Invisalign is a clear aligner technology that has been around since 2006.
Dr. Renas will examine your teeth to determine the severity of your orthodontic problems and evaluate your oral health to determine if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign.
Our dentist in Saginaw will take 3D digital scans of your teeth and digital x-rays and send them to the dental lab so they can fabricate your aligners.
Based on scans and x-rays taken of your teeth, the lab technician can create a 3D model of your teeth which is what your aligners will be based on. Using special software, we can digitally plan how your teeth will move through your treatment.
After a few weeks, your aligners will be ready to be picked up. You will receive enough aligners to change them every 2 weeks.
About every 6 weeks, you will return to our office so we can check on the progress of your treatment and you will receive more aligners.
Once you have completed your treatment, you will need to wear a retainer to maintain this new alignment.
When you wear your aligners for 22 hours per day, within 2 weeks, you will notice a difference in your alignment. The aligners are gradually shifting your teeth by exerting gentle force to move them into the proper alignment.
Invisalign can close small to moderate gaps to achieve a more aesthetic smile and prevent the collection of food particles and bacteria which may lead to oral health problems. However, large gaps will require the use of braces.
Overcrowding is a result of a lack of jaw space for the number of teeth in the mouth. This results in teeth misaligned and overlapping teeth which pose high risks of tooth decay because of the difficulty of thoroughly brushing and flossing between them. Invisalign can correct minor cases of overcrowding.
Bite problems such as overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites are a result of a misaligned jaw. While severe bite problems should be treated with braces, Invisalign is effective at treating minor to moderately misaligned bites with the help of attachments and elastics.
These attachments anchor the aligners to exert the amount of force needed to shift specific teeth and the elastics help move the jaw forward or backward.
Clear aligners are more hygienic than braces because there aren’t metal brackets and wires obscuring the tooth surfaces when you clean your teeth.
The length of your treatment will depend on many different factors, including your age, the severity of your alignment issues, and your ability to comply with treatment. The average treatment time is 12 to 18 months but patients with very minor orthodontic problems may only need 6 months of treatment. You must wear your aligners for at least 22 hours per day to avoid prolonging the length of your treatment
No, you should not eat or drink while wearing your Invisalign aligners because they can become stained or trap food particles inside them which can cause bacteria to collect and cause cavities.
You can drink water while wearing your aligners but if you want to eat, have a hot beverage, or have a flavored drink, you will need to remove your aligners first. The removability of the aligners allows you to eat and drink anything you want.
This sets them apart from metal braces which come with a lot of food restrictions because sticky foods can get stuck in them and hard foods can damage the brackets. With clear aligners, you can eat a restriction-free diet so long as you take your aligners out first.
Try to avoid frequent snacking throughout the day. You need to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours a day so make sure you don’t remove them too often and remember to brush and floss your teeth before putting your aligners back on.
The aligners may cause you to feel some level of discomfort, tenderness, or sensitivity when you first start wearing them. Patients report that discomfort is the greatest in the first week of wearing clear aligners but that this subsides over time.
Because the aligners are tightest when first put them on and they gradually become less snug as your teeth shift over the 2 weeks that you wear them, you will likely feel a stronger sensation of tightness when you switch out your aligners for new ones every 2 weeks.
You should not feel significant pain but some level of discomfort is normal when pressure is being placed on your teeth every day to move them. Clear aligner treatment is much more comfortable and less painful than braces but you may still want to get some relief.
You can rinse your mouth with saline solutions a few times a day, suck on ice cubes, take anti-inflammatory pain medication, use a cold compress, and try to stick to soft foods when you switch to a new aligner. If you put a new aligner in at night time, you will minimize the amount of pain you feel while you’re awake.
Invisalign is a cheaper orthodontic treatment than comparable clear aligner brands like Invisalign. However, the actual cost that you will pay can depend on many factors, including:
There are four different Invisalign plans to choose from. Those are unlimited, limited 6, limited 12, and flex. These plans are based on the number of aligners you will need and the length of your treatment.
Patients with more severe malocclusions like a misaligned bite will undergo treatment for longer and need more aligners, which will mean paying more than someone with a small gap or slightly crooked teeth. The cost of Invisalign ranges from $2000 for limited 6 and up to $8000 for unlimited aligners. Dr. Renas can provide you with a personalized quote during your consultation.
If you have a dental insurance plan that covers orthodontics, then they may cover part of your Invisalign treatment. However, some insurance plans categorize clear aligner orthodontics as cosmetic dentistry, which doesn’t qualify for insurance coverage.
You will need to speak directly with your insurance provider to find out if they cover clear aligners. At Eagle Mountain Dentistry, we offer financing options through CareCredit for patients who don’t have insurance coverage.
Clear aligners are more comfortable because they place gentler pressure on the teeth.
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