Traditional braces use brackets and wires to pull your teeth into position. Although this is effective for even the most complex cases, they are noticeable and there are several disadvantages. Invisalign resolves many of the common complaints about metal braces.
Our in-office orthodontist takes digital impressions of your mouth to map the movement of your teeth using state-of-the-art software. The information is transferred to a series of clear aligners that are worn over your teeth for at least 22 hours per day. Each aligner applies continual pressure to your teeth to gradually move them into position. Although every treatment differs, most patients are finished with their series in about 12 months.
Have you ever wondered why millions and millions of patients have chosen Invisalign? The short answer is that clear aligners offer several benefits that aren’t possible using traditional metal brackets and wires. Here are a few!
No Brackets or Wires
Not only is Invisalign metal-free, but it’s bracket and wire-free too! To address common orthodontic problems like overcrowding and overbites, clear aligners are custom-made and crafted from ultra-smooth, high-quality, and low-profile plastic. As a result, they fit comfortably and don’t irritate the soft tissue in your mouth.
Note: If you do feel any discomfort stemming from your trays, you can always use some dental wax to cover the edge so your gums, lips, and tongue are protected!
Discreet Trays
Of course, one of the biggest benefits of Invisalign is how discreet the trays are. Since they are completely see-through, they are extremely hard to detect when worn. In fact, don’t be surprised if even those closest to you don’t notice them!
Remember, keeping your aligners clear takes some effort, so make sure to adopt healthy habits, like brushing your teeth after each meal and cleaning your aligners each morning and night.
Easy Oral Hygiene Routine and Aligner Maintenance
Another perk of clear aligner treatment is that it won’t interfere with your existing oral hygiene regimen. In other words, you can continue to brush and floss as usual throughout your entire teeth-straightening journey!
Luckily, cleaning your aligners is easy too! All you really need is some clean, cool water and a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove plaque, food particles, and other debris from the surface, and the entire process of cleaning them should only take a minute or two.
Less Time in the Dental Chair
If you’re a busy student, parent, or professional, then you’ll be happy to hear that your schedule won’t be bogged down with monthly appointments that last for 60+ minutes with Invisalign. Instead, the check-in visits happen every 6-8 weeks and, if your teeth are tracking as anticipated, they’ll only be 15 minutes or so each time.
Enjoy Your Favorite Foods
To help prevent orthodontic emergencies, like broken brackets, patients with traditional braces are expected to steer clear of whole apples, raw nuts, tortilla chips, hard pretzels, and other crunchy foods. Fortunately, that’s not the case with Invisalign. Since the aligners are removable, you can enjoy all of your favorite foods (as long as you do your best to keep added sugar to a minimum).
Results in as Few as 12 Months
Finally, Invisalign delivers results in an average of 12-18 months. Traditional braces, on the other hand, usually take 2-3 years. So, if you want a straight smile as soon as possible, clear aligners are the way to go!
The more you learn about Invisalign, the more convinced you may be that it’s the right tooth-replacement solution for you. That said, you need to know what your day-to-day life will look like before you sign on the dotted line – whether you’re a teenager with a busy schedule, a parent with a jam-packed calendar, or a professional who travels for work. The good news is that you can find helpful information on the topic right here!
Wearing Your Trays
Wearing your trays is essential. More specifically, wearing your trays for 20+ hours a day. After all, if you don’t keep them on for the large majority of the day, there’s a good chance that you will fall off-track with your treatment plan. To avoid that, only remove them when you absolutely have to, like before eating, and put them back on as soon as you can.
Cleaning Your Aligners
To prevent your aligners from getting stained or smelly, you need to clean them. There are basically two things you need to do: rinse them with clean, cool water when you take them off, and use a damp, soft-bristled toothbrush to clean them before putting them back on. It’s also a good idea to soak them daily in a dentist-recommended clear aligner cleaner.
Eating & Drinking
Eating and drinking with Invisalign is pretty simple because there aren’t any dietary restrictions. In fact, there’s really only one rule: you need to remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything other than water. Outside of that, just do your best to stick to a well-balanced diet that isn’t high in sugary or starchy foods in an effort to avoid tooth decay.
Losing or Damaging a Tray
Losing or damaging a tray is quite stressful because, with each passing minute, the chances of treatment plan delays increase. For that reason, we recommend contacting our West Brookfield dental team ASAP. Once we know a little more about what happened, we can determine whether a new aligner needs to be made or if you can move onto the next set in the series a tad early.
Routine Check-Ins
To monitor how your teeth are moving in comparison to your treatment plan, you need to come to our office periodically throughout your teeth-straightening journey. Usually, these visits are every 6-8 weeks and take less than 20 minutes – just enough time for us to take new scans, make sure you’re on-track with your treatment plan, and give you your next set of aligners.
Invisalign is effective for treating a variety of bite and alignment concerns, including:
Crowded Teeth
Crowded teeth increase your risk of cavities and gum disease because it can be difficult to effectively remove bacteria and plaque. Invisalign creates more space to improve your smile and your oral health.
Gaps Between Teeth
Bite Alignment
Your bite can lead to uneven wear on your enamel and jaw pain. Invisalign can correct several bite issues, like an overbite, underbite, or crossbite.
Depending on your individual needs, your Invisalign treatment might be around the same cost as metal braces. Of course, the price ultimately depends on your specific dental needs, including how complex your case is. Don’t worry – we’ll provide you with an estimate during your initial consultation and discuss your payment options, like using your dental insurance or flexible financing.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
As we touched on above, there isn’t a set price for the aligners because the cost is based on your specific treatment plan. At your consultation with our West Brookfield dental team, we will conduct a thorough oral exam to determine if we need to straighten both arches of teeth, if rubber bands or any other orthodontic accessories need to be added to your treatment plan, and how many aligners are needed to achieve the results you desire.
Important note: It is possible for there to be additional costs down the line. For example, if you consistently don’t wear your aligners, causing you to fall off-track with your treatment plan, then we’ll need to create a new one.
Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?
Mail-order aligner companies focus most of their marketing around the lower price. What they don’t mention, however, is WHY. Although a cheaper orthodontic treatment may initially seem tempting, they actually completely bypass important steps of the teeth-straightening process, like conducting a thorough exam upfront. Plus, they rely on DIY impressions, have been sued by several patients who have experienced worsened misalignment, and don’t have support from professional organizations, like the ADA. In other words, mail-order aligner companies may be cheaper, but they certainly aren’t better.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
There are some cases where dental insurance will cover a portion of the cost of Invisalign, like when it’s deemed “medically necessary.” As always, we recommend looking through your dental plan to see what benefits are available to you. If you’re having a hard time because of the unfamiliar jargon, then don’t hesitate to give our West Brookfield dental team a call! We’re proud to welcome all major insurances and PPOs, and we’ll file the paperwork on your behalf to help make the entire process stress-free.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
If you don’t currently have dental insurance, you might be looking for another way to make the cost of Invisalign more affordable. Fortunately, there is! At West Brookfield Dental, we welcome LendingPoint, which is a trusted third-party financier. With this financial solution, you won’t have to stress about trying to pay for the entire cost of your orthodontic treatment at once. Instead, you can find a payment plan that breaks down the price into smaller, more budget-friendly chunks.
Every year, more and more teens and adults elect to straighten their smiles with Invisalign instead of clunky, awkward metal braces. After all, it’s not hard to see the numerous benefits that this treatment offers. However, you may have a few questions about the finder details of the treatment process. While you can always give us a call and ask, we’ve decided to answer some of the questions we get asked the most frequently about Invisalign down below.Will I Have to Be Referred to an Outside Specialist for Invisalign?
Nope! Many general dentists don’t possess the required training to administer Invisalign. At West Brookfield Dental, however, we have our very own in-house orthodontist. Dr. Sam Alkhoury is an orthodontist in West Brookfield you can trust. In addition to his more than 25 years of experience in the dental field so far, he has been awarded by the American Association of Orthodontists for the quality of service he provides to his patients. Rest assured that you can achieve the straight smile you deserve without having to be referred to an outside specialist.
Does Invisalign Treatment Hurt?
When you first begin treatment, you may experience some soreness or sensitivity, but this is actually a sign that the aligners are working. Invisalign straightens your smile by exerting a gentle pressure on your teeth, which may be slightly uncomfortable at first. This discomfort should subside after a few days. In the meantime, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label. It might also help to switch to a new set of aligners right before bed so that you sleep through the first few hours of the adjustment process.
Will Invisalign Restrict My Diet?
Not at all! Traditional braces come with a litany of foods you can’t consume because they might break a bracket. Invisalign in West Brookfield, on the other hand, doesn’t restrict the foods you can eat. All you have to do is remove your aligners before eating. Keep in mind, though, that you should always brush your teeth before placing them back in your mouth. Failure to do could result in food particles getting trapped between your teeth and your aligners, resulting in bad breath, discolored aligners, and an increased risk of cavities and gum disease.
Will I Need to Wear a Retainer After I’m Done with Invisalign?
Most likely, yes. Just because your orthodontic treatment is over doesn’t necessarily mean your results will be permanent. If you don’t wear a retainer after you’re finished with Invisalign, your teeth are at risk of shifting back to their original crooked state. Generally, the more severe your alignment issues were, the more likely you’ll have to wear a retainer after Invisalign treatment. However, you may not have to wear it almost 24/7 like you did with your aligners. Many retainers can still keep your smile straight even if you only wear them at night.
