An In-depth Look at Invisalign Braces

For a long time, braces were perceived to be a prison sentence for people’s social, professional and personal lives. Teenagers dreaded even the thought of living in braces and adults would avoid them altogether, thinking they had missed their chance to straighten their teeth in adolescence. It’s hard to blame them when the only option was metal braces, which were unsightly and uncomfortable to wear.

Then, ceramic braces hit the market and they were a vast improvement. They promised reduced visibility due to their material and because they were covered in a compound that matched the colour of teeth. It was a welcomed innovation but it still felt like only the tip of the iceberg. That is until Invisalign arrived. This set of clear aligners have proven to straighten teeth with little to no discomfort or interruption to one’s life. In fact, if you tell people you wear braces, they probably won’t believe you.

Dealing with the oral health issues that require braces of any kind is unpleasant. If ignored, they can lead to more severe problems like misalignments, tooth decay and gingivitis. It’s important that once you’re diagnosed as needing braces, you start the process of determining which kind is best for your teeth and your life. It’s during this time that you need to weigh the pros and cons associated with Invisalign.

Let’s review what exactly Invisalign is and how they work. In addition, we’ll explore how to care for Invisalign, what you can expect over the course of treatment and how these aligners have proven to aid in eliminating the emotional impact of having to wear braces.

What are Invisalign?

Invisalign are a brand of aligners that adjust and straighten teeth. This orthodontic device offers the same function and results as braces but with greater comfort and less interruption to a patient’s life.

Invisalign uses a series of custom-made aligners to move teeth in a direction determined by your dentist or orthodontist. Aligners are replaced roughly every two weeks with a new customized set and this process continues until your teeth are straight.

Most adults are eligible for Invisalign. Teenagers, on the other hand, need to speak to their dentist to determine if this treatment is appropriate for their situation. Patients always want to err on the side of what’s best for their oral health.

With respect to cost and payment, this is determined by the degree of correction required and the depth and criteria of a treatment plan. We offer our patients flexible payment options and are open to working out an arrangement that makes sense. These arrangements can include a discount if paid in full by cash or check or aligning payments with your coverage.

What to Expect from an Invisalign Treatment?

Invisalign treatment run approximately the same length of time as traditional braces. It is recommended that Invisalign patients visit their dentist for a checkup every six weeks for between nine to 15 months. Treatments are pain-free and include anywhere from 18 to 30 aligners. Of course, duration and number of aligners vary based on the severity of the patient’s teeth.

Georgian Dental® offers a unique addition to our Invisalign treatment that increases its speed and efficiency. We supplement treatment by incorporating a soft pulse ultrasonic and low level laser therapy. In addition, we use 3D scans for precision and to prevent your mouth from being full of harmful chemicals. This is all part of our holistic approach to dentistry and orthodontic therapy.

The Benefits of Invisalign

These aligners are adored by millions because they are clear and removable—two benefits that have long eluded patients. No more suffering the emotional distress from having to wear braces in public or from trying to hide your smile so that people can’t see the metal in your mouth.

The other benefits include greater comfort compared to metal brackets and being able to eat or drink whatever you want. Since they can be removed, food doesn’t get stuck in them and lead to cavities, gingivitis and other related health issues.

There are a couple more benefits to note. One is having to spend less time in the dentist’s chair getting adjustments since Invisalign don’t have brackets and wires that need tinkering. Another is that patients can view their treatment plan online. This helps them chart their progress and feel motivated by seeing what the result will be. Our patients love the transparency that comes with Invisalign!

As you can see, Invisalign offers a ton of rewards. Essentially, it provides the orthodontic care commonly associated with braces but without many of the negative side effects, including emotional distress, social stigma, discomfort or being forced to avoid your favourite foods and drinks.

The Drawbacks of Invisalign

While Invisalign is considered an orthodontic marvel, there are several drawbacks that you should be aware of as you make your decision.

Cost

For most, the biggest drawback is that Invisalign are expensive and are not always covered by dental insurance. Ranging from $3,500 to $8,000, Invisalign can price itself out of some people’s budgets and it’s often too much to pay for on credit. Keep in mind, cost is determined by the length of a patient’s treatment plan and the number of aligners they need.

Minimum Daily Requirement

As previously mentioned, patients can eat and drink unencumbered by simply removing their aligner. While this is obviously a positive, remember that treatment requires aligners to be worn roughly 22 hours a day. While it’s easy to wear them during sleep, you might still need to sport them to work or to a social engagement to meet the daily requirement. It’s important that people recognize this so they can emotionally prepare for the occasions where they must wear them out in public.

Committing to a Care Plan

You need to clean your aligners before you place them in your mouth every single time. In addition, you should brush your teeth after every meal. This could lead to a few awkward moments in restaurants or other people’s home if you aren’t stealth about it. Plus, having to brush multiple times a day is an inconvenience for most and can be quite annoying.

Like any orthodontic device, Invisalign has its drawbacks. Despite these minor snags, these clear aligners continue to be popular, effective and a revolutionary option.

A Popular Choice

Invisalign has been enjoyed by millions of people around the world, and it’s easy to understand why. Many have found that it restored the confidence in their smile and renewed their passion for life. It also helped turn the potentially devastating experience of having to wear braces into something manageable.

Despite the cost, more people are choosing Invisalign over metal or ceramic braces. The treatments are painless, the aligners offer flexibility both in material and lifestyle and, most importantly, the results are amazing.

In the dark days of metal braces, patients could never have imagined a scenario where they could straighten their teeth without completely derailing their life. Now, they can wear braces without anyone knowing it. It’s unprecedented.

Getting Started

Invisalign is a great option for people looking to straighten their teeth but find braces to be such an unattractive proposition. These aligners can fit seamlessly into a patient’s life and correct orthodontic issues with the same expertise and efficiency as traditional metal braces and with even less visibility than ceramic.

If you are interested in getting Invisalign, then you should come speak with us to get all the information you need and to discuss next steps. We recommend taking advantage of our free no-obligation consultation. During this consultation, we will happily answer any of your questions, discuss cost and payment options and can also review if your dental insurance covers Invisalign.

Book your appointment today to get your smile in style!

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