Invisalign Treatment Process

Reviewed by Dr. Adel Elbaz, DDS, general dentist · Last reviewed October 24, 2026

Your Invisalign Treatment, Step by Step

Invisalign moves your teeth with a series of clear, removable aligners. Here’s what treatment at Lunar Smile Dentistry in London looks like from your first visit to your final retainer, so you know exactly what you’re signing up for. For who Invisalign suits, how long it takes and what it costs, see our main Invisalign page.

Step 1: Your consultation

At your first visit, which takes about 30 minutes, we:

• talk about what you’d like to change about your smile
• check your teeth, gums and bite, and take x-rays if needed
• take a 3D digital scan of your teeth with no impression trays
• tell you honestly whether aligners suit your case, or whether braces or an orthodontist would be better

Cavities or gum problems are treated before aligners start, because moving teeth needs healthy gums. Want a quick idea first? Try the 30-second smile assessment.

Step 2: Your plan and smile preview

From your scan, a detailed 3D plan maps how each tooth moves, stage by stage. We review it with you on screen, including a preview of the expected result, and adjust it until we’re both happy. You also get a written estimate of the cost and timeline before you commit.

Step 3: Your first aligners

When your aligners arrive, we:

• fit your first set and check that it seats properly
• bond attachments where needed: small, tooth-coloured bumps on some teeth that give the aligners something to grip, so harder movements are possible
• create space where needed by gently polishing a fraction of a millimetre between some teeth (interproximal reduction), so crowded teeth have room to move
• show you how to put aligners in, take them out, and look after them

Step 4: Wear them and switch every two weeks

• Wear your aligners 20 to 22 hours a day. Take them out only to eat, drink anything but water, and clean your teeth.
• Switch to the next set about every two weeks, or as we direct.
• Expect pressure for a day or two with each new set. That means they’re working.
• Use “chewies” (small foam cylinders) to help each aligner seat fully.

A day with aligners

1. Morning: take out, brush your teeth and aligners, put them back in.
2. Meals: take them out, eat, brush or at least rinse, put them back in.
3. Between meals: water only while they’re in.
4. Night: brush, floss, aligners in for sleep.

Step 5: Check-ins every six weeks or so

Short visits, usually about every six weeks, let us check that your teeth are tracking with the plan, that attachments are intact, and that aligners fit well. We’re open until 9 pm on weekdays and on Saturdays, so check-ins fit around work and school.

Step 6: Refinements

It’s common to need a smaller set of “refinement” aligners near the end, to fine-tune a few teeth that didn’t move quite as planned. We take a new scan and order them. This is a normal part of treatment, not a sign something went wrong.

Step 7: Keeping your new smile

Once your teeth reach their new positions, we remove the attachments and polish the teeth. Then retainers keep them there. Teeth tend to drift back throughout life, so:

• you’ll wear a clear retainer, usually full-time at first and then every night
• some patients also have a thin bonded wire behind the front teeth
• bring your retainers to your regular check-ups

Many people choose to whiten their teeth at the end of treatment, or use bonding to reshape edges now that the teeth are straight.

How long will it take?

It depends on how far your teeth need to move. Minor crowding or spacing can take several months; more involved cases often take a year or more. Wearing your aligners the full 20 to 22 hours a day keeps treatment on schedule.

Common questions

What if I lose or break an aligner?

Call us. Usually you’ll move to the next set early or go back to the previous one while we order a replacement.

Can I drink coffee with aligners in?

It’s best not to. Hot drinks can warp aligners, and coffee and tea stain them and trap sugar against your teeth. Take them out, then rinse and brush before putting them back.

Will I have a lisp?

Some people do for the first few days. It usually disappears as your tongue adjusts.

What about sports?

Take your aligners out and wear a sports guard for contact sports, then put the aligners back in afterwards.

More answers: Invisalign FAQs.

Book an Invisalign consultation in London

Ask about our current $1,000 saving on Invisalign. Book online or call 226-884-2573. See all clear aligner information.

Part of our clear aligners services in London, Ontario. See all dental services.