Gangnam Invisalign Treatment: An Actual Case of Consistent Wear Over 9 Months

Hello.

This is a dental clinic specializing in orthodontics in Gangnam.

Today, I would like to talk about Invisalign treatment.

With conventional braces, such as Clippy-C, it is important for the clinic to manage the appliances properly, but in many cases, patients mainly need to be careful about hard foods.

In contrast, Invisalign treatment is an orthodontic treatment in which the patient's cooperation significantly affects the treatment outcome.

The more consistently patients follow the recommended daily wear time and wear the aligners, the more accurately the planned tooth movements can be achieved.

Today, I would like to introduce an actual treatment case in which the patient wore the aligners very diligently and achieved a satisfactory result in approximately 9 months.

23.10~24.07

In contrast, patient cooperation is important for Invisalign treatment.

In short, treatment progresses well when the aligners are worn properly.

Today, I will share the 9-month treatment journey of a patient who wore the aligners diligently.

Q. Is wear time really important with Invisalign?

Yes.

Because Invisalign consists of clear orthodontic appliances that patients remove and put on themselves, it is very important to wear them for at least 20–22 hours a day.

If the wear time is insufficient,

• tooth movement may not proceed as planned,

• the aligners may not fit properly, and

• more additional aligners (refinement) may be needed, or the treatment period may become longer.

Conversely, consistently wearing the aligners as instructed increases the likelihood of achieving a predictable result.

This patient had an anterior crossbite, with the front teeth biting in reverse, and scissor bite involving a crowded premolar.

The patient first visited the clinic in October of last year for Invisalign treatment.

23.10

The dental midline was also misaligned by approximately 2 mm.

23.10

Invisalign Comprehensive was recommended.

23.10

23.10

We decided to treat the cavities visible in the photographs one by one during Invisalign treatment.

The patient also wanted the old amalgam restorations replaced with tooth-colored restorations, so we planned to carry out those treatments during the course of treatment.

It is not necessary to complete all cavity treatment before beginning Invisalign treatment.

Unless a cavity is extensive enough to require a crown, treatment with either composite resin or an inlay can be carried out at any point during orthodontic treatment.

However, crown treatment may significantly change the shape of the tooth, which could cause the Invisalign aligners not to fit properly.

This point must be discussed with the treating dentist.

24.03

This is how the teeth looked after wearing all 19 aligners in the first set, from November 2023, when the patient began wearing the aligners, through March 2024.

24.03

The patient wore the aligners consistently and properly, resulting in a good outcome.

24.03

However, because the upper lateral incisor did not sufficiently cover the lower front teeth and we wanted to further reduce the black triangles between the front teeth, we proceeded with the production of additional aligners.

After waiting about one month to receive the additional aligners, the patient wore them diligently for three months from February to July 2024.

24.07

As the additional aligner treatment was nearing completion, gum contouring was also performed to align the gum line indicated by the blue arrows.

From top to bottom: immediately before gum contouring, immediately afterward, and one week later.

24.07

And this month, the treatment was finally completed.

The black triangles were eliminated with the additional aligners.

24.07

The bite, which many patients are concerned about, is also good.

23.10~24.07

Cavity treatment and replacement of the old amalgam restorations were also carried out during treatment.

Q. Can cavities be treated during Invisalign treatment?

Yes.

Treatments that do not significantly change the shape of the teeth, such as composite resin or inlays, can also be performed during orthodontic treatment.

However, when the tooth shape changes substantially, as with crown treatment, the aligners may no longer fit properly. Therefore, it is important to plan the treatment sequence in advance.

23.10~24.07

A cleaner smile and smile line

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. How many hours a day should Invisalign be worn?

Generally, it is recommended to wear Invisalign for at least 20–22 hours a day.

Q. Can cavities be treated during Invisalign treatment?

Yes. Composite resin and inlay treatments can generally be performed alongside orthodontic treatment.

Q. Why are additional aligners (refinement) needed?

They are produced to fine-tune tooth movement and further improve the bite and aesthetics.

Q. How long does Invisalign treatment take?

The duration varies depending on the condition of the teeth. In this case, the actual aligner-wearing period was approximately 8 months, and the total treatment period, including the waiting time for aligner production, was approximately 9 months.

23.10~24.07

The angle of the front teeth is also good, without appearing flared or excessively tilted inward.

The patient first visited the clinic in October 2023, and treatment continued through July 2024. Excluding two one-month periods spent waiting for aligner production, the actual treatment period with the aligners was approximately 8 months.

I hope this is helpful to those considering Invisalign treatment.

#GangnamInvisalign