moving the teeth that have these restorations.
Because bridgework involves the connection of a tooth to surrounding teeth, it would be difficult for the aligners to work effectively for that specific area. Since implants are fused to the underlying bone, these areas cannot be moved either. The aligners are designed to move individual teeth, following the exact movements planned with your custom-made aligners.
We know cost is a big question for anyone considering orthodontic treatment. Our fees range from $3495-$4995 CAD and in most cases, Invisalign® treatment with Peak Smiles is less expensive than traditional braces at Orthodontists and General Dentists & less expensive than Invisalign®treatment at other Dental Offices. Visit Paying For Treatment for all the info on the cost of Invisalign®.
Because dental benefits differ significantly from policy to policy, you should review your personal coverage plan. However, in general, if a person has orthodontic coverage, Invisalign® should be covered to the same extent as conventional braces. A quick call to your insurance company can usually obtain the answer about coverage. Visit our Insurance page on our website for more information.
Visit Paying For Treatment for all the options available to pay for treatment. With PEAKpay, Peak Smiles offers flexible and affordable monthly payment plans as low as $3-5/day. This financing is through LendCare. Designed for dental treatment, the use of third-party financing programs can make it easier for you to get the treatment for procedures you want and need. Learn more about PEAKpay.