In an ideal situation, you would see a dramatically improved, perfectly aligned smile in just a few months with Invisalign. These clear aligners offer a more subtle and flexible way to straighten teeth. You should know from the start of treatment that orthodontists must make adjustments to their aligner cases to keep smiles on track. If you’ve been recommended for Invisalign refinements, keep reading to learn more about what they are and why they’re the best solution to ensure successful and beautiful results.
What Are Invisalign Refinements?
When your teeth are not moving according to plan or you’ve reached the end of your current batch of clear aligners, your orthodontist may recommend Invisalign refinements.
These small adjustments make it possible for your teeth to be set on the right track and are achievable with the help of extra trays. During your follow-up appointments, your smile will be examined to determine if any changes need to be made. If so, Invisalign refinement aligners, which look, feel and function the same as regular aligners, will be tailor-made to address the particular problem at hand.
Most clear aligner cases require refinements. Dr. Ben includes the timing of refinement aligners into his initial estimate of total treatment time.
What Can Cause a Delay in Treatment?
Each patient is different. If you are abiding by the required 22 hours of daily wear and swapping out your trays every 1-2 weeks, there is a good chance that everything will move along smoothly and without complication. However, if you are not wearing your aligners for 22 hours per day, or you have lost or damaged one or more of your trays along the way, additional trays will likely be required to keep your teeth moving in the right direction.
In many cases, Invisalign refinements are recommended because teeth are not moving as they should. Even if you’re following all the directions, some things remain out of your control, and this is when additional trays can become essential.
Any amount of crowding at the case start will make the initial digital scan of your teeth less accurate. As teeth align, surfaces of the teeth that were previously obscured from the scanner because they were crowded will be visible. Therefore, future scans of the teeth (for refinements) are more accurate and teeth will track better in refinement. The degree of initial crowding is a common reason that a refinement will be desired.
Although you may feel as if it is your fault that you need Invisalign refinements, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Whether it is an illness that keeps you from wearing your trays accordingly, a significant amount of initial crowding or a few teeth that do not want to move at the same rate as others, these mid-treatment corrections will ensure successful results when all is said and done.
About the Practice
Grayslake Orthodontics is a family-friendly practice that is committed to delivering exceptional results with the help of traditional orthodontics, clear aligners, dentofacial orthopedics, oral appliances, and even special needs orthodontics. Offering Invisalign clear aligners as an effective and subtle way to straighten teeth, we also provide refinements that help patients keep their smiles on track when teeth do not want to move. Visit our website or call us at (847) 548-4330 to learn how we can help you achieve a straighter smile.
