Invisalign is an alternative to traditional metal braces. The system uses 3D computer technology to create a treatment plan. The Invisalign system is made up of several transparent aligners that are designed to move your teeth to the desired position slowly. Each of the aligners would be custom made by your dentist to follow your treatment plan.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign is different than traditional braces in that each aligner controls the amount of movement in your teeth as well as how fast the teeth move. Each of the aligners is designed to move certain teeth. When it is time to change your aligner, which is usually every two weeks, different teeth will start moving.

How Long Does Invisalign Treatment Take?

The average treatment time for Invisalign is a year, however, each individual case is different depending on the problem and the severity of the issue. When your dentist creates your Invisalign treatment plan, you would have a better idea of how long your treatment would take. Most people are required to wear their aligner 20 to 22 hours each day. If you follow your dentist’s instructions and you make it to your appointments every 4 to 6 weeks for progress checks, you should be able to stay on track with your dentist’s original treatment plan.

How Much Does Invisalign Cost?

The cost of Invisalign varies depending on your dentist or orthodontist. The average cost of the treatment is generally between $3,500 and $8,000. Today, the national average for Invisalign treatment is $5,000. If your dental plan covers orthodontic treatment, it may cover some of the cost. You would need to check with your insurance provider to find out what is covered. You can also check with your dentist to find out if they offer payment plans or finance plans.

Finding Invisalign Providers

Not all dentists are orthodontists or Invisalign providers. This is because these medical professionals would need special training to provide this type of treatment. If you talk to your dentist about getting Invisalign and they don’t provide the treatment, they will likely be able to recommend someone who can.

What Are the Benefits Of Invisalign Over Traditional Metal Braces?

If you are trying to decide between traditional metal braces and Invisalign treatment, you should consider all of the benefits that Invisalign has that metal braces don’t.

Appearance:
Most adults don’t want to wear traditional braces. Adults often don’t want to walk around with a mouth full of metal for a year or more. The good thing about Invisalign is that the aligners are transparent and you can see your teeth behind the aligners. The aligners look similar to the mouthpiece that your dentist uses when you have your teeth professionally whitened. Unless you tell people that you are wearing an aligner, they probably won’t even notice it.

Brushing and Flossing Is Easy:
Should you choose to fix your smile with braces, you have to be very careful when you brush and floss. The orthodontist would give you a special tool that is designed to scrub the teeth underneath the wire. You also need to brush around the brackets very carefully. If you don’t brush well enough, you can develop a decalcification on your teeth which can cause white spots to develop on your teeth. Once the spots have developed, there is a good chance that they will remain. They may lighten up a bit, however, they are not completely reversible. Finally, flossing with braces is very important and it can also be difficult. If you go with the Invisalign system, you can brush and floss the way you always have. This is because before you brush your teeth and floss, you would take out the aligner and soak it. It is the safer way to keep your teeth healthy during your treatment. To clean your aligners, you would simply rinse them in warm water and soak them in Invisalign Cleaning Crystals for a few minutes each day. This is something that you can do while you are in the shower.

No Restrictions On Food:
As anyone who has used metal braces before, they will tell you about the problem with certain foods and treats. These are foods that would damage the brackets or the wires. Hard foods such as peanuts, pizza crust, and hard candy are on the list. Sticky foods, such as gum, taffy, and caramel are also on the restricted list. A few other foods that you cannot eat include popcorn, corn on the cob, and apples. Even if some of these are your favorite foods, you would need to avoid eating them until your braces come off. If you choose the Invisalign system, there would be no food restrictions. Before you have meals and snacks, you would take the aligner out. However, it is recommended that you don’t smoke or chew gum while you are wearing the aligners.

Less Pain:
When you first get metal braces, it can be painful. The skin on the inside of your mouth can get scraped up on the brackets. Your dentist will likely give you a small tin of wax. It can be used to cover the sharp brackets, however, this only helps so much. Over time, your skin will toughen up and this won’t be an issue, however, it can be painful at the beginning. Invisalign is different in that the aligners won’t scrape the inside of your mouth at all. There are no brackets and the aligners are as smooth as your own teeth. The only pain that most people with Invisalign complain of is a bit of discomfort for the first few days after putting in a new aligner. This pain can be treated with an over the counter pain reliever. You will also experience this type of pain with metal braces when you go to the dentist every 4 to 6 weeks when they are tightened.

Shorter Treatment Time:
The time that you need to wear braces would depend on the severity of your problem. You may need to wear your braces for up to three years. If you don’t like the idea of wearing braces for so long, you should consider going with the Invisalign system. On average, it takes about a year to complete the treatment, however, your particular treatment could be shorter or longer than this, depending on the circumstances.

Making a Change

If the benefits associated with Invisalign have made you consider Invisalign but you are already wearing braces, it is possible to switch mid-treatment. There are many patients who are treated with both braces and Invisalign during the course of their treatment. You would need to talk to your orthodontist and an Invisalign professional to find out what your options are.

Invisalign offers many benefits that metal braces don’t and you can have that perfect smile within a year. Best of all, you can get the treatment that you need and most people won’t even know about it. When your Invisalign treatment is complete, you would need to wear a retainer. This is true with any orthodontic procedure. This is the only way to be sure that your teeth will stay in their new position. The amount of time that you need to wear the aligner would be up to your dentist but you won’t need it permanently. Wearing a retainer after your treatment is complete is the best way to ensure that your new, perfect smile lasts forever.

 

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