The way our smile looks and feels can tell a lot about our oral health, personality, and lifestyle. And, often, our smile is the first thing others notice in us.
But, no matter how well you take care of your oral hygiene, the natural aging process – as well as some lifestyle choices – can take a toll on the brightness of your smile. And, today, over 50% of Americans feel insecure or self-conscious about their smile.
So, does that mean that you just have to continue covering your mouth with your hand when conversing or smiling with your lips closed? Luckily the answer is no! And, no, you don’t have to wear heavy metal braces for years to restore the beauty and functionality of your teeth.
Thanks to Invisalign – a revolutionary clear aligners system – you can realign your teeth, correct imperfections, and regain your confidence. Learn all you need to know about Invisalign’s clear aligners in the sections below and get in touch with your dentist or Invisalign provider to start working towards the smile of your dreams.
What Is Invisalign?
We all tend to erroneously think of braces as something we have to wear during our childhood. And, in the past, most adults would not even think about undergoing orthodontic treatment – or dental treatments to correct the misalignment of their teeth.
But, especially as you age, crooked and misaligned teeth can get worse, cause severe oral health issues, and affect your confidence.
Luckily, thanks to today’s advancements in dentistry, many adults have started to see orthodontic treatments as an always more viable option and, today, estimates by the American Association of Orthodontics suggest that over 25% of orthodontic patients are adults.
So, what is behind this trend? It all starts with Invisalign – or invisible aligners.
Invisalign is an orthodontic tool used by dentists to realign misaligned teeth or correct a crooked tooth without having to use burdensome metal braces. Invisalign trays are custom-made and removable, meaning that patients can enjoy minimal-to-no interference with their daily lives – and are just as effective as metal braces!
Since Invisalign clear aligners don’t use metal brackets or wires, you can carry out your treatment without pain, discomfort, or inconveniences. If you have been putting off getting braces because you hated the look and feel of metal braces, this might be your clue to speak to an Invisalign provider!
How Does Invisalign Work?
Simply, Invisalign is a series of clear aligners that will progressively realign and correct your teeth without pain or discomfort. Each custom-made clear tray is manufactured in SmartTrack – a patented, thermoplastic flexible material created specifically for this use. As you start to wear the different clear aligners, they will start to pull the teeth into the proper position, realigning your smile over time.
Unlike using traditional braces, Invisalign clear braces pull your teeth gently and gradually, without causing discomfort. What’s more, since the braces are virtually invisible and you can remove them as you need, they are convenient and less noticeable.
What Does the Invisalign Process Entail?
During your initial consultation with your provider, you’ll get to ask all of your questions about the Invisalign process and set the right expectations in terms of timelines and results. However, generally, the process entails these stages:
- Book your initial consultation with your Invisalign provider
- Your dentist will take impressions of your mouth and run a 3D analysis to show what to expect from the end result
- Receive your tailored treatment plan
- Wait for your clear aligners to be manufactured
- Wear the aligners as recommended by your dentist
- Refine your smile or make retainers
- Keep up with a maintenance routine
What To Expect From Invisalign
When wearing your trays, you will have to follow the instructions of your dentist. However, generally, here is what you should expect:
- You will receive 20-30 Invisalign trays to wear progressively (some patients might require up to 50)
- The Invisalign process usually takes between 12 and 18 months, but some patients wear their trays for as long as 24 months, while others can complete their treatment within 6 months.
- You will need to wear the trays for around 20 hours a day or anytime when not eating
- Invisalign yields a 96% satisfaction rate from patients
How Much Does Invisalign Cost? All You Need To Know
Unfortunately, there is no standard answer you can use to know exactly how much you’ll spend on your clear braces because the cost of your Invisalign treatment plan refers to the type of intervention required.
However, you can look at the average cost of Invisalign to set your expectations.
According to the Invisalign website, the average treatment can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $7,000. However, based on the US national average, most Invisalign treatments are priced below $5,000. For reference, traditional adult braces cost between $5,000 and $7,000.
As the Invisalign process becomes more popular and studies set in stone the efficacy of this treatment, many dental insurance policies have begun to partially cover the costs of this intervention. And, even in the case your health or dental insurance does not cover Invisalign treatments, you can use your HSA and FSA to afford the care you need.
Lastly, most Invisalign providers will make available payment plans that will only require you to pay $35-$200 a month to afford your treatment.
During your initial consultation with your dentist, you will receive a quote for your treatment, so that you can better understand the costs involved.
Who Is Invisalign For?
Recent studies – such as the ones published in 2018 and 2020, have proven the efficacy of Invisalign, and are suggesting that the treatment is increasing in accuracy over time. What’s more, research shows that Invisalign treatments can yield results up to 30% faster compared to traditional braces and offer a 96% satisfaction rate to patients.
However, Invisalign might not be the best option for everyone.
Today, the treatment has been approved for teenagers and adults who have completely erupted teeth and are able to follow their dentist’s instructions.
While most people with misaligned teeth can benefit from Invisalign, this kind of treatment is recommended for people with milder issues, such as mildly crowded or spaced teeth, overbite, or crossbite. Severe irregularities might still require traditional braces.
In any case, your dentist will be able to guide you in the choice of the best treatment for your needs.
Pro tip – results and success rate is highly dependent on your ability to stick to the instructions offered by your dentist. So, make sure to strictly follow the directions you receive to avoid compromising the outcome of your treatment!
The Benefits of Choosing Invisalign
For a small group of patients with more complex issues, Invisalign might not be the best treatment option. However, if you have been looking for a discreet and convenient solution to adjust your teeth, correct mild misalignment, and fix crooked teeth, Invisalign might be the option you have been looking for.
Thanks to this treatment’s accessibility, affordability, and efficacy, it can be a great compromise to regain your beautiful smile without having to deal with painful treatments. Here are just a few of the benefits of choosing Invisalign clear braces.
Lower Costs
For many adults, the cost involved with orthodontic treatments is one of the main reasons for putting off getting braces – especially if they have children who are in the process of getting braces too!
However, as the technology behind invisible braces continues to evolve, these treatments are becoming increasingly more affordable and easy to find. And, today, they are more affordable than traditional braces!
What’s more, as this kind of treatment becomes more widespread, more and more health and dental insurance policies include it under the orthodontic treatments covered. So, you can save up to 50% of the cost of Invisalign!
A More Discreet Alternative to Braces
Many adults are putting off getting orthodontic care because they dislike the feel and look of metal braces – or are afraid of the discomfort and pain involved with the treatment. And these feelings are so strong that patients often prefer to show their crooked teeth instead of braces!
Luckily, you no longer have to choose between the two options! Invisalign is a far more discreet option that allows you to fix your teeth over time without causing your embarrassment!
Indeed, Invisalign trays are made of thin, flexible plastic and molded around your unique dental shape. Thanks to this technology, they are virtually invisible and extremely hard to notice.
No Interferences With Your Daily Life
Metal braces can interfere with your daily life in more ways than one! Of course, they can make you feel self-conscious about yourself – but they can also cause a great deal of discomfort and cause you to keep off some of your favorite foods!
Indeed, when wearing metal braces, you will need to avoid hard-to-bite or chew foods that can damage the brackets or ingredients that can easily get stuck among the wires and lead to poor oral hygiene. With so much to think about, the list of foods to avoid when wearing braces can be long and include gum, popcorn, caramel, almonds, steak, carrots, apples, and corn-on-the-cob.
When opting for Invisalign over traditional braces, this isn’t going to be a problem! Indeed, your custom-made trays will always be removable, and you can just take them off before eating – so, you can enjoy your favorite foods anytime you like!
After your meal or snack, just brush or rinse your teeth before reinserting the tray and you are done!
More Hygienic Than Standard Braces
Standard modern braces were introduced in the early 1820s, and, since then, they have been developing to become more accurate, less painful, and more discreet. But, no matter this evolution, most traditional braces still come with several risks and downsides that should not be ignored. These include:
- Stains on your teeth once the traditional metal braces are removed
- Cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease as a consequence of difficulty in cleaning
- Poor oral health
With traditional metal braces, it can be hard to keep your teeth clean and free of debris, especially as you will need to brush and floss between the brackets and wires.
When choosing Invisalign, you won’t have to deal with any of the above drawbacks!
Since you can remove the clear aligners, you can brush your teeth as usual and prevent stains with a simple oral health routine.
Another great benefit of choosing Invisalign instead of metal braces? You will never have to worry about orthodontic emergencies! These happen when your brackets or wires snap, making your braces inefficient and causing potential harm to your gums and teeth.
Oppositely, Invisalign trays are made of durable plastic that isn’t easily broken or damaged.
Improved Smile Aesthetics
Invisalign is an efficient solution to restore your smile aesthetics and resolve a crooked or misaligned tooth.
While this kind of orthodontics treatment might seem like a cosmetic intervention at first, improving your smile can have endless positive consequences on your confidence, social life, and personal relationships. With Invisalign, you can do all this without having to face the necessary evil: having to wear unsightly metal brackets and wires!
Improved Mouth Functionalities and Bite
Beyond the cosmetic benefits it can offer, Invisalign can be efficiently used to correct mouth and teeth misalignments such as open bite, overbites and overjet. These conditions are far beyond just aesthetic problems, and can significantly compromise your mouth’s functionalities.
By using Invisalign, you can gently reposition your teeth which, in turn, can offer a wide range of benefits – including relieving the symptoms of teeth grinding, TMJ pain, and sleep issues like sleep apnea.
Easy Follow-Up Plan
When getting your invisible aligners, your dentist will tell you all you need to know about using your aligners correctly. And, you will also receive information about follow-up appointments and checkups.
Unlike wearing metal braces, with Invisalign, you will only need to visit your dentist occasionally to check that they are working fine – no pain, tightening wires, or discomfort!
This means that, if you have been putting off getting braces because of your hectic lifestyle, you can now fit a quick appointment on your lunch break or after work – and, such a limited time commitment means no excuse to put off your oral health!
Take Control of Your Dental Health With Invisalign – Talk To Your Invisalign Provider Today
With Invisalign, you are no longer a victim of a long and burdensome teeth aligning process. Instead, you can take control of your dental health and enjoy your journey towards straighter teeth and a more beautiful smile. Get in touch with your dentist today to get started!
