Introduction
Invisalign is frequently chosen by patients who want orthodontic treatment without the visual and dietary restrictions that come with fixed braces — but what it involves in practice is often less clear than the headline promises suggest. This guide covers how the Invisalign process works at Sky Dental Centre in Thunder Bay: from the initial scan and consultation through to the end of active treatment and into retention. It also covers who Invisalign is and is not well-suited for, because that is a question the clinical team takes seriously rather than giving a blanket yes to everyone.
How Invisalign works from consultation to final aligner
Invisalign treatment begins with an assessment consultation at Sky Dental, during which the clinical team examines your teeth, bite, and jaw, discusses your goals, and determines whether Invisalign is clinically appropriate for your case.
If you are a suitable candidate and choose to proceed, the next step is a digital scan of your teeth using an intraoral scanner. The scan captures the precise position of every tooth and is sent to the Invisalign lab, where a computerised treatment plan is developed. Your clinical team reviews and approves this plan before your aligner series is fabricated.
The aligners arrive at Sky Dental as a complete series. You wear each aligner for approximately one to two weeks before moving to the next. Aligners are worn for twenty to twenty-two hours per day, removed only for eating, drinking anything other than water, and oral hygiene.
At your scheduled check-in appointments — typically every six to eight weeks — the clinical team assesses your progress. If refinements are needed, additional aligners can be fabricated.
Treatment ends when your final aligner has been worn. At this stage, the clinical team will confirm the outcome, remove any attachments bonded to your teeth, and prescribe a retainer to maintain your results.
Is Invisalign right for your case? Understanding candidacy
Invisalign is effective for a wide range of orthodontic cases, including crowding, spacing, certain bite corrections, and rotation of individual teeth. It is not the most appropriate choice for every case. Some corrections involving significant bite changes or complex multi-directional movement are more predictably achieved with traditional braces.
The clinical team at Sky Dental will assess your case and recommend Invisalign only if it is appropriate for what your treatment needs to accomplish. If braces are likely to produce a more reliable outcome for your specific situation, the team will explain why.
Patient compliance is also a candidacy factor. Invisalign works when aligners are worn consistently. Patients who remove aligners frequently or for extended periods will not achieve the planned movement on schedule.
Age is not a barrier to Invisalign candidacy for adults. Teenagers are also candidates, and Sky Dental offers the Invisalign Teen product for younger patients.
What wearing Invisalign actually feels like day to day
The first few days after receiving your initial aligners involve an adaptation period. Most patients describe a feeling of pressure on the teeth — this is the aligner applying force to begin moving teeth, and it is expected. This pressure tends to ease after the first day or two with each new aligner.
Speech can be slightly affected in the first days of wearing aligners. A minor lisp is common and typically resolves within a week as your tongue adapts.
Drinking water with aligners in place is fine. All other beverages should be consumed with aligners removed, both to avoid staining and to prevent hot liquids from affecting the fit.
Small tooth-coloured attachments are often bonded to the teeth during Invisalign treatment to help the aligners apply force in precise directions. They are not visible from a distance and are removed at the end of treatment.
Invisalign for working adults and students in Thunder Bay
One of the reasons Invisalign is a common choice among adult patients at Sky Dental is the degree of discretion it offers in professional and social settings. For patients in client-facing roles, teaching, healthcare, or other fields where a metal appliance feels incongruous, clear aligners offer a more comfortable option.
For students at Lakehead University or Confederation College, Invisalign’s removability has a practical dimension: presentations, photographs, and formal events can be managed by removing the aligners temporarily.
Sky Dental offers flexible scheduling for Invisalign patients. Invisalign’s lower in-person appointment frequency — compared to braces — is a practical advantage for patients who need to minimise the number of clinic visits, including those traveling from Dryden, Fort Frances, Nipigon, or other northwestern Ontario communities.
Retention: what comes after active Invisalign treatment
The end of your aligner series is not the end of orthodontic management. Teeth have a natural tendency to drift back toward their original positions after orthodontic treatment — this applies to all patients, regardless of treatment type.
At the completion of Invisalign treatment at Sky Dental, a retainer is prescribed to maintain the position achieved through your aligner series. Retainers may be removable — similar in appearance to a thin aligner, worn nightly — or bonded, where a wire is fixed to the back surface of the teeth.
Patients who complete Invisalign treatment and then stop wearing retainers will often see some degree of relapse over time. Following the retention plan your clinical team prescribes is the most straightforward way to maintain the outcome of your treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Invisalign treatment take at Sky Dental Thunder Bay?
Treatment length varies depending on the complexity of your case. Simpler cases may complete in under a year. More involved corrections take longer. The clinical team will give you a realistic timeline estimate based on your specific situation at the consultation — not a generic average.
Can Invisalign fix a bad bite as well as crooked teeth?
Invisalign can address certain types of bite correction in addition to tooth alignment. Suitability depends on the specific nature and severity of the correction needed. The clinical team will assess this at your consultation.
What are Invisalign attachments and will other people notice them?
Invisalign attachments are small tooth-coloured composite shapes bonded to specific teeth to help the aligner apply force more precisely. They match your tooth colour and are not easily visible in normal social interactions. They are removed at the end of treatment.
What happens if I lose or damage an Invisalign aligner?
Contact Sky Dental as soon as possible. The clinical team will advise whether to wear the previous aligner, the next one, or to come in for a replacement.
Is Invisalign available for teenagers at Sky Dental in Thunder Bay?
Yes. Sky Dental offers Invisalign for teenage patients using the Invisalign Teen product, which is designed around the typical usage patterns of younger patients. Candidacy and suitability are confirmed through a clinical consultation.
Interested in Invisalign at Sky Dental Centre in Thunder Bay?
Book a consultation or call 807-804-2624. The team offers flexible scheduling for adults and students across Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario. We accept new patients.