The first step toward a straighter smile with Invisalign is a detailed consultation designed to gather information and establish a clear path forward. This initial appointment is a planning session, not the day you receive your aligners or begin active treatment. The purpose of this visit is to confirm that the clear alignment system is the right choice for your specific needs and to create the precise digital blueprint for your custom-made aligners.
Setting Goals and Assessing Oral Health
The initial part of your consultation involves a detailed conversation with your doctor about your desired smile outcome and any current alignment concerns. This discussion focuses on the specific changes you hope to achieve and helps the doctor understand your lifestyle and expectations for treatment.
Following this discussion, the doctor will conduct a thorough clinical examination of your teeth, gums, and bite. This physical assessment is performed to ensure the overall health of your mouth is suitable for starting orthodontic movement. The doctor checks for underlying issues, such as untreated cavities, gum disease, or existing dental restorations that might need attention before aligner therapy can begin. Determining suitability involves confirming the teeth and supporting structures are healthy enough to undergo the controlled forces of tooth movement.
Capturing Your Digital Smile Blueprint
Once suitability for treatment is confirmed, the next stage involves capturing the precise measurements of your mouth to create a personalized treatment plan. This process relies on advanced technology to move beyond the messy, traditional putty impressions. The most common tool used is the iTero Element scanner, a handheld wand that painlessly takes thousands of images per second to create a highly accurate, three-dimensional digital model of your teeth and bite.
This digital impression is significantly more accurate than conventional molds, ensuring the resulting aligners will fit perfectly and comfortably. In addition to the 3D scan, the doctor will take clinical photographs of your face and teeth, capturing different angles of your smile and bite. Panoramic and cephalometric X-rays are also typically taken, providing a comprehensive view of underlying structures. Panoramic X-rays show the entire jaw and roots, while cephalometric X-rays capture a side-view image to analyze the relationship between your teeth, jawbone, and facial profile.
Reviewing the Treatment Plan and Next Steps
The collected diagnostic data is then used to create the ClinCheck simulation, a virtual, animated visualization of your teeth moving from their current position to the final desired alignment. This simulation allows the doctor to virtually map out every tooth movement, attachment placement, and necessary adjustment for the duration of the therapy. You will have the opportunity to review this animated preview, which visually demonstrates the expected result and the specific stages of movement.
This consultation also includes a detailed discussion of the logistical and financial commitment required for treatment. The doctor will outline the projected length of treatment, which can vary widely depending on the complexity of the case, often ranging from six to 22 months. You will also receive a comprehensive breakdown of the total treatment cost, which covers the aligners, office visits, and retainers.
A financial coordinator will review various payment options, including in-house financing plans and third-party payment solutions. Insurance verification is also completed to determine if your dental plan provides coverage for orthodontic treatment. Once you approve the ClinCheck plan and financial arrangements are finalized, the data is sent to the lab for the custom fabrication of your aligners. This fabrication process takes time, meaning you will return in approximately three to four weeks for your second appointment, where the aligners will be fitted and treatment will officially begin.