At Christian Manley Orthodontics, we will help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted with clear aligner trays. Aside from offering reliable Invisalign aligners, we’d also walk you through your treatment so you can take better care of yourself. We’re often asked, “How do you monitor progress while using clear aligner trays?”
Taking a more active role in your treatment makes the experience more rewarding. So, check out Dr. Manley’s tips for self-tracking your Invisalign progress.
Take a Quick Assessment of Yourself
The simple way to check your progress is to take a quick break and check yourself. Whether you’ve just woken up or freshening up after a meal, you can take a minute or two to check the following visual cues:
- Your Teeth Are Changing Positions
Invisalign clear aligners work by using clear trays to gradually nudge your teeth into a targeted position, often in preparation for the next set, until you complete your treatment. See if your teeth have changed position compared to when you first started your treatment.
At the start of your treatment with Manley Orthodontics, Dr. Christian Manley will use modern technology to create a full 3D model of your mouth. This includes a photo of your smile, which you can use as a reference. Gaps between teeth get smaller and crowded teeth now have enough space between them.
- The Invisalign Trays Leave Gaps
Clear aligner trays are designed to fit each of your teeth precisely. Check for spaces or gaps between the aligner tray and your teeth when you put on your Invisalign. Check if there’s still a bit of space or if the aligners are moving. If this happens, call us or drop by our offices in Sammamish and Issaquah so we can make adjustments.
Improper fit happens for different reasons. Your teeth might be responding to the treatment at a different rate than we first expected, or you simply miss your recommended wear time. Either way, it’s an early warning sign we can easily correct, so there’s no need to worry.
- Your Aligners Feel Too Tight
Getting on an Invisalign treatment can make you get used to a degree of discomfort. After all, constant pressure is applied to your teeth to get them moving. However, if you start feeling pain beyond the usual, especially when you put on your aligner trays, it might be a red flag.
The opposite of loose aligners, feeling excessive tightness in your aligners signals your teeth aren’t keeping up with your Invisalign trays. Corrective action is necessary to prevent further problems down the line.
By incorporating these pointers into your daily routine, you can easily confirm that your teeth are changing and the treatment is working. If you’re looking to document your journey, we also have a couple of recommendations below.
Keeping a Record of Your Daily Activities
Some people are keen to keep a written or photographic record of their Invisalign clear aligner treatment. While it requires additional effort and commitment, recorded progress tracking gives you something to look back on — especially once you’ve completed your treatment.
There are two basic activities you can take note of. First, keep notes of your daily wear time. Dr. Manley recommends wearing your clear aligners for at least 22 hours a day. You can take them off when you’re eating or on special occasions. However, missing a lot of your wear time can cause your treatment to get thrown off course.
The next one is keeping a photo diary. Since Invisalign aligners work gradually, it can be challenging to see the changes. By taking a photo of your smile, you can make day-to-day comparisons on how your aligners fix your smile.
Use Apps to Make Tracking Easier
Tracking progress has become a lot easier, thanks to specialized apps intended for clear aligner trays. Since Dr. Manley is a Diamond Plus Invisalign provider, he recommends using the My Invisalign app. Aside from basic monitoring capabilities, it also streamlines how Manley Orthodontics supports your treatment with the following features:
- Invisalign SmileView: This self-guided tool lets you visualize how your smile would look after your clear aligner treatment.
- Find a Doctor: This uses modern navigation features to help you find licensed Invisalign providers, such as Manley Orthodontics and our offices in Sammamish and Issaquah in Washington State.
- Insurance Verification: This makes it easier to check your insurance coverage and see how much of your Invisalign treatment is covered.
- ClinCheck: This is a secure platform that lets Dr. Manley share your treatment plan with you, allowing you to access files and models to aid you in self-monitoring.
- Cleaning Tips: As the official app for the clear aligner brand, the app offers cleaning and maintenance tips you can trust.
Depending on your preference, you can also explore other apps for monitoring clear aligner tray usage. You have TrayMinder, Smile Track’s Aligner Tracker, or Straight Teeth Direct. With My Invisalign, however, we can easily check up on your treatment without having to book an appointment.
Achieve That Rewarding Aligner Experience Today
By regularly tracking your daily usage of Invisalign clear aligners, you can make the journey as enjoyable and as rewarding as the destination. If you’re ready to start this straightening treatment, schedule your free consultation with Manley Orthodontics, and we’ll be with you every step of the way.