Invisalign

Dr. James Gainer, Dr. William Watt, and Dr. Adrian LePendu create personalized treatment plans based on your smile, bite, oral health, and goals. With digital scanning, careful planning, and clear guidance throughout treatment, our team makes it easier to understand what to expect from your first consultation through your final aligners.

Patients visit us from throughout Wilmington, including nearby Wrightsville Beach. We offer evening appointments and digital follow-ups to help make Invisalign treatment easier to fit into busy work, school, and family schedules.

Invisalign treatment should support both the appearance of your smile and your long-term oral health. At Wrightsville Dental, we look at the full picture before recommending treatment.

Our team uses iTero digital scanning and digital X-rays to evaluate your teeth and plan tooth movement with detailed images. Dr. James Gainer leads restorative planning, Dr. William Watt guides conservative approaches, and Dr. Adrian LePendu oversees cosmetic finishing touches.

If you need a filling, restoration, or another dental treatment before or during Invisalign, we can coordinate that care at the appropriate stage of your plan. We also provide clear pre-visit instructions and post-visit communication so you know what comes next.

For added comfort during appointments, our office offers amenities including blankets, headphones, music, warm towels, TVs, water, and coffee.

Invisalign clear aligners straighten teeth without metal brackets or wires. Because the aligners are removable, many patients find it easier to maintain their normal eating and oral hygiene routines during treatment.

Benefits of Invisalign may include:

• Easier brushing and flossing compared with traditional braces

• A discreet, low-profile appearance

• Removable trays for meals and oral hygiene

• Fewer concerns about broken wires or loose brackets

• Digital treatment planning that maps intended tooth movement

• Less irritation from brackets and archwires

Before treatment begins, we review your goals, explain your expected timeline, and show you how Invisalign fits into your overall dental plan.

Invisalign treatment begins with a digital evaluation of your teeth and bite. We use an iTero scanner to capture a detailed digital impression without traditional impression material. Digital X-rays may also be taken when needed.

Using this information, our team develops a step-by-step treatment plan that maps how your teeth are expected to move. Your custom aligners are then created based on that plan.

You will wear each set of aligners for the prescribed amount of time before moving to the next set in the series. Each aligner applies controlled pressure to gradually shift your teeth.

During treatment, we monitor your progress with short examinations and intraoral images. If your treatment needs adjustments, we can take new scans and create refinements. Additional technology, including CBCT imaging and CEREC, may be used when bite adjustments or restorations need to be coordinated with your Invisalign care.

Progress photos and charts can also be shared through our secure patient portal so you can follow your treatment between visits. Our team replies to portal messages within one day.

Most patients wear Invisalign aligners for about 20 to 22 hours per day. The aligners are typically removed for eating, drinking anything other than water, brushing, and flossing.

Consistent wear is important because Invisalign depends on each aligner being worn as directed to keep tooth movement on schedule.

We will also show you how to clean your aligners properly to help prevent odors, buildup, and staining.

Invisalign checkups are generally scheduled every six to eight weeks during active treatment. These shorter visits allow our team to evaluate how your teeth are moving, check the fit of your aligners, make small adjustments when necessary, and provide your next set of trays.

A typical Invisalign visit may include:

• A review of tooth movement and aligner fit

• New aligner sets

• Adjustments to attachments when needed

• Updates to your treatment plan if refinements are necessary

If you travel frequently, we can also explain how to carry extra aligner sets and what to do if a tray is lost or damaged.

You may be a good candidate for Invisalign if you have healthy teeth and gums, mild to moderate alignment concerns, and are willing to wear your aligners consistently.

Invisalign may be appropriate for concerns such as:

• Mild to moderate crowding

• Spacing between teeth

• Teeth that have shifted after previous orthodontic treatment

• Certain bite or alignment concerns

Adults often choose Invisalign for its discreet appearance, while teens may appreciate its removable design. Age is generally less important than oral health and the ability to follow the recommended wear schedule.

During your first visit, we evaluate your bite, jaw health, gums, and teeth. Digital X-rays or CBCT imaging may be recommended when additional information is needed.

If you have active gum disease, untreated decay, or unstable restorations, those concerns should be addressed before Invisalign begins so treatment can proceed safely and predictably.

For cases that require more complex tooth movement or jaw surgery planning, we will explain other treatment options and coordinate care when appropriate.

After active Invisalign treatment is complete, retainers are typically recommended to help protect your results. Teeth can naturally shift over time, so wearing retainers as directed is an important part of maintaining your new alignment.

Our team will discuss your retainer options and create a follow-up schedule to monitor your smile's stability.