How many hours a day do I really have to wear them?

About 22. The honest translation: they are in unless you are eating or brushing. Wear them less and treatment stretches; the plan assumes the 22.

What are the attachments, and will people see them?

Small tooth-colored bumps bonded to certain teeth so the aligner can grip. They are subtle — most people never notice them — and they come off completely at the end.

What happens if I lose an aligner?

Call us. Depending on where you are in the sequence, you'll wear the previous or next set while a replacement comes. It is a solved problem, not a crisis.

How often do I come in?

Typically every six to ten weeks for a quick progress check — shorter and less frequent than braces adjustments, and scheduled around work and school.

invisalign

How Invisalign works, start to retainer.

Invisalign moves teeth the same way braces do — sustained gentle pressure — but delivers it through a sequence of clear aligners, each one a small step further than the last. The intelligence is in the plan; the plastic just executes it.

Here is the whole arc, so nothing about the process is a surprise.

Book online Call 434-823-4080

Step one: the scan and the preview

The iTero Lumina captures your teeth digitally in minutes — no impression trays. From that scan, your doctor builds the movement plan and you see a projection of the finished result before committing to anything. If the projection doesn't earn your yes, you owe nothing but the visit.

Step two: living with aligners

Aligners are worn about 22 hours a day and swapped for the next set roughly every two weeks. They come out for meals, coffee that isn't black, and brushing — which means no food restrictions, and cleaner teeth than braces ever allowed.

Some teeth need small tooth-colored attachments to grip against; they are placed at the start and polished off at the end. Check-ins every several weeks confirm your teeth are tracking the plan.

Step three: keeping the result

The final aligner is not the finish line — the retainer is. Teeth drift for life, so nights in a retainer protect the months you just invested. Retainer wear is part of the plan and the price conversation from day one, because surprising you at the end would be the opposite of how this office works.

Questions we hear in the chair

How many hours a day do I really have to wear them?: About 22. The honest translation: they are in unless you are eating or brushing. Wear them less and treatment stretches; the plan assumes the 22.
What are the attachments, and will people see them?: Small tooth-colored bumps bonded to certain teeth so the aligner can grip. They are subtle — most people never notice them — and they come off completely at the end.
What happens if I lose an aligner?: Call us. Depending on where you are in the sequence, you'll wear the previous or next set while a replacement comes. It is a solved problem, not a crisis.
How often do I come in?: Typically every six to ten weeks for a quick progress check — shorter and less frequent than braces adjustments, and scheduled around work and school.

Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Marissa DeAngelis, Senior Dentist.

Serving Crozet for 50+ years. At least two full-time doctors in the building, Monday through Friday.