If your Invisalign treatment plan mentions IPR, you may be wondering what it involves. Interproximal reduction, sometimes called slenderising or enamel reshaping, is a common step in aligner treatment. It creates small amounts of space so crowded teeth can line up neatly, often avoiding the need for extractions.
IPR involves gently polishing away a very thin layer of enamel from the sides of selected teeth, where they touch their neighbours. The amount removed is measured in fractions of a millimetre and is planned precisely in your digital treatment plan.
When teeth are crowded, there is not enough room for them to line up straight. IPR creates small spaces that allow teeth to move into alignment. It can also help reshape teeth that are triangular in shape, reducing the dark triangles that sometimes appear between teeth after straightening.
When carried out within recommended limits, IPR is considered safe. Enamel is thickest at the contact points between teeth, and only a small fraction is removed. The tooth surfaces are polished smooth afterwards, and studies have not shown an increased risk of decay when good oral hygiene is maintained.
IPR is usually painless and does not require anaesthetic, because the enamel has no nerves. You may feel vibration or pressure, and the teeth may feel slightly different to your tongue afterwards. Some people notice mild sensitivity for a short time.
Depending on your case, space may also be created by expanding the arch, moving teeth backwards, or in more severe crowding, removing a tooth. Your dentist will explain why IPR has been chosen and how much is planned.
IPR is usually done at one of your early aligner appointments, often at the same time as attachments are placed. The dentist uses very thin polishing strips, fine discs or small burs to remove a precise amount of enamel between selected teeth. A gauge is used to measure the space created so it matches your digital plan. The tooth surfaces are then smoothed and polished, and fluoride may be applied. The process usually takes a few minutes for each area. Some treatment plans spread IPR across several appointments, so do not be surprised if your dentist performs a little more at later visits.
As crowded teeth straighten, small dark triangular spaces sometimes appear near the gums between front teeth. This happens because triangular teeth, once aligned, may only touch at their tips. IPR can reshape the contact areas so the teeth meet over a broader surface, bringing the contact point closer to the gum and reducing or eliminating these spaces. This is one reason dentists sometimes recommend IPR even when crowding is mild. Discuss black triangles with your dentist during planning, especially if your teeth are triangular in shape, so the treatment can be designed for the best possible appearance.
After IPR, keep up excellent oral hygiene, because the new contact areas between teeth need to stay clean. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes as your dentist advises. Some people find floss feels different at first, which is normal. If you notice sensitivity, a toothpaste for sensitive teeth usually helps. Continue wearing your aligners as instructed, as the planned spaces will only close if the aligners are worn consistently. At your review appointments, your dentist will check that the spaces are closing as expected and that the gums remain healthy.
When performed within recommended limits, IPR removes only a small amount of enamel and is considered safe.
Small spaces may appear temporarily, but they close as treatment progresses.
Most people feel no pain, only vibration or pressure, as the enamel has no nerves.
Ask our team how IPR fits into your aligner treatment plan. Learn more about Invisalign in Al Ain.
Call 03 751 0245 WhatsApp 056 536 4536 Email Us