Invisalign treatment and Vivera retainers FAQ

Invisalign treatment can be a great solution for adult, teens and children looking for a virtually invisible method to improve their smile. Our innovations and technological advancements make it possible to fix nearly all common teeth-straightening and bite issues, from simple to complex — all without interrupting your busy life. And, thanks to a discreet blue dot on the outside of teen aligners, parents can be sure their child is wearing their clear aligners enough. 

Invisalign treatment starts with a consultation with an Invisalign-trained doctor. Your Invisalign Doctor will evaluate your smile and then map out a precise, customised digital treatment plan that showcases the step-by-step transformation of your smile. 

Once you approve your plan, your unique aligners will be created. You will wear each set of aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day, changing to a new set of aligners every 1 to 2 weeks, as directed by your Invisalign Doctor. Each set of aligners will gently and gradually shift your teeth into place, according to your treatment plan, towards your beautiful new smile. 

Our Smile Concierge Team can help you make an appointment with an Invisalign-trained Doctor near you. You can also find an Invisalign-trained Doctor near you using our online locator. 

Some Invisalign doctors offer free initial consultations. Please contact your chosen Invisalign doctor directly to see if this is something they offer.

The Smile Concierge Team is a friendly squad, here to help make getting started with Invisalign treatment even easier. They can help you schedule a consultation and find an Invisalign-trained Doctor near you. 

Many orthodontists and dentists are Invisalign-trained Doctors, but not all are. Orthodontists and dentists who want to offer Invisalign treatment must complete specialised training. 

Our Smile Concierge Team can help you find an Invisalign-trained Doctor near you or you can use our online locator. 

Bring your questions (we’ve got a list to get you started here). You should also bring any information you might have about your dental history. 

During your consultation, your Invisalign Doctor will discuss your teeth-straightening goals with you and examine your smile in order to determine your specific needs. Your Invisalign Doctor may also talk to you about how quickly you could reach your new smile, as well as your individual treatment cost. 

Your Invisalign Doctor will most likely recommend scheduling a dental check-up and cleaning before you begin Invisalign treatment, to make sure your teeth and gums are in top health and to avoid unnecessary risks. 

They may also take x-rays as part of your treatment planning.

The length of treatment depends on multiple factors, like how complex your case is and how often you wear your aligners.Your Invisalign Doctor will determine exactly how long your treatment could take based on your specific needs, but you could start seeing changes in as little as 6 months¹.

Your Invisalign Doctor will tell you how often you should change to new Invisalign aligners (this can vary based on your individual treatment plan). Many Invisalign Doctors recommend changing Invisalign clear aligners weekly or every other week. 

For the best results, wear your Invisalign clear aligners 20 to 22 hours a day, taking them out just for eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing. 

Your Invisalign Doctor will schedule regular appointments, usually about once every four to six weeks or as clinically required. The goal of these visits is to ensure your Invisalign treatment is progressing as planned. 

Your Invisalign treatment may require SmartForce attachments, small tooth-coloured shapes that are attached to your teeth. 

These shapes serve as handles, giving the aligners something to gently push on in order to move your teeth with the right amount of force, and are what make complex tooth movements possible without braces. Invisalign clear aligners fit smoothly and tightly around them, so they’re barely noticeable. 

While not everyone who uses Invisalign clear aligners will need SmartForce attachments, if you need them, your Invisalign Doctor will attach them to your teeth at the start of or during your treatment and remove them when they are no longer needed. 

In short, yes. Retainers prevent teeth from gradually shifting back toward their initial position after braces, Invisalign treatment or other clear aligner treatments. The right retainers and retainer maintenance can protect the investment you’ve made in your smile and save you money in the long run.

Yes! Vivera retainers are designed to maintain teeth that have been aligned by metal braces, Invisalign aligners, and other clear aligners alike! Vivera retainers can also accommodate lingual bars/wires (also known as a permanent or fixed retainer), missing teeth that require an artificial tooth, and bite ramps (also known as turbos or blocks). Ask your Vivera Provider if Vivera retainers are right for you.

Cost for Vivera retainers can vary depending on your Vivera provider. Vivera retainers can either come as a single retainer pack or a three set retainer pack. If you do choose to purchase the three set pack, you may save on the cost of each set, and you'll always have a set handy when you need it. Ask your Vivera provider about pricing. 

They can be. It depends on your Vivera provider and specific situation – talk to your provider to understand how cost works.

Our Smile Concierge Team can help you make an appointment with a Vivera provider near you and answer any additional questions. Many doctors offer free initial consultations. For the best experience, take the time to find the right provider for you — someone who makes you feel comfortable and has the experience you’re looking for.

Many orthodontists and dentists offer Vivera retainers, but not all do. Our Smile Concierge Team can help you find a Vivera provider near you.

All Vivera retainers are custom-fit to maximise comfort and results. Ask your Vivera provider about getting a digital scan to be fitted for Vivera retainers.

You can order Vivera retainers through your Vivera provider so that you have a retainer that is custom designed to fit you.

Talk to your Vivera provider about specific care instructions, but we typically recommend using a soft bristle toothbrush with water or a small amount of toothpaste. Rinse each retainer thoroughly with water after each cleaning.

Consult your Vivera provider for specific guidance, but like most retainers, Vivera retainers should be replaced after a period of use. In general, whenever your retainers look cracked, damaged or are showing signs of breakage, it’s time to switch to a fresh new set.

If you lose, break, or simply run out of your last set of Vivera retainers, just get in touch with your Vivera provider to help you purchase a new set of Vivera retainers, so you can keep showing off that smile!

If you decide to purchase a three set retainer pack, you can simply switch into your next Vivera retainer. However, if you only have one Vivera set or you lose or break your last retainer, please get in touch with your Vivera provider to help you purchase a new set of Vivera retainers.

Ultimately, retention protocols are prescribed by the Vivera provider and can be different for your unique conditions and treatment plan. Your provider will give you specific instructions on how often you need to wear your retainers. An example protocol might include wearing the first set full time, then based on the provider’s recommendation gradually reducing until retainers are only worn at night or even a few nights per week.

Yes! Vivera retainers are custom-fit to every smile and work for adults, teens, and little smiles alike.

Absolutely! Vivera retainers can work for people who have had a wide variety of treatments, including metal braces, Invisalign and other clear aligners.

We know you’ve been through a lot to get here, but because teeth continue to shift throughout life, experts are saying retention is for life. The right retainer and retainer routine will prevent your child’s teeth from shifting back over time and having to start over on braces or aligners. Vivera retainers will help you protect the investment you made in your child’s smile.

Yes! Vivera retainers are custom-fit to every smile, and work for adults, teens, and little smiles alike. Plus, they’re virtually invisible and custom-fit for comfort so they won’t get in your way.

Ask your Vivera provider about your specific retainer protocol, but we get it – we’re striving for consistency over years, not perfection. No need to panic if you’ve missed a night, just do your best to stick with the plan your provider prescribed! In some cases, your provider might even recommend moving to a few nights per week for the long haul to keep your smile looking great.

Yes. Teeth continue to shift over time, so doctors are saying retention is for life. The right retainer and retainer routine will protect the investment you’ve made in your smile so you won’t have to start over with braces or aligners.

Talk to your Vivera provider about what you need to do to protect your smile. If you don’t currently have a provider, get in touch with our Smile Concierge, and a member of our team will help you choose a provider in your area and set up a consultation.

Shifting happens, especially if you’ve lapsed with retention. Talk to your Vivera provider to evaluate your options. If you don’t currently have a provider, get in touch with our Smile Concierge, and a member of our team will help you choose a provider in your area and set up a consultation.

Specific training is required to provide Invisalign treatment, and both Invisalign-trained dentists and specialist orthodontists have completed this training. The difference is that an orthodontist is a dental specialist who has spent 3 or more additional years in an advanced, intensive educational program and only practices orthodontics. A general dentist performs general dentistry including but not limited to check-ups, cleanings and fillings. Some dentists also practice orthodontics.

You don’t need a referral to go to an orthodontist, but sometimes your dentist may give you one if they think you need specialist orthodontic treatment. Similarly, an orthodontist may refer you to a dentist if you need general dental work or a tooth extraction to complement the orthodontic work.

When a doctor decides to provide Invisalign treatment, they undergo Invisalign training. The Invisalign provider training course is offered to those who have their dental practitioner qualification certificate and want to provide Invisalign treatment. This training is not a certification or warranty of a practitioner’s dental license or an endorsement of a practitioner’s dental or orthodontic skills. Once a practitioner completes the Invisalign provider training course, they can provide Invisalign treatment. However, the practitioner remains fully in control of, and responsible for, their treatment decisions. This includes designing a suitable treatment plan (including the predicted tooth movements) and prescribing a series of customised Invisalign aligners specifically to match a particular patient’s treatment plan.

The Invisalign volume-based tier designations (e.g. Platinum Elite (PE), Platinum (P), Diamond (D) and Black Diamond (BD) are based on the number of historical Invisalign cases that a provider has submitted over a defined period of time. The tier system does not represent a doctor’s clinical experience or clinical skills in orthodontic treatment. The Invisalign provider tier level designations are not recognised as specialty areas by any applicable dental associations and have no relevance to a practitioner’s dental or orthodontic skill, or a particular treatment outcome. An Invisalign provider’s Invisalign volume-based tier designation is simply a tool that a patient can use for considering a practitioner’s experience with Invisalign treatment. You should always make your own judgement in selecting a practice and provider to start your Invisalign treatment. It should also be noted that the clinical outcome from Invisalign treatment to is based on a lot of different factors that can include the condition of your teeth, compliance, the treatment plan, and the doctor’s orthodontic experience.

Since Invisalign treatment is customised to you, pricing and terms are set by each doctor. As you change doctors, you will need to settle your account with your current doctor and let them know you would like to make a change. Be sure to ask the new clinic what to expect when you are in treatment. If you’re about to start treatment, but think it’s likely you may have to switch doctors (for example, if you’re moving homes or in the military), coming to an agreement up front with your doctor regarding costs and payment schedules is a good idea.

Please see here for a list of Invisalign-trained doctors in your area. Invisalign-trained doctors who have completed our training will receive a certificate for the course completion that you can look out for in the clinic. Find Invisalign-trained doctors in your area.

The length of your treatment will depend on your specific needs and will be determined by your Invisalign-trained doctor. Some Invisalign treatments can be completed in as little as 4 months, but depending on the complexity of your case your Invisalign treatment could take longer, with treatment times often ranging between 12 and 18 months. 

You should wear each aligner for 20 to 22 hours a day during your treatment for best results and a timely outcome.

You will visit your Invisalign-trained doctor for a check-up approximately every 6-8 weeks or as clinically required to see how your treatment is progressing. During your check-ups, your Invisalign-trained doctor will check that the aligners are fitting well and make any adjustments if necessary.

You’ll be provided with enough aligners to last between visits to your doctor (usually 3-4 sets at a time). Your doctor will review your progress every 6-8 weeks or as clinically required and new aligners will be given to you at these appointments. It’s best to speak to your doctor about how many aligners you will be provided with between visits.

In most cases, one aligner case is included in your patient starter kit.

Patients who are being treated with mandibular advancement will receive two aligner cases as part of their patient starter kit.

You will usually change your aligners every 2 weeks. However, please follow your Invisalign-trained doctor’s specific instructions regarding when you need to change your aligners as this may vary between patients.

Costs vary from doctor to doctor and may be dependent on the complexity of your case and your course of treatment. Please speak to an Invisalign-trained doctor to get a more accurate cost estimate of your treatment. For more information about how much Invisalign treatment will cost, try our cost calculator.

Consultation fees vary from doctor to doctor. Some may offer free initial assessment while other may charge a fee. It’s best to check with an Invisalign-trained doctor for further details regarding fees. Find out more information about the cost of Invisalign treatment.

Individual treating doctors may offer differing payment plans that may not require the full amount to be paid up front. Please ask your Invisalign-trained doctor for his or her payment policy. You can find out more information about how much Invisalign treatment might cost you by using our cost calculator.

The cost for Invisalign treatment is based upon the consultation needed, is patient specific and will also depend on the Invisalign treatment needed. Your Invisalign-trained doctor will be able to provide a more accurate price guideline.

If your insurance policy has orthodontic coverage, Invisalign treatment could be covered to a similar extent as conventional braces. However, as medical benefits differ significantly from policy to policy, it’ll be safer to check with your health insurance provider. Find out more information about how much Invisalign treatment will cost.

Costs vary from doctor to doctor and may be dependent on the complexity of your case and your course of treatment. However, the cost of Invisalign treatment may be comparative to that of other alignment procedures. Please speak to your doctor about the comparative cost of treatment. You may also want to consider other treatment-related factors like effectiveness, aesthetics during treatment, duration of treatment, comfort and convenience, to determine the most appropriate treatment for you.

You should wear each aligner for 20 to 22 hours a day during your treatment for best results and a timely outcome.

No, you can usually eat what you want while in treatment because the Invisalign aligners are removed when eating or drinking. Thus, there’s no need to refrain from your favourite foods and drinks unless instructed by your doctor. However, it’s recommended that you floss and brush your teeth after each meal and prior to re-inserting your aligners to maintain proper oral hygiene.

Except for cool water, we recommend that you don’t drink while wearing the aligners. This is to avoid cavities and stains forming on your teeth, or warping your aligners with hot beverages.

You should remove your aligners to consume anything except for water. Leaving aligners on while drinking may stain them and you may risk developing tooth decay while consuming fluids with sugar in them.

We don’t encourage smoking while wearing aligners because it’s possible for them to become discoloured.

You should not chew gum while wearing your aligners as the gum may stick to the aligners. We recommend removing your aligners for all meals and snacks, including chewing gum.

It’s very unlikely that your aligners will ever fall out, no matter what you’re doing at the time (whether it’s sleeping, talking or laughing). Invisalign aligners are designed to fit firmly on the teeth so this should not be a cause for concern.

Similar to other orthodontic treatments, the Invisalign aligners may temporarily affect the speech of some people for a day or two. However, as your tongue gets used to having aligners in your mouth, any misarticulation or minor speech impediment caused by the aligners should disappear. Please speak to your doctor about ways to help you get used to your aligners more quickly.

It’s important that you follow the treatment plan developed by your doctor to ensure the best outcome. Your doctor will determine the recommended treatment duration for you depending on several considerations, including the spacing between your teeth and the need for retention.

Invisalign treatment is available in more than 100 countries worldwide, and you can transfer your Invisalign treatment to another Invisalign-trained doctor to continue your treatment. Please speak to your current Invisalign-trained doctor about the process.

The aligners are made of non-toxic, medical-grade plastic and can be worn during pregnancy. If you’re concerned, please consult your healthcare professional.

While Invisalign treatment may move your teeth without the pain and anxiety of other straightening methods, some people might experience temporary, minor discomfort for a few days at the beginning of each new stage of treatment. This is normal and is typically described as a feeling of pressure. It's a sign that the Invisalign aligners are sequentially moving your teeth to their final positions. This discomfort usually goes away a couple of days after you insert the new aligner in the series.

If you notice a sharp pain or have significant discomfort, stop using the aligners and contact your Invisalign-trained doctor.

 

Invisalign treatment is contraindicated in patients with active periodontal disease. If you have periodontal (gum) disease, you should consult your doctor before undergoing Invisalign treatment.

Warnings with Invisalign treatment include:

In rare instances, some patients may be allergic to the aligner material. If this occurs, discontinue use and speak to a healthcare professional immediately.

In rare instances, patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE), a genetic disorder, may experience rapid local swelling of tissues including the larynx. This may be triggered by mild stimuli including dental procedures. If this occurs, discontinue use and speak to a healthcare professional immediately.

Orthodontic appliances, or parts thereof, may be accidentally swallowed or inhaled.

 

All Invisalign aligner and retainer materials are made of medical-grade, high molecular weight, thermoplastic polymers. These materials were selected for use in aligners and retainers based on their properties and safety classification, and have a long history of FDA approvals for long term use inside the human body. Tests conducted to determine the biocompatibility of these materials show they are biocompatible and pass all applicable regulatory requirements and thresholds for human wear in the mouth.

Based on our current knowledge and testing of the raw materials and processes used in the manufacture of aligners and retainers, we are not aware of any latex, parabens, phthalates, glutaraldehyde, epoxy or Bisphenol A (BPA) present in our aligners or retainers. Of course, as with any medical device, you should consult with your health professional about your aligner or retainer treatment and any applicable risks of use.

It’s recommended to visit your doctor for regular visits to make sure your treatment plan is on track. If you need additional aligners due to travel periods, speak to your doctor as this is dependent on your specific case and treatment plan.

Please speak with your doctor, as he or she may need to fully remove the stained attachments and replace them.

Depending on your specific treatment, some of the movements may require either “attachments” or “ridges” to help the aligner grip the teeth. These bumps or wells are where the aligner grips the attachment the doctor places on your teeth. The attachments are actually small pieces of composite the doctor affixes to your teeth that are then gripped by bumps on your aligners. The ridges are slim indentations in your aligners. Your Invisalign-trained doctor will use one or both of these features to achieved the desired movement.

Aligners are virtually invisible and discreet, so most people will not even notice that you’re wearing them.

If you have an issue with your Invisalign treatment you will need to speak to your Invisalign Provider. Invisalign is the manufacturer and supplier of your clear aligners which are made according to your Invisalign Provider’s prescription. Your Invisalign Provider is responsible for your Invisalign treatment. 

You will need to ask your new Invisalign Provider to contact Invisalign for a Patient Transfer Form. The Patient Transfer Form will need to be signed by your new Invisalign Provider and yourself. Your old Invisalign Provider does not need to sign this form.  

All aligners and retainers are considered a prescription item and must be ordered by your Invisalign Provider. Please contact your Invisalign Provider directly if you need to order a replacement. 

If you would like to know more information about what happens to your personal data, you can access our privacy policy here. Or you can email your enquiry to privacy@aligntech.com.  

Invisalign is unable to answer this question as we are the manufacturer and supplier of your clear aligners according to your Invisalign Provider’s prescription. You will need to discuss any concerns or questions with your Invisalign Provider or other relevant health practitioner.  

Invisalign is unable to settle disputes between Invisalign Providers and their patients. If you cannot come to a resolution with your Invisalign Provider, then you will need to escalate your issue to AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). You can raise a concern using this link: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Notifications/Raise-a-concern.aspx