Invisalign: A Complete Guide

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment for adjusting mal-aligned teeth without using metal braces.

This article is a comprehensive guide to Invisalign, their uses, benefits & risks, cost and much more.

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Table of Contents

What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a series of custom-made, clear braces that cover the teeth and gently apply a force that allows them to move back to their proper positions over time. The aligners are made of a thermoplastic polymeric material similar to teeth-whitening trays. Because they are clear and removable (can be taken on and off by the patient), they are considered more aesthetic than traditional orthodontic metal braces.

Invisalign Treatment

How Much Does Invisalign Cost?

Invisalign costs range from $1,800 to $9,500, according to the severity of your orthodontic problem and the number of aligners to be fabricated. This is before insurance coverage. A typical adult would spend around $5,000 for a full treatment. These averages can be compared to $3,000 to $7,000 for traditional wire-and-bracket braces.

As with any orthodontic treatment, at the end of the treatment phase, you can expect to use a retainer to keep your teeth in their new positions after Invisalign treatment finishes. Retainers can either be removable or cemented to your teeth. They mostly cost $100–$500 per retainer.

Is Invisalign Worth It?

Invisalign has many advantages over Metal Braces, which definitely make it worth the investment.

  • Invisalign is way less noticeable and more aesthetic than metal braces.
  • There would be no food or drink restrictions since, with aligners, you have no risk of brackets debonding.
  • It is easier to brush and floss since alignment trays are removable
  • There is no risk of development of periodontal problems caused by orthodontic bands
  • There is no chance of Enamel hypo-mineralization caused by etching procedures, as with the classic orthodontic brackets.

 

Does Insurance Cover Invisalign?

The answer to that question is going to be, “It depends.”

  • Medicaid does not cover Invisalign, as it is considered a cosmetic treatment.
  • Government insurances like Denti-Cal don’t usually cover Invisalign either.
  • Private Insurances like Aetna, Humana, Cigna and Delta Dental cover some portion of Invisalign. However, it depends on the plan that you have. It is a good idea to check with your insurance.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign
The Invisalign aligners are manufactured so that teeth shall eventually move in small increments, so when you put a new aligner in, the teeth in the tray (aligner plastic teeth template form) are slightly straighter than the natural position of your mal-aligned teeth. This exerts pressure over your mal-aligned teeth in such a way that, through the course of a week, your teeth will move to match the aligner tray. It takes, on average, less than one year for the people who use Invisalign to get results, and it can take as short as six months of treatment. Of course, it may take more or less time, depending on the treatment needs. The treatment time is directly related to the complexity of the cases.

Does Invisalign Hurt?

Invisalign is less painful than metal braces. Most patients report discomfort for the first few days of wearing Invisalign trays with some tenderness, but when this is compared to the agony of metal braces after wire stretching, Invisalign wins by being a less painful treatment modality with a success rate that exceeds 90%.

How Long Do Invisalign Retainers Last?

The period that a patient needs to wear retainers after treatment depends on the type and degree of severity of teeth malalignment. Some retainers should be worn forever, others for a specific period of time, just like the retainers after classical braces treatment.

Financing Invisalign® Aligners

We know Invisalign® aligners can be expensive. That is why we partner with the likes of Lending Club and Scratch Pay to provide you 100% Buy-Now-Pay-Later financing.

If you have a low credit score, we also offer discount Dental Plans.

If you have questions, call our office to know more details.

100% Financing

We partner with Lending Club, Cherry and Care Credit to offer you convenient financing options. The max we offer is $65,000 in financing. That is more than enough to cover Invisalign Braces.

Buy Now Pay Later

The financing options we offer start with 0% interest payments. You can pay the financed amount in up to 60 months.

Discount Plans

If you want to lower your total payment, we offer discount plans which can take up to 20% off of your total amount due. You can club discount plans with financing.

Low Credit Score?

While we have seen financing being approved for our patients with low credit scores, sometimes financing doesn't get approved. For such cases, we offer Discount Plans with up to 20% off.

Will Invisalign Work For Me?

Invisalign can effectively treat those who suffer from mild to moderate orthodontic problems. Since it mainly depends on moving the top portion of the tooth (towards the crown) without proper control over the bottom portion (towards the root), it has some limitations, especially with serve malalignment cases and those that need movement near the root of the tooth. Missing teeth, crowns, or bridges have no effect on Invisalign treatment. Your dentist or orthodontist will be able to assess your case and let you know if Invisalign is the right treatment choice for you.

When Is Invisalign Not A Right Choice?

Like any other medical procedure, Invisalign has a few limitations. Some of the conditions that Invisalign can’t treat are the following:

  •   Severe Overbite/Reverse bite: In overbite cases, the upper teeth override the lower teeth in an exaggerated way, while in reverse bite, the lower teeth override the upper teeth, which is the exact opposite of the normal bite. These two types of issues are challenging to be treated by Invisalign
  •   Rotated Teeth: Rotation is a prominent type of malocclusion, especially in overcrowded teeth. Invisalign can only fix rotated teeth if the rotation angle is less than 20 degrees.
  •   Large Gaps: Generally speaking, Invisalign can not treat large teeth gaps.
  •   Intrusions and Extrusions: Sometimes, a patient needs to have a tooth moved upwards or downwards without changing position in the oral cavity; unfortunately, this cannot be corrected with Invisalign. You will need to get traditional braces instead.

Taking Care Of Invisalign

As with any procedure, it is important to know how to take care of Invisalign once the procedure is underway or complete

How To Clean Invisalign Trays?

  • Rinse aligner trays with plain water regularly every night before sleeping.
  • Brush your aligners with a soft-bristled toothbrush and clear liquid soap to remove any debris, bacteria, or food remnants that have accumulated during the day; then rinse thoroughly with water after brushing.
  • Store them in a protective case whenever they are not in use to avoid accidental drops.
  •  Invisalign also provides “cleaning crystals” . These crystals contain cleansing agents such as sodium sulfate; they can be dissolved in water, then you can soak your aligners in that cleaning solution without the need to brush them.

How To Remove Invisalign Trays From My Mouth?

  • Make sure your mouth is warm to avoid aligner tightness
  • Start from the area of the molars (Lift the aligners off the molars on each side first, and then gradually progress forward towards the front)
  • Try using a paper towel for a better grip

How Often Should I Change Invisalign Trays?

You will need to change your Invisalign trays every 1-2 weeks. Each set of aligners will help to move the teeth slightly more into their correct position. Patients should attend follow-up appointments with their dentist every 4 – 6 weeks.

What Can I Not Do While Wearing Invisalign Aligners?

There are a few things that you shouldn’t do while using Invisalign:

  • You need to remove the aligners whenever you decide to eat or drink something, with the exception of water. Coffee, red wine, Cola, and other items that cause teeth discoloration will do the same effect on your clear aligners.
  • Please make sure you always remove them before consuming all meals, snacks, and drinks.
  • Don’t use toothpaste on aligner trays. Most toothpaste brands contain abrasive particles to remove bacteria, food remnants, plaque, and calculus from your teeth. Using toothpaste on your aligners will scratch them irreversibly.
  • Don’t smoke while the aligner trays are on. Nicotine can discolor the aligners.

What Can I Do With Invisalign Aligners On?

While removing and putting on Invisalign Aligners is very easy, there are many activities that you can do without even having to remove your aligners.

  • Being clear and transparent, you can smile confidently without being annoyed or embarrassed.
  • Kissing – Many people worry about kissing while wearing Invisalign clear aligners. You can keep your aligners in place while kissing, so there is no need to worry about having to awkwardly remove them in the middle of an intimate situation. Your partner shall unlikely notice them due to their smooth texture and secure fit.

Of course for things like eating, drinking, smoking etc. you should remove your Invisalign aligners prior to those activities.

Dr. Alag of Fab Dental - Hayward Emergency Dentist and Implant Center

Meet Dr. Alag

Fellowship in Implantology, DDS

Dr. Alag comes from a family of doctors. She graduated from Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences in India and practiced for a few years there. She received her Doctor of Dental Surgery from New York University College of Dentistry where she graduated with Honors in Prosthodontics.

She keeps herself updated through continuing education courses. Dr. Alag is also credentialed by AGD, CDA and ADA. She was awarded a Fellowship in Implantology by the International Dental Implant Association in 2018.

Read More …

What To Expect During Free Consult?

Learn what will happen during your free consultation.

Check-In

You will get online forms to fill in before your appointment. When you arrive, check-in with the front desk, or online.

X-Rays

Once we are ready for you, we will get a 3-D Scan through our ultra-modern CBCT machine.

Check-Up

After the X-Rays, Dr. Alag will do a check-up and exam. She will show you your X-Rays and build your treatment plan.

Pricing & Financing

After the check-up, we will go over the pricing and various financing options available to you.

Get Low Cost Invisalign Starting at $99/mo In Hayward!

Contact Us Today and Get All the Information You Need

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