Your clear aligner treatment is like an adventure, sprinkled with regular visits to an orthodontist and continuous progress monitoring. This very same adventure leads you to the ultimate destination: A powerful, confident smile. Like most things in life, achieving this goal doesn’t happen overnight. This is why Griffin & Errera Orthodontics places a high priority on monitoring the progress of your clear aligner trays.
Don’t worry, though, because after reading this guide, you’ll know how to stay on top of your Invisalign treatment.
The Importance of Monitoring Progress With Clear Aligner Trays
By tracking your progress, you give our orthodontists, Dr. Griffin and Dr. Errera, an idea of how far your teeth and jaw have come since the start of your treatment. This allows them to make the necessary adjustments to your treatment in case of potential complications and issues.
Progress tracking also teaches you the value of accountability, compliance, and consistency. As Invisalign treatment involves a series of visits to an orthodontist, it’s your responsibility to follow through with your appointments and abide by our instructions. All these are critical to the success of your treatment.
What Are the Signs of Progress?
Just because treatment takes months or years doesn’t mean there’s no progress being made. Below are two signs that your clear aligner treatment is working:
1. Your Aligners Become Slightly Loose
With the aligners fitting snugly on your teeth on the first week of treatment, you temporarily experience a little pain and pressure as the aligners gradually align your teeth. But what if they’re starting to get loose by the second or this week? Believe it or not, it’s normal.
When this happens, it’s because your teeth start to shift and align properly — which means your treatment is working as planned.
2. You Notice Changes in Your Teeth
We understand the need for our patients in Culpeper, Middleburg, and Warrenton to see tangible results. Take a good look at yourself in the mirror and smile. Are your pearly whites more aligned? Have the gaps between your teeth started to close? Does your mouth look less crowded? If so, then your clear aligners are doing their job, and you are on your way to getting your dream smile.
Overall, these signs function as the “checkpoints” or “milestones” of your treatment. However — if you experience prolonged pain and discomfort during the treatment — we recommend scheduling an appointment with Dr. Griffin or Dr. Errera.
4 Ways to Track Your Progress With Clear Aligners
There’s no right or wrong way of tracking your progress with clear aligners. But if you’re looking for ideas, our team shares four progress-monitoring hacks:
1. Journaling
Your journal no longer houses your deepest, darkest secrets. Now, it becomes a treasure trove of your progress with your clear aligner trays. In your journal, you can add pictures of your teeth in the first, second, and third weeks of treatment and write a short caption for each one. Be sure to include the dates, as well.
This journal, therefore, serves as a reminder of your determination to push through with the treatment despite your busy schedule. While it takes more work and effort, keeping a journal is a great way to immortalize your treatment progress in a creative manner.
2. Mobile Applications
Technology makes progress tracking easier than ever before. Some clear aligner brands, like Invisalign, offer a mobile app to monitor the progress of their treatment. In general, these apps enable you to do the following from your fingertips:
- Upload selfies to compare teeth movement during treatment.
- Enable and set notifications for when you should replace your aligners.
- Access information about your clear aligner treatment plan.
3. Regular Appointments
An appointment is a foolproof way of monitoring your progress with your clear aligner trays. At Griffin & Errera Orthodontics, we recommend seeing our orthodontists every 6 to 12 weeks so we can check the current alignment of your teeth and provide feedback on your treatment progress.
4. 3D Scans
3D scanning is one of the most significant advancements in orthodontics. This technology enables orthodontists to take photos of your teeth and mouth in a few seconds, faster than X-rays and impression clay molds.
These scanned images allow orthodontists to conduct a holistic assessment of your teeth and provide accurate progress photos of your treatment, giving you a sense of satisfaction.
Check-in Your Progress With Us
Clear aligners are a symbol of your determination and commitment to your orthodontic journey. At first, it may seem that there’s no progress at all with your treatment. But over time, you’ll see that you’re getting closer to a healthier and more beautiful smile.
If you want to start your Invisalign treatment today, contact our team and schedule a free consultation. We’re ready to help you get the smile you’ve always dreamed of!