How to Get an Invisalign Refinement

Getting a refinement done on your Invisalign treatment can be simple. Basically, if you are unhappy with the way your teeth look at the end of your last tray, you are able to get a refinement done. This means that Invisalign will make more trays for you, until you reach the look you want. The best thing about a refinement is that Invisalign covers the cost, and you don't have to pay a cent!

My Invisalign treatment was scheduled for 5 months, from November to April. I would wear 10 trays total, switching my trays every 2 weeks. I went through the whole process of getting x-rays, impressions and digital pictures taken, and I waited about 4 weeks for my trays to come back to my dentist office. My treatment was displayed on the computer, so I would be able to see what my teeth would look like at the end of my treatment. Everything seemed perfect, and I was so anxious to finish treatment and have straight teeth again.

By the time I was on my 8^th tray, I began to worry because my front teeth were still crooked and with only 2 trays left, I didn't think they would ever straighten. I never did anything wrong. I wore my trays all the time, except when eating and brushing. I always made it a point to wear my trays at least 20-22 hours per day. So I wondered why my teeth didn't look perfect. Once I finished my scheduled treatment, my teeth definitely didn't look the way they were supposed to, and I was very disappointed. I thought that was what I was stuck with, until I spoke up to my dentist about my problem.

I called her and told her that I was unhappy with my results, only on my top teeth. I was happy with the way my bottom teeth looked. She told me to come in so she could look at my teeth, however at the time I was unable to come in to the office for about 2-3 weeks because I just had a tonsillectomy. I wore my 10^th tray for those 2-3 weeks, until I could make it until the office. I wore it because I didn't want my teeth to move while I waited. When I went into the office, my dentist told me I could get a refinement done on my top teeth, at no charge. I was relieved to hear I didn't have to pay anything more, and that Invisalign really cares about customer satisfaction. My dentist took another set of impressions, of both my bottom and top teeth, and then she sent them into Invisaign. She ordered my bottom retainer, and the top set of refinements. Within 2 weeks, I had my bottom retainer, and a week after I had my refinements.

My refinement treatment will last about 2 ½ months, and I will be required to wear 5 additional top trays. After 2 trays, I am starting to notice a difference, and it looks great. I wear my top trays all day and both my top tray and bottom retainer at night.

I might sound like a perfectionist, but a person's smile makes a huge difference, and I really want my teeth to look perfect, especially because I work around other people all day. If you are going through Invisalign treatment, don't hesitate to ask your dentist about a refinement if you are unhappy with your final results. It's better to wait a few extra weeks while new trays are being made, then to settle with not-so-perfect teeth after paying thousands of dollars for treatment.