Core Insights:
- Your first Invisalign consultation is a no-obligation, diagnostic exam.
- Treatment begins two to four weeks after your initial appointment.
- Invisalign suits mild to moderate crowding and spacing best.
- Active gum disease must be treated before aligner therapy.
- Most consultations last between 30 and 45 minutes.
Your first Invisalign consultation is a no-obligation, diagnostic exam. During the session, our dentist will assess your teeth to determine whether Invisalign is the right treatment for your specific concerns. The aligner tray itself will not be fitted during the first session. You only get your Invisalign aligners once we've finalized your custom treatment plan. You'll leave with a clear understanding of your options, an estimated timeline, and a cost outline if you choose to proceed.
What happens during the exam?
During the initial consultation, your dentist will start by asking you about your smile goals. Your doctor will ask you to describe what you want your ideal smile to look like. You can discuss any specific concerns you'd like to address, for instance straighter front teeth, closing small gaps, or fixing a crowded lower row.
Once the dentist has a good idea of what you're hoping to achieve, they conduct a routine oral health check. You can't get Invisalign if you have any existing cavities or gum problems. If your mouth is healthy enough for treatment, the process moves on to records and scans.
First, the dentist takes close-up pictures of your teeth to capture their current position and pinpoint problems. They can then create a digital model using an oral scanner wand. The scanner takes thousands of photographs of the teeth, compositing them together to generate an accurate 3D model. Finally, you get an oral X-ray to show the teeth in relation to the jawbone. This record is used to design your custom series of aligners and show you a digital preview of how your teeth are expected to move. Dr Zadeh will review your plan with you before ordering any materials.
The dentist compiles these pictures, X-ray images, and 3D scans into one dental record to send to the Invisalign manufacturers.
How does the dentist decide if you're a candidate?
Not everyone is a candidate for Invisalign clear aligners. Your dentist will decide whether they're a suitable option depending on the type and severity of your bite and alignment issues (malocclusions). According to a clinical survey of members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), dentists are more likely to recommend Invisalign for mild to moderate malocclusions, such as slight crowding or small gaps, rather than severe bite problems.
According to this survey, 98% of dentists are confident in using Invisalign for mild dental crowding. If your concern is about teeth slightly overlapping (by roughly less than 6mm), Invisalign may be a good option. Similarly, 96% of dentists recommend Invisalign for general gaps between the front teeth.
Invisalign is not recommended in situations where it is unlikely to be effective. Some examples from the survey include overjet (upper front teeth that stick out far beyond the lower teeth), facial asymmetry, skeletal problems, or impacted teeth. In instances like these, your doctor may recommend traditional metal braces instead. That doesn't mean your smile can't be improved, just that another orthodontic approach may give you a better, more stable result.
Your dental health also plays a role in how good a candidate you are for Invisalign. If you have active gum disease, your dentist will recommend clearing it up first before fitting the aligners because aligners cover the teeth and can trap bacteria if gums are inflamed.
How long does the consultation take?
Most Invisalign consultations take between 30 and 45 minutes. This is a general timeline, and the exact timing will vary from patient to patient. Dr. Zadeh allows extra time for bite scans or additional X-rays when she fits Invisalign at her Tarzana practice. The goal is to examine the patient's teeth thoroughly and build a comprehensive record of their problem areas.
Your consultation may take longer if you want to ask questions about the treatment before making a decision. Dr Zadeh may also use some of the time to show you simulated before-and-after results.
What questions should you ask at your consultation?
As with all dental treatments, it's important to get a good understanding of the procedure before you start. Here are some questions you should ask during your Invisalign consultation.
- How long will the overall treatment take before my teeth are straight?
- How long do I have to wear my aligners daily?
- How do I clean and care for my Invisalign aligners?
- What is the success rate of Invisalign for my dental concerns?
- How many different sets of aligners will I need?
- What happens if I lose an aligner tray? Can I get a replacement?
- Do I need to wear a retainer after finishing my treatment?
- Will I need attachments, elastics, or minor enamel shaping (IPR) as part of my plan?
- How often will I need check-in visits, and can they be scheduled around my work hours?
- What results can I realistically expect for my specific bite and alignment issues?
When can you start treatment after the consultation?
Invisalign does not start the same day as your first consultation. Treatment begins about two to four weeks after your initial appointment. This waiting period gives the lab time to design and manufacture your custom series of aligners based on your scans. Before production, your dentist reviews and approves a digital treatment plan (often called a ClinCheck) that shows how your teeth are expected to move. In Dr. Zadeh's Tarzana practice, you'll pick up your aligners in the office so we can check the fit and show you how to use them.
After the first consultation, your dentist will send the 3D scans and photographs of your teeth to the Invisalign aligner manufacturers. Your trays will be custom-made according to your bite and what you want to change about your teeth. Only once these trays are ready can you start wearing them.
Find Out if Invisalign is Right for You
Dr. Nargiz Zadeh is an Invisalign Preferred Provider with extensive experience treating adults and teens in the Tarzana area. View her smile gallery to see how she can help transform your teeth. If you're considering Invisalign in Tarzana, a personalized consultation can clarify your options, timeline, and estimated cost. Book an Invisalign consultation to start your smile transformation today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring to my first consultation?
A list of your main concerns regarding your teeth, along with any questions you want to ask about Invisalign before you get started. If you had dental x-rays taken recently, bring those too. Bring your insurance card and ID, and if you've had orthodontic treatment before, any old records or information about your previous retainers can also be helpful.
How soon will I know if I'm a candidate for Invisalign?
In most cases, you'll know if you're a candidate for Invisalign during the initial consultation. Your dentist will examine your teeth, review your scans and X-rays, and discuss the best treatment options before you leave the chair. In some cases, they may review your records in more detail and follow up with a final recommendation.
How long does Invisalign treatment take after the consultation?
Invisalign treatments generally take between 6 and 18 months, depending on how much movement is needed and how consistently you wear your aligners. Minor cases may be shorter, while more complex bites can take longer. Your dentist will give you a custom estimate based on your scans and treatment goals.