Getting a straight, beautiful smile used to take a lot of hard work through difficult procedures and equipment. But today’s innovative dental industry now offers a wide array of quicker, easier, and healthier methods for perfecting your smile. Invisalign is one such treatment, boasting a variety of advantages in a fast, convenient, treatment method. But what exactly is Invisalign? We’re here with everything you need to know about Invisalign, from what it can do, to who it works best for and how our office can help you get started on achieving your perfect smile.
Invisalign: The Basics
What Is It and How Does It Work?
Invisalign is an innovative treatment that has helped more than 5 million smiles worldwide. It is a scientifically-backed, clear aligner system that works much like traditional braces, straightening teeth for the perfect smile. The clear aligners are made from a specialized, comfortable, SmartTrack material that is customized to slowly, gradually, and continuously shape your mouth into the ideal, straight smile.
Unlike traditional braces, however, Invisalign comes with none of the restrictions, wires, brackets, or pain. The aligners are also clear, and therefore invisible. Your dental team creates a personalized treatment plan that maps out the movement of your teeth, in which the aligners are adjusted to gradually move and shape your smile. You receive new aligners as your mouth changes until your smile has reached perfection. Depending on your needs, aligners can be worn on both the top and bottom, as well as one or the other.
Who Can Be Helped By Invisalign?
Much like other dental procedures and treatments, Invisalign is designed to treat certain issues. From very small straightening to much larger problems with your teeth, Invisalign may be able to help with a variety of problems. Over time, Invisalign can help treat and repair a wide range of cases, with a wide range of severities. Smiles with the following characteristics could be straightened or fixed with Invisalign:
- Slight crookedness
- Crowded teeth
- Gap teeth
- Crossbite
- Underbite
- Overbite
- Openbite
Your dental team can help determine if your smile is properly suited for Invisalign treatments. Factors that may affect your qualification for Invisalign treatment include prior and current dental work, medical health, and more.
Is Invisalign Age-Restrictive?
Invisalign can be used for teens and adults. Much like braces and other orthodontic treatment options, Invisalign works best when all adult, permanent teeth are in. In fact, teens may even receive straighter teeth quicker with Invisalign treatment, in comparison to traditional braces. It is important to remember that age is not the only factor in determining whether Invisalign treatments are appropriate to treat your smile or not. Other factors that may be taken into consideration by your dental team include medical health and health history, or current oral health issues needing to be addressed.
Getting Invisalign
What Are the Benefits of Invisalign Treatments?
The innovative Invisalign treatments have become extremely popular due to its ability to blend seamlessly into any person’s lifestyle. Compared to other treatment options for straightening your teeth or fixing your smile, Invisalign offers the following benefits:
- They are invisible and less-noticeable to other people, for better self-esteem and confidence.
- You can remove them to brush, eat or drink, or clean them. They can also be removed for pictures or special occasions.
- There are absolutely no brackets or wires, therefore less painful and uncomfortable. They are also easier to maintain.
- They are made from comfortable, SmartTrack material that forms to your mouth, making for an overall, more comfortable experience.
How Long Does It Take?
To get started, your Invisalign-approved dentist will examine your mouth and smile, as well as perform x-rays. Your dental team will use the x-rays and exam information to formulate a plan for your Invisalign treatment. Once your plan has been approved, the aligners for your personalized plan will be created. The initial process, from the exam to wearing your first aligners, may take a few weeks.
Your Invisalign aligners can be taken off but should be worn for between 20-22 hours each day to receive maximum benefits. You will change to a new set of aligners roughly every 1-2 weeks, depending on your personalized plan, until your smile is perfect. Each set is designed to gradually and minimally shift your teeth into place for the next aligners.
The overall time it takes for Invisalign to work their magic depends mostly on the severity and complexity of the problem, and how well the treatment plan is followed. For people with slight crookedness, treatments can be finished in as little as 6 months. For others, it can take anywhere between 12-24 months for a perfect smile. Your dental team will keep in continuous contact during the treatment process, to ensure each aligner is fitting properly and doing its job.
After your treatment is completed, your dental team will check on the progress. In certain cases, your dentist may recommend you temporarily wear a retainer to ensure your teeth do not shift back.
What Is the Cost of Invisalign?
Invisalign treatments and the financial cost work just like other dental procedures. There are a variety of factors that are taken into consideration when discussing the cost of Invisalign, which are unique to each individual’s situation. Factors that play large roles in the cost of your Invisalign treatments include your dental insurance, the severity of repairs required, and the time it will take to complete the treatment.
The cost of Invisalign is typically comparable to traditional braces, but the time required for the process is also much shorter. The average price for Invisalign treatment can range anywhere between $3,000-$7,000.
Learn More About Invisalign
Here at North Coast Dental Excellence, we are focused on providing each and every patient with the best in personalized dental care. Specializing in general, as well as cosmetic dentistry, our staff is dedicated to helping you achieve the healthy and beautiful smile you deserve. To find out more about how we can help you achieve the smile of your dreams, contact the trusted staff at our office to schedule your appointment today!