What is Invisalign treatment?

Invisalign treatment is the process of wearing a series of clear, removable aligners that gradually straighten your teeth. Unlike traditional braces, there are no brackets and wires, nor are there the same restrictions that usually come with fixed metal braces.

What are Invisalign aligners made of and what do they look like?

Invisalign clear aligners are made of flexible plastic — specifically, a patented thermoplastic material called SmartTrack® created exclusively for Invisalign treatment. They are FDA-approved and contain no BPA, BPS, latex, or gluten. They are thin, clear, and fit snugly over your teeth, making them virtually invisible.

How does the straightening process work?

I’ll create a unique, digital treatment plan that maps out the exact movements of your teeth. Your Invisalign clear aligners are then designed to apply the right amount of force to the right place at the right time based on your plan. We’ll check in every 8 weeks or so to monitor your progress and ensure your aligners are fitting as they should be.

How long does it take to straighten teeth using Invisalign aligners?

The length of your treatment plan depends on your requirements and will be discussed in your consultation. The average treatment is around 10-12 months, but could be anywhere from three months to two years. As your treatment progresses, you’ll need to replace your aligners every couple of weeks, and every 8 weeks we’ll catch up to review how your teeth are moving.

Who is Invisalign for?

Invisalign treatment can be a great solution for both adults and teens, and can be used to fix nearly all common teeth-straightening and bite issues.

What should I expect during my first consultation?

Your first consultation with me is free. Make a time to come in and see me at either the central Auckland Lumino clinic. There’s no need to bring anything with you. We’ll chat through whether Invisalign will be the right choice for you, your treatment options, limitations, the process and the costs involved. This is also your chance to ask any questions you may have.

How often will I change aligners?

I’ll tell you how often you should change to new aligners (this can vary based on your individual treatment plan). For the majority of patients, you’ll change your Invisalign clear aligners weekly or every other week.

How many hours per day do I need to wear my aligners?

Your Invisalign aligners should be worn 20 to 22 hours a day. You can remove them for eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing.

How much does Invisalign treatment cost?

I offer two price options - Invisalign Lite which is $4995 and Invisalign Full which is $7995. Payment plans are available, including 24 months interest free terms with Q Card.

Since having my braces removed, my teeth have shifted. Can Invisalign treatment fix this?

Yes, they can. I see many patients who have had braces previously who now choose Invisalign treatment as the discreet solution to improve their smile when they find that their teeth have shifted back.

I have veneers or crowns, will Invisalign work for me?

I’ll need to evaluate this on a case-by-case basis. Get in touch and we can discuss your individual requirements.

How do I get started?

Find out what’s involved, and whether Invisalign is the right choice for you with a FREE no-obligation consultation. Get in touch with us to book.

Jengira's Case Study

Jengira came to me unhappy with her smile – and in particular her canines which she felt were protruding and too prominent.
Jengira’s complaint is a very common one. Before embarking on any course of treatment plan the key thing to identify is not only what elements are detracting from the smile but also why are the teeth where they are in the first place. This can sometimes be quite complex but in Jengira’s case I felt the single biggest issue was the fact that the middle teeth sitting behind the canines were pulled in way too far. When this happens those teeth use up too much room in the mouth and in Jengira’s case it meant the canines had been pushed outwards and had never come down fully, as well as causing crowding around the front teeth. The other challenge when the canines are out of position is we often start to see chipping and wearing of some of the adjacent teeth.

So Jengira and I came up with a plan!

Bring the middle and back teeth out to where they should be to give us some room to work AND widen the smile so we get to see more than just the front six teeth.
Bring the lower front teeth down out of the way so the top front teeth have somewhere to live.
Bring the upper canines down and tidy up the crowding
Repair any chipped or worn teeth with bonding.

You can see Jengira’s results below!

Jengira's Results

Jengira did a fantastic job wearing her aligners consistently and in the end treatment took 14months to complete. We made an initial run of 38aligners which got us most of the way of there, we made another 18aligners after that to take care of a few stubborn teeth and to settle the bite in. Once the aligners were finished I tidied up the front teeth that had worn with a little bonding and we were done!
The main thing to remember when going to Invisalign consultations is to make sure that there are no additional fees for additional aligners (refinements) or tidying things up with a little bonding or whitening if required.