Invisalign
If your otherwise lovely smile is plagued by noticeable gaps or misaligned teeth, it’s time to pursue the improvements you deserve – but many patients shy away all too quickly from the thought of traditional braces. If noticeable brackets and wires aren’t right for your image, consider an effective and much more pleasingly subtle alternative: Invisalign. Here at Young Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, cosmetic dentist Dr. Dan Young offers Invisalign treatment to both adults and teenagers, helping them achieve the look of their dreams in record time. Contact our Joplin, MO office today to schedule your first consultation with our team!
How Does Invisalign Work?
Patients will be provided with clear plastic aligners that have been custom-created for their unique smile by the Invisalign lab. Each aligner represents a different stage of their orthodontic treatment – their job is simply to wear each one for a predetermined period of time (typically a couple of weeks) before switching it out for the next in the series. Over the course of their care, patients will also attend brief checkups with Dr. Young so that he can assess their progress and ensure that everything is going smoothly.
The benefits of Invisalign treatment include the following:
- The clear nature of the aligners allows them to blend in nicely with your smile when worn. Most people won’t even notice them unless they know what to look for.
- The aligners are fully removable, which means you can continue to eat all your favorite foods and brush and floss like normal.
- If you’d like to look your best for a big event, it’s fine to remove the aligner for an hour or two and enjoy yourself to the fullest.
- The aligners are made of smooth plastic, which is much less aggravating against the gum tissue than wires and brackets.
Invisalign FAQs
Thinking of straightening your smile? First, you’ll need to schedule a consultation with Dr. Young so that he can confirm that you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. During your visit, be sure to ask any questions you might have about the Invisalign process; the treatment takes time to complete, and we want you to feel confident that you understand what’s necessary. Below are the answers to some Invisalign FAQs that many patients have brought forward in the past.
What Orthodontic Issues Can Invisalign Treat?
While Invisalign does have limits, it’s usually a viable option for many kinds of orthodontic issues depending on how severe they are. Obviously, they can be used to straighten generally crooked teeth as well as teeth that are too far apart or too close together. You might also consider Invisalign if you have a bad bite (in other words, if your upper and lower teeth don’t line up correctly). This includes overbite, underbite, crossbite, and open bite. We’ll need to perform an examination to make sure that Invisalign will work for your specific situation.
How Long Will I Need to Wear Invisalign?
Total treatment time is different for every patient; it depends how much your teeth need to be rotated or otherwise moved. Needless to say, you can expect a more complex case to last longer.
The average Invisalign treatment can take anywhere between 10 to 24 months. This period might be extended if you don’t wear your aligners each day for the required amount of time (at least 20 to 22 hours, only removing them for meals and routine cleanings). Of course, if you only need to make slight adjustments, you could wear Invisalign for as little as 10 weeks.
How Much Will Invisalign Cost?
The ultimate cost of Invisalign treatment depends on how many aligners you need and how long the process lasts. In general, you can expect to pay about as much for Invisalign as you would for traditional braces. If you have a dental insurance plan that includes orthodontics, they may help pay for Invisalign up to a certain percentage or dollar amount. We can file a claim on your behalf to make sure you receive any applicable insurance benefits; we also offer an in-house savings plan that will allow you to save money on orthodontics as well as other services.
How Should I Take Care of Invisalign Aligners?
Rinse your aligners whenever you take them out of your mouth so that your saliva doesn’t dry onto them. (Make sure the water isn’t too hot; heat can cause the plastic to warp.) Periodically soak them in denture cleaner to keep them sanitized. Brush and floss thoroughly before you put your aligners back in so that food particles don’t become trapped between the plastic and your teeth. You can brush aligners using a toothbrush and an anti-bacterial soft soap but be gentle or you might leave a visible scratch. Plenty of foods and beverages can easily stain your aligners, so never consume anything except for water while wearing Invisalign.