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A lot of people have heard of Invisalign before but do not know exactly how it works or what role the doctor plays in the process.
After the initial impressions are taken, the moulds are scanned and digitized. A technician creates a virtual sequence of tooth movement based on very specific instructions from the doctor. The technician is not an orthodontist or dentist and therefore requires direction from the doctor.
With each step in the sequence, teeth are moved very small amounts. Once the doctor approves the sequence, aligners are fabricated for each step. Therefore, when one puts on an aligner, there is pressure because certain teeth are being pushed into new positions set out in the aligner.
It is VERY important to realize that the tooth sequence that the doctor requests may be a fantasy or reality. Just because a tooth moves on a computer animation doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen in real life. Invisalign is simply a company that provides the doctor with plastic aligners. It is up to the orthodontist or dentist to know how to move teeth and create a sequence that is plausible.
It takes a significant knowledge of orthodontics, and in particular, Invisalign orthodontics, to know how to create a sequence of aligners that allow for predictable tooth movement. If you have any questions about Invisalign, please contact our Maple office.
