It’s never been easier to fix lingering orthodontic issues and achieve the smile of your dreams. Thanks to new technology, the process of perfecting your teeth can take place mostly from the comfort of your own home. This is the case with purveyors of the teledentistry model, like Impressions, which has plenty of advantages over traditional metal braces in terms of convenience and comfort.
Our at-home aligners are just that: they are delivered to your house where you wear and replace them for a number of months as your teeth shift into their proper place. What sets Impressions apart from other at-home aligners is our ImpressionsHubs, or the individual locations scattered throughout the country where patients go to get started. So what can you expect when you visit a hub?
Complete Our Online Form to Request an Appointment
Before you even make an appointment to get to the nearest ImpressionsHub, you’ll need to complete our form online to find out if you are a candidate. This allows us to review your information and make a decision about whether or not Impressions is the right style of treatment for you.
Impressions is meant to treat mild to moderate issues like overbite, underbite, crowding and spacing. The typical period that a person uses Impressions aligners ranges from six to nine months. While Impressions can offer help to a lot of people, there are certain cases that we cannot fix. This includes things like severe orthodontic issues, which may be better suited using metal braces.
Get Started with a 3D Scan
Once you’ve completed the form, you’ll be able to set up an appointment to come in and get started at one of our ImpressionsHubs– currently located in Asheville and Hendersonville.
On the day of your scan, you will come in and meet with one of our orthodontic specialists. They are the people you can talk to about any questions you may have, including price, timeline, and lifestyle changes. While we always have specialists available to you over the phone or by email, this visit to the ImpressionsHub is the only in-person visit you’ll have to make before your treatment ends, so it’s a good time to pose any questions you have and discuss your concerns.
We chose to begin each treatment with a 3D digital iTero scan because of its accuracy and the complete picture its able to provide. When he developed Impressions, Dr. Luke Roberts wanted to be sure that every patient would receive the very best care. Patients are can find out what your final smile will look like before you put in your first set of aligners. The scan usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes, during which time the patient can sit back and relax.
What Happens After the Scan?
Once the scan is complete, you will be able to see a 3D representation of your teeth and discuss treatment with our orthodontic specialist. During this time, they will explain what you can expect while wearing at-home aligners and show you how the position of your teeth will develop over time.
This is a good time to talk to your specialist and ask any questions you may have. Because this is an at-home aligner service, you likely won’t see a doctor or specialist again until after your treatment has been completed. Take a moment ahead of time to think of some questions you might want to ask. Some questions that we are frequently asked include:
- What are invisible aligners made of?
- How do they straighten teeth?
- How does the scanning technology work?
- Who reviews my case?
- How long does treatment typically last?
- How often should I wear my aligners?
- Will aligners make my teeth hurt?
- What happens if I lose an aligner?
- What happens once my treatment is complete?
- Do I have to wear a retainer after I’ve completed treatment?
- What comes in the Impressions Box delivered to my door?
All these questions and many more will be answered during your visit to one of our ImpressionsHubs, or you can find out more by checking out our blog. While at-home aligners don’t require you to come into the Hubs very often, you can always contact us online or over the phone to speak to one of our Impressions professionals.
Preparing for Your Visit
It’s very important that you complete one of our candidate forms before making an appointment, but there are also other steps you can take to prepare for your visit. Make sure that you have provided us with up-to-date contact information for you and your other healthcare providers, as well as an accurate medical history and insurance information. We will file your claim with your insurance providers to see how much they cover.
Your Visit, Broken Down Step by Step
- Fill out and complete a candidate form online – Find out if you qualify for Impressions as a form of orthodontic treatment
- Send accurate contact information, medical history, and insurance information to our offices before coming in
- Come into one of our ImpressionsHubs – Don’t forget to bring valid ID and your insurance card
- Get to know our staff and speak with one of our orthodontic specialists
- Sit down for a scan – This shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes
- Go over the results with a specialist – You’ll find out how long treatment should take and what to expect while using invisible aligners
- Review the cost, your insurance, and payment options that are available to you
After that, it’s just a matter of going home and waiting for your Impressions Box to arrive in the mail. This process usually takes up to six weeks. What’s in the box? Well, it includes everything you’ll need to stay on top of your treatment plan, and a little something extra as well (psst…it’s a free whitening gel!)
Contact us if you’re interested in learning more about Impressions at-home aligners or fill out the candidate form on our website to get started.
