Unlike traditional metal braces, invisalign aligners are discreet and can be removed when eating or brushing your teeth. They also don’t require regular tightening of wires and repairing of brackets.
Studies have demonstrated the clinical effectiveness of Invisalign for the treatment of mild to moderate malocclusions. The length of your treatment will depend on how consistently you wear your aligners.
How Invisalign Works
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that uses transparent, removable aligners to straighten teeth. The aligners are trimmed to perfectly fit the gumline and are crafted from FDA-approved plastic that doesn’t contain BPA, BPS, or latex. Each tray is designed to move the teeth incrementally toward their final alignment goal.
Invisalign works by exerting gentle pressure on the misaligned teeth. The pressure encourages the periodontal membrane to decrease, resorb the tooth, and add new tissue where necessary to remodel the teeth’s position. The aligners are typically worn for 20 to 22 hours each day, allowing users to remove them to eat, brush their teeth and floss.
Wearing the trays for less than recommended can disrupt their effectiveness, slowing or even cancelling out their intended results. Additionally, some dental issues are too complex for Invisalign to resolve, such as severe crowding or bite problems. If you have any of these issues, you should consider alternative orthodontic treatments.
Invisalign Treatment
The Invisalign treatment process begins with a consultation. Your dentist or orthodontist will assess whether Invisalign is right for you. If it is, they will design a customized treatment plan. They may recommend other types of appliances if necessary.
Digital impressions of your teeth are taken using a special scanner. These are sent to the Invisalign lab where technicians use them to create a clear aligner tray for you. Each aligner is trimmed to fit your gum line and may be fitted with SmartForce attachments, which are small studs that attach to certain teeth and help initiate movement.
You wear your aligners daily (except for when you’re eating and brushing!). Every two weeks you will move to a new set of clear aligners, putting continued pressure on your teeth until they straighten. This approach is less disruptive than braces, but it does require that you be committed to wearing the trays for the prescribed amount of time.
Invisalign Cost
The cost of Invisalign will vary depending on a number of factors. The dentist’s skill and experience, the condition of a patient’s teeth and gums, and how complicated their misalignment is will all impact the price of Invisalign treatment. In addition, some patients will require pretreatment procedures to ensure that their teeth and gums are healthy enough for Invisalign treatment. This will increase the overall cost of Invisalign and may necessitate an extended length of treatment.
Many dental insurance plans will cover a portion of the cost of Invisalign treatment. Additionally, there are a number of dental financing options available that can help to reduce the amount an individual has to pay out of pocket.
While there are online systems that allow a person to straighten their teeth without ever seeing a professional or orthodontist, Dr. Stachel has advanced education in the movement of teeth to correct bites and alignment and will create a custom treatment plan that will address your specific needs. This will ensure that your Invisalign treatment is as effective as possible and that you get the most out of your investment.
Invisalign FAQs
Invisalign treatment is a safe and effective way to correct misaligned teeth. It is comfortable to wear and removes the need for metal braces. It also requires less visits to our office.
It is important to remember that the aligners must be removed before eating or drinking. This helps to prevent the buildup of bacteria in the trays and strep throat. It is also necessary to brush your teeth before wearing the aligners and before putting them back in your mouth. Drinking any kind of liquid other than water while wearing the aligners can stain them.
Most patients who have experienced traditional braces report that Invisalign is much less painful. However, some patients may experience pressure the first two days of wearing the aligners. This is because the teeth are not used to being pushed in this manner. This discomfort usually goes away after the first few days of wear. It is recommended to brush and floss your teeth regularly and use antiseptic mouthwash to help keep the aligners clean.