For years, traditional braces have been the standard for smile realignment.
However, that doesn’t mean they are ideal for everybody. If you only
have mild to moderate amounts of crowding, misalignment, or gaps, you may not
see a need to wear braces for years at a time. Furthermore, if your mouth is
sensitive to the metal materials they use, they may even be completely out of
the question. Through Invisalign, however, you can make adjustments to your
smile and do so in less time, all without using a single metal wire or bracket
along the way.
Call our dental office today
to learn how
Dr. James K. Kramer
gets it done with Invisalign in Selbyville!
How Does Invisalign Work?
During your Invisalign consultation, Dr. Kramer will closely examine all the different
areas of your smile to confirm which sections could be more aligned. While
this means confirming the presence of gaps, it also means checking for
crowding, misalignment, or signs of an uneven bite (such as an overbite.) If
he determines that Invisalign is right for you, he’ll begin the
process of capturing detailed impressions of your mouth so that a series of
clear aligners can be created.
These clear aligners apply gentle amounts of pressure to your teeth over
several months at a time. Each series of aligners comes with multiple unique
pairs, all of which represent a different stage of your treatment. Once you
wear each pair for a specific period of time (generally 22 hours per day
over the next two weeks), your smile will be in a straighter and healthier
position. You will need to wear a retainer for an additional year following
treatment to ensure your teeth do not shift back, also known as relapsing.
What Are the Benefits of Invisalign?
Clear aligners are designed to be transparent, so those who are concerned
about their image (ideally working adults) won’t have to worry about
changing their appearance. Furthermore, the aligners are fully removable, so
there’s no need to worry about changing your diet or your personal
oral care habits just to undergo treatment. This cannot be said for
traditional orthodontics, which are fixed and cannot be removed until
treatment is complete.
Additionally, Invisalign does not take nearly as much time as traditional
braces do. On average, treatment lasts for about one year, but even this
varies depending on how misaligned your teeth are.
Should I Consider Invisalign Treatment?
Invisalign is a great option for many, but it’s not always for
everyone. For example, we do not recommend treatment for those who are
younger and still have developing mouths. At that point, traditional
orthodontics are a better fit. Invisalign is more ideal for teenagers and
adults, both of which have teeth that have fully developed.
If you only have mild to moderate levels of misalignment to manage, then
Invisalign is likely for you. If you are trying to maintain a professional
image at your workplace or while finishing school, you may find it much
easier to manage day-to-day then metal braces.
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
If you’re interested in undergoing Invisalign to straighten your teeth, then you can expect to enjoy a discreet and comfortable process while enhancing your smile. Still, you’ll also want to know how much you’ll need to pay for the treatment before going forward. Since no two smiles are the same, this orthodontic process can vary in price based on your situation. That’s why you’ll need to visit our team for a consultation so we can provide you with a more accurate estimate. Until then, here’s what you should know about the cost of Invisalign as well as your financing options.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
In many cases, the price of Invisalign can vary from patient to patient due to a few factors, such as:
The complexity of your orthodontic issues
: The type and extent of your dental misalignment can influence the number of clear aligners that you’ll need to use, which can increase the cost.
The number of arches you need to correct
: Straightening one arch of teeth can typically cost less than needing to correct both arches.
Treatment compliance
: You’ll need to wear your aligners for 20-22 hours every day. If you aren’t able to comply with your treatment plan, it can cause you to take longer to complete your process, which will only raise the price over time.
Additional accessories
: If you require other appliances or accessories, such as elastic bands, this can increase how much you’ll need to pay.
Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?
Those who are on a budget may want to pursue a more affordable treatment process for straightening their smiles, such as Smile Direct Club. However, the lower price will often coincide with the quality of the results. This is because DIY clear aligners usually don’t use materials that are as durable or effective as professional products like Invisalign, and you won’t have direct supervision from a dentist, which can increase the risk of errors that’ll need to be addressed by a professional anyway.
Instead of risking complications, you can undergo orthodontic treatment with Invisalign, which has been consistently successful with its results. Our team will also work with you through the entire process, ensuring minimal hiccups along the way to straightening your pearly whites.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
Many dental insurance companies help in covering the cost of orthodontic treatments, including Invisalign. Still, you’ll want to verify the specifics of your benefits with your provider before jumping ahead with the process. You can also consult our team as we’ll be more than happy to help you navigate your policy, file claims, and make the most of your plan so you can achieve the straight smile you deserve.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
Our Kramer Dental team understands that not everyone is covered by dental insurance. That’s why we’re proud to partner with a third-party financier known as CareCredit. With their plans, you can typically split the overall cost of your dental treatments into monthly payments so you can minimize how much you pay upfront. Also, these installments tend to come with low to no interest! You’ll be able to straighten your smile without having to break the bank.
Invisalign FAQs
Does Invisalign Hurt?
This is one of the most-asked questions, often by patients who had traditional braces in the past and vividly remember the discomfort that came with the initial adjustment period. We have good news for you: Invisalign doesn’t have any metal components. Plus, the aligners are custom-made to fit the contours of your mouth perfectly, making it even less likely that you’ll experience soft tissue irritation.
With all of that said, it is normal to feel soreness from time to time from the movement of your teeth. There is some silver lining though: that means your aligners are working! The pressure should go away within a day or two, but you can take OTC pain medication as directed, sip on cool water, and stick to soft foods, like plain yogurt, to help alleviate it even sooner.
How Long Does Invisalign Take?
You may have read that the average treatment timeline with Invisalign is 12-18 months. That’s true! However, it’s possible for your teeth-straightening journey to be shorter or longer than that. The biggest factors at play are the severity of your case and how well you follow the guidelines we provided. For example, if you don’t switch to the next set of aligners in the series on the correct day or you consistently don’t wear them for 20 hours a day, there’s a good chance you’ll fall off-track with your treatment plan, resulting in considerable delays.
Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Invisalign?
Although there aren’t any dietary restrictions with Invisalign, it is important to keep sugary and starchy snacks to a minimum. After all, the development of an oral health problem – from a small cavity to a significant infection – will bring your teeth-straightening journey to a temporary stop. And it will only resume once you get the restorative care you need. So, if you want to get the results you desire sooner rather than later, it’s important that you eat mostly healthy, well-balanced meals that are filled with seasonal vegetables and other nutrient-dense foods.
What Should I Do If I Lose an Invisalign Aligner?
The first step we recommend taking is trying to determine the last place you know you had your aligners. Then, carefully retrace your steps, looking in “odd” places, like the center console of your car, in the process. If you’ve looked everywhere but can’t find them, don’t panic. Instead, give our cosmetic dentist in Selbyville a call so they can determine if a replacement set needs to be made or if it’s safe to move onto the next set of aligners in the series.
Do I Need to Wear a Retainer After My Invisalign Treatment?
Yes! In fact, wearing a retainer is a crucial part of the retention phase. So, don’t slip out of the habit of wearing yours as directed. If you do, then your chances of orthodontic relapse skyrocket (the phenomenon when teeth move out of their properly aligned positions).
