Yes — Dental Line uses a 3D digital scan to preview your Invisalign smile before treatment starts. The scan builds a ClinCheck-style simulation showing how your teeth will move, stage by stage, toward your projected final result.
Committing to Invisalign is easier when you can see where your teeth are headed before the first tray is made. Dental Line builds that preview from a 3D digital scan of your teeth, fed into Align Technology’s planning software to generate a stage-by-stage simulation of your treatment. The sections below explain what that preview shows, how accurate it really is, and what to expect at your scanning appointment in Encino.
How a 3D Scan Builds Your Invisalign Smile Preview
Your Invisalign preview starts with a 3D scan of your current teeth, which Align Technology’s software then uses to simulate every planned tooth movement from your starting position to your projected final smile.
The scan itself uses the same intraoral optical scanner covered in our digital impressions guide — a handheld wand, no putty trays — rather than the CBCT machine used for bone imaging. Dr. Starchenko reviews the resulting digital model with you, then submits it to build your simulation.
Once submitted, Align Technology’s software breaks your total tooth movement into a series of discrete stages, each corresponding to one aligner in your series, and calculates the path each tooth needs to travel between your starting position and the planned final result.
Dr. Starchenko does not simply accept the software’s first proposal. She reviews the proposed movement sequence, tooth by tooth, and adjusts staging, attachment placement, and movement order where her clinical judgment differs from the default plan, before the simulation is finalized and shown to you.
Why a Preview Matters More Than a Verbal Description
A verbal description of expected results relies on your imagination matching your dentist’s intent, while a visual, tooth-by-tooth simulation removes that guesswork by showing the actual planned movement in three dimensions.
This matters most for visible teeth in the smile line, where even small differences between what a patient pictures and what treatment can realistically achieve are easy to miss in conversation but obvious once seen on screen.
What You Will See in Your Invisalign Preview
Your preview shows a stage-by-stage animation of your teeth moving from their current position to your projected final result, along with an estimated number of aligner stages and treatment length.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Starting position | 3D model of your teeth exactly as scanned that day |
| Stage-by-stage movement | Animated sequence showing each aligner stage in order |
| Projected final smile | Simulated end result based on your treatment goals |
| Estimated aligner count | Approximate number of trays needed to reach the projection |
| Estimated timeline | Rough treatment length based on the planned movements |
How Many Times Will You See a Preview During Treatment?
Most patients see an initial preview before treatment begins, plus one or more refinement previews mid-treatment if Dr. Starchenko orders a new scan to fine-tune the remaining movements.
A refinement preview works the same way as the initial one: a fresh scan is taken of your teeth at their current stage, and a new simulation is generated for the remaining aligners, so you always have an updated visual of what is left before treatment is considered complete.
Is the Invisalign Smile Preview Accurate?
The preview is a strong guide, not a guarantee — published research on Invisalign’s ClinCheck simulation found that only about 77-80% of the planned tooth movement is typically achieved exactly as simulated, with accuracy varying by the type of movement. A prospective clinical study found rotations and certain torque movements are less predictable than simple tipping or spacing changes.
Dr. Starchenko builds in room for mid-course corrections and refinement scans when needed, so your final result is monitored and adjusted throughout treatment rather than assumed to match the original simulation exactly.
In practice, this means simple movements like closing small gaps or straightening mild crowding tend to track closely with the preview, while more complex movements such as rotating a canine or correcting a significant bite discrepancy are more likely to need a mid-treatment refinement scan to reach the originally projected result.
Dr. Starchenko discusses which category your specific case falls into during your consultation, so your expectations for how closely treatment will follow the preview are set before you start rather than discovered partway through.
Who Should See a Preview Before Starting Invisalign?
Patients with visible crowding, spacing, or bite concerns benefit most from reviewing a preview first, since it shows whether Invisalign alone can fully correct the issue or whether a combination approach is needed.
- Patients deciding between Invisalign and traditional braces — seeing the projected timeline and result side by side makes the tradeoff concrete rather than theoretical.
- Patients who want to see an estimated timeline before committing — useful for planning around events like a wedding or graduation.
- Patients with more complex bite issues who want to confirm expectations before starting — especially cases involving significant crowding, an open bite, or a crossbite.
- Patients who have compared multiple providers and want to see Dental Line’s specific plan for their teeth — since staging and attachment placement differ by provider, the preview shows Dr. Starchenko’s specific approach, not a generic estimate.
What Happens During Your 3D Scan and Preview Appointment
- Dr. Starchenko or a team member scans your upper and lower teeth with the handheld intraoral scanner, no trays or putty involved.
- The digital model is reviewed with you chairside, and any area needing a clearer capture is re-scanned on the spot.
- The scan is submitted to Align Technology’s planning software to generate your simulation.
- Dr. Starchenko reviews the completed preview with you at a follow-up visit, explaining the projected stages and timeline before any aligners are ordered.
First-time patients can review what a full visit involves on our your first visit page, along with our comfort and safety standards.
What Does This Cost?
The 3D scan and smile preview are part of your Invisalign treatment plan, not billed separately. Full Invisalign pricing, insurance, and financing details are covered on our main Invisalign page.
How This Preview Fits Into Your Overall Invisalign Timeline
The 3D scan and preview happen after your initial consultation and before any aligners are ordered, forming the planning stage between “deciding to consider Invisalign” and “starting active treatment.”
- Consultation: Dr. Starchenko examines your teeth and confirms you are a candidate for Invisalign.
- 3D scan: your teeth are scanned and the digital model is reviewed with you the same day.
- Preview review: the completed simulation is shown to you at a follow-up visit, with projected stages and timeline.
- Treatment start: once you approve the plan, your aligners are manufactured and your first tray is fitted.
- Refinement previews: additional scans and updated simulations are generated mid-treatment if needed.
Because the preview happens before manufacturing begins, you are never committed to a specific plan until after you have seen and approved the simulation.
This sequencing protects both your time and your budget — adjustments made before your aligners are manufactured cost nothing beyond a follow-up conversation, while changes requested after manufacturing begins typically require a new order.
Why Choose Dental Line for Your Invisalign Preview
Dr. Irena Starchenko, DDS brings 30+ years of clinical experience and a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at USC to every Invisalign plan she designs. Read more on the Dr. Irena Starchenko page.
Dental Line is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars across 154 Google reviews, with patients frequently citing clear, unhurried explanations of their treatment plan before committing.
Dr. Starchenko’s credentials and patient reviews are also independently verified on Healthgrades and US News Doctors, two of the most widely used third-party healthcare provider directories in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Invisalign 3D scan the same as the CBCT 3D dental scan?
No. The Invisalign preview uses an intraoral optical scanner for tooth-surface impressions. A CBCT 3D dental scan is a different device that images bone, nerves, and jaw structure for implants and TMJ planning.
Does seeing the preview cost extra?
No, the scan and preview are part of your Invisalign treatment plan. See our Invisalign page for full pricing.
How long does it take to get my Invisalign preview?
The scan itself takes a few minutes. The completed simulation is typically ready for review at a follow-up appointment, not the same day as the scan.
Will my teeth end up exactly like the preview?
Closely, but not exactly — published research shows roughly 77-80% of planned movements match the simulation precisely, with Dr. Starchenko monitoring progress and using refinement scans to correct course as needed.
Can I see the preview before deciding to start treatment?
Yes. The preview is generated and reviewed with you before any aligners are ordered, so you can decide whether to proceed based on the projected result.
Does the scan hurt or use radiation?
No. The intraoral scanner used for the preview is a small optical wand with no radiation and no putty impression — it simply photographs your teeth.
What if I do not like what I see in the preview?
Dr. Starchenko can adjust the treatment plan and regenerate the simulation, or discuss alternatives such as veneers or traditional braces if Invisalign alone will not achieve your goals.
Is the preview available for teens as well as adults?
Yes. The same scan-and-preview process applies regardless of age, so teen patients and parents can review the projected treatment plan together before starting.
Can I get a second opinion after seeing my preview?
Yes. Since the preview and consultation happen before any aligners are ordered or paid for in full, you are free to take your simulation results and treatment plan discussion into account before deciding whether to proceed with Dental Line.
What if my teeth shift after treatment ends?
Retainer wear after treatment is what keeps your teeth in the position shown in your final preview. Dr. Starchenko will discuss a retention plan with you once your active aligner stages are complete.
Conclusion: See Your Smile Before You Commit
A 3D scan turns the decision to start Invisalign from a guess into an informed choice — you see a stage-by-stage simulation of your projected final smile before a single aligner is ordered.
The preview is not a guarantee down to the last degree of tooth rotation, but it gives you and Dr. Starchenko a shared, visual treatment plan to measure progress against, with room built in for refinement scans along the way.
Whether you are weighing Invisalign against traditional braces, comparing providers, or simply want to see your own teeth before committing to any treatment, the 3D scan removes the guesswork from that first decision. Call (747) 265-6179 or request an appointment online to schedule your 3D scan and see your own Invisalign preview.
