How Does Invisalign Work? The Science Behind Tooth Movement

“It moves your teeth, of course.”

Well, yes, but how? How does Invisalign work, really?

Think about it—if you press on your teeth, they are (or should be) solidly in place. Moving them would take a lot of force, enough that you’d think it wouldn’t be good for your gums and jaw bones.

And yet, that’s exactly what Invisalign does. Throughout your mouth, all at the same time, it moves each tooth to a specific spot that’s precise down to the millimeter.

As the kids say these days, that’s “lowkey” pretty impressive.

So let’s take a closer look at what’s actually happening when you put on those clear aligners.

The power of gradual pressure

Invisalign aligners work by giving your teeth a little push—literally.

The first step is creating a 3D map of your teeth. This 3D map of your teeth isn’t just for creating and fitting your aligners—it’s used to plan out how your teeth will be moved so that you end up with the smile you want.

Each aligner is custom-made to be just a bit different from where your teeth are now. When you pop it in, it applies consistent, gentle pressure, nudging your teeth toward where they’re supposed to go.

Every week or two, you switch to a new aligner that keeps the process going. Over time, all these small moves add up to big changes.

Consistency is everything

Dentists and orthodontists are always reminding patients to wear their aligners for the recommended 20-22 hours daily.

Why? Because without that consistent pressure, Invisalign won’t work the way it was designed to.

Now, a few slip-ups here and there won’t ruin your treatment, but regularly forgetting to wear your aligners has real consequences. It could leave you with less tooth movement than anticipated, or a longer treatment timeline compared to what was originally estimated.

That’s a common reason why younger children still receive non-removable braces even though options like Invisalign exist—with a fixed appliance, the treatment provider (and parents) don’t have to worry about a child being consistent and conscientious when it comes to wearing their aligners for most of the day.

A super simple example

To help you paint a mental picture of how Invisalign works, imagine someone with a 2mm gap between their front teeth.

On average, a set of aligners moves teeth about 0.5mm every two weeks. So, for our imaginary Invisalign patient, they’d need four sets of aligners to fully close the gap between their front teeth.

  • After 2 weeks, first set of aligners: 1.5mm gap remaining
  • After 4 weeks, second set of aligners: 1mm gap remaining, noticeable improvement
  • After 6 weeks, third set of aligners: 0.5mm gap remaining
  • After 8 weeks, fourth set of aligners: no more gap!

Again, that’s a super simple example—for most people, orthodontic corrections include more than just closing a small front teeth gap, and the treatment time is closer to two years rather than two months.

It’s also worth noting that movement speed isn’t always linear. In other words, teeth don’t move at the same speed throughout the process. Often, it takes a few weeks for your teeth and the surrounding bone to “understand” that movement is happening, after which the movement speed is a bit quicker.

Overall, though, the principle is the same for simple and complex cases: steady pressure that gradually gets your teeth where they need to go.

Why Invisalign isn't too painful

A lot of people worry that moving teeth has to hurt—and sure, there’s some pressure, but it’s not extreme.

The trick is that Invisalign moves your teeth slowly and steadily. Unlike, say, a tooth extraction that needs your tooth to move all at once, Invisalign takes things one small step at a time.

Here’s how it works: Your teeth are connected to your jawbone by something called the periodontal ligament.

When Invisalign puts pressure on a tooth, this ligament stretches on one side and compresses on the other. That signals your body to remodel the bone around the tooth, letting it move. As the bone shifts, the tooth moves without leaving gaps or causing damage. Pretty cool, right?

The way Invisalign hugs your teeth also helps to keep discomfort to a minimum.

Unlike traditional braces, which use metal brackets to put force on just one spot of each tooth, Invisalign aligners spread out the pressure across more of the tooth surface. That makes the sensation of pressure less noticeable as your teeth gradually move.

What about where your gums & bone mass were?

So, if your teeth are moving, won’t that leave empty spaces behind in your gums and jaw bones?

Nope! Your body’s got that covered. As a tooth moves, the bone around it breaks down a tiny bit in the direction it’s moving and rebuilds behind it in a process called bone remodeling.

It’s sort of like a team of renovation workers: while some are tearing down walls, others are coming in to build new ones right after them. This keeps your teeth properly supported the whole time.

It’s a similar story when it comes to the gum tissues surrounding each tooth.

Your gums are incredibly adaptable and will shift along with your teeth. The gum tissue stays snug against the teeth as they move, maintaining a healthy seal and preventing any looseness or unwanted gaps.

Think of it like a stretchy fabric that fits tightly no matter how you adjust the shape underneath. This means your teeth stay securely anchored, and your smile looks natural throughout the entire process—no loose or flappy gums!

Moving teeth up, down, and around

Invisalign isn’t just about shifting teeth back and forth or side to side.

It can also raise or lower teeth if needed. To do this, your dentist or orthodontist might add small, tooth-coloured bumps (called attachments) to certain teeth. These give the aligners extra grip to pull a tooth up or push it down.

Need a tooth to twist or rotate? Invisalign can handle that too. In that case, the aligners apply torque - in other words, rotational pressure - to the attachments instead, helping the aligners to gently turn a tooth until it’s facing the right way.

Oh, and you don’t have to worry about being stuck with little bumps on your teeth—once the attachments have done their job, they’re removed, so it’s like they were never there at all.

Fixing bite problems

What if your jaw is misaligned? Invisalign can help with that, too.

If you’ve got an overbite, underbite, or crossbite, Invisalign works by shifting your teeth to improve how your upper and lower jaws meet.

Sometimes, this involves moving molars back or forward to adjust your bite. For tougher cases, orthodontists might use tiny rubber bands (called elastics) with the aligners to help things along.

Fixing your bite isn’t just about looking good; it’s also about making sure your teeth and jaws work well together.

A balanced bite can make chewing easier, reduce jaw pain, and even prevent wear and tear on your teeth over time.

Keeping things in place

After all that effort, the last thing you want is for your teeth to slide back to where they started.

That’s why retainers are a must after Invisalign treatment. These custom-made trays hold your teeth in their new positions, giving the bone and ligaments time to settle in.

Why do teeth try to move back? It’s because the ligaments around them have memory.

After being stretched or compressed, they can pull your teeth toward their old spots. Retainers stop this from happening, especially in the first few months after treatment.

Over time, as your teeth stabilize, you might not need to wear your retainer as often, but it’s recommended that you keep it in your routine to be safe.

In short: Invisalign teams up with your body

How does Invisalign work? It works by combining smart dental tech with your body’s natural ability to adapt.

It’s not just shoving your teeth into new positions, but rather, it’s coordinating the natural systems in your mouth - like your tooth ligaments and gum tissue - to shepherd teeth in a healthy, non-damaging way.

And, of course, since the aligners are clear and removable, it certainly helps that you can straighten your teeth without feeling self-conscious or having to give up your favorite foods.

So, if you’re thinking about Invisalign, now you know the science behind the smile. It’s not magic or even brute force—it’s actually a really clever way to help you get the smile you’ve always wanted, one tiny step at a time.

Ready to see how Invisalign can work for you?

As an Invisalign-certified provider, we’d love to show you!

We’ve been offering Invisalign in Coquitlam for years, making it simple and convenient for people to get not just orthodontic care, but any supporting treatments they need as well - like gum care or cavity repairs - all in one place.

With us, you get the full Invisalign experience. Preview your smile with the Outcome Simulator, get mess-free impressions with 3D iTero™ scans, and get full access to the complete Invisalign lineup.

Call us at (604) 552-2241 or book online to schedule your Invisalign consultation!

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