Farrow & Dewbre Orthodontics offers Invisalign clear aligner trays as a solution to crowded or misaligned teeth. Aside from personalized treatment tailored to your unique needs, we’ll help you make the most of your aligner experience. This includes monitoring progress while using clear aligner trays.
It’s normal to feel conscious about your progress, especially between appointments with our team. No need to worry, though. Here are a few insights to effectively track your progress, straight from Dr. Melissa Farrow and Dr. Jeremy Dewbre.
Make Visual Inspections a Habit
The easiest way to stay on top of your progress with clear aligner trays is to make it a habit. Whenever you brush your teeth or after taking a bath, you can take a few seconds to check how your Invisalign trays are doing. Here are some things to look out for the next time you take a look in the mirror:
- Changes In Your Teeth Alignment
The first and most noticeable sign of your Invisalign progress is your teeth moving. As you go through your clear aligner tray journey, you’ll notice gaps between your teeth becoming smaller or crooked teeth starting to sit straight.
At Farrow & Dewbre Orthodontics, part of your treatment plan is walking you through your current and planned teeth alignment. We provide a 3D digital mockup you can use as a reference.
- Gaps In Your Aligner Trays
Whereas braces need to be adjusted regularly to keep them working, aligners like Invisalign work a bit differently. Our offices at Edmond, Oklahoma City, or Clinton will fabricate a set of custom aligners and you’ll switch between them as you go along.
Another visible sign to check is whether your aligners fit perfectly. Since they are precisely designed to fit each of your teeth, there should be no gaps between them and your Invisalign aligner. Similarly, if you find your aligners not fitting properly on your teeth, it’s time to give us a call.
Aside from the visual cues listed above, you can also check the feel. If your Invisalign clear aligners move when you wear them or feel discomfort when putting them on, it hints at a tracking issue. This can be caused by various factors, from missing your recommended wear time to your teeth responding slower or faster than originally projected. Give Farrow & Dewbre Orthodontics a call and we’ll get things back on track.
Record-Keeping Made Easy With Orthodontic Apps
Dr. Farrow and Dr. Dewbre are experienced with using modern technology to give you the best orthodontic experience. From taking dental impressions to fabricating your clear aligner trays, we understand the comfort and convenience that modern tools give our patients. This extends to monitoring your progress while using clear aligner trays.
There are specialized apps designed to help users of clear aligner trays monitor their usage. The most basic features include a timer to track your wear time and a camera for helping you keep a visual diary of your progress. Below are some of the apps you can use to help you self-monitor your aligner journey.
My Invisalign App
As a trusted Invisalign supplier in Edmond, Clinton, and Oklahoma City, we recommend using the My Invisalign app for our patients. Not only does it come with the standard tracking capabilities, but it also streamlines the coordination between you and your clear aligner provider. It is available on both Android and iOS devices, and comes with the following features:
- Invisalign Virtual Care
This AI-powered tool lets Dr. Farrow or Dr. Dewbre remotely monitor your progress between appointments. You can also leverage its built-in Invisalign Lens for a focused photo capture ability, improving your photo diary experience.
- Wear Time Tracker
Unlike the standard timer, My Invisalign adds a couple of quality-of-life improvements. It tracks the time you’re not wearing your aligners, plus keeps a record of your total wear time across weeks, months, and even years. It also integrates with your phone’s notifications and alarms to remind you of important events and activities.
- Doctor Locator
By sharing your location, you can find Invisalign providers near you. In fact, our patients use this feature to locate our offices in Edmond, Clinton, and Oklahoma City.
- ClinCheck Treatment Viewer
View side-by-side comparisons and review your Invisalign treatment plan, right from the app. You can even view a 3D model of your mouth, taken from one of our offices, anytime you want to.
The app is also safe and secure for patients. It requires you to sign up for an account and log in before using the app. Additionally, certain features such as accessing your personalized treatment plans require an invitation from Dr. Farrow or Dr. Dewbre. This ensuring secure access to sensitive information.
TrayMinder
Another popular app for clear aligner trays is TrayMinder, also available for iOS and Android devices. Created by an experienced orthodontist, it focuses on helping you stick to your recommended wear time.
Its timer focuses on tracking your daily wear time. With a streamlined layout, you can simply pause the timer when you take them off, and resume the count once you put them back on. The app automatically logs it across days and months. You can also manually enroll your treatment plan. TrayMinder will remind you how many days are left before you switch trays or until your treatment is done.
This app works with Invisalign, as well as other brands, making it a general solution that’s accessible to everyone.
Get Started On Your Invisalign Aligner Journey
Your consistency in wearing your clear aligner trays and coordinating with your orthodontist play a big role in the success of your treatment. At Farrow & Dewbre Orthodontics, we help our patients be well-informed about their treatment. Plus, we ensure they have access to our support whenever they need it.
If you’re ready to achieve a better smile with Invisalign aligners, schedule your appointment with us, and let’s get you started.