Nowadays, no matter what your job, lifestyle or personal preference, there's a brace that will suit. Invisalign is a popular alternative to fixed braces, where smooth, comfortable, removable and almost invisible aligners are worn and changed weekly by the patient themselves to achieve beautifully straight teeth. Invisalign is available for both adults and teenagers with results comparable to fixed braces when provided by a specialist orthodontist.
Here at Susan O’Connell Orthodontics, we appreciate traditional fixed braces are not for everyone. Be it work, hobbies or even for self confidence reasons – wearing traditional braces may not be an option for you. Welcome, Invisalign!
Nowadays, there’s a clear alterative to metal braces that involves the use of clear plastic aligners (trays) which work in combination with attachments (small tooth coloured buttons which are bonded to your teeth) to successfully straighten your teeth and correct your bite.
Rather than being bonded to the teeth as metal or clear braces are, clear aligners are completely removable — for example if you have an important social occasion, for eating, and, most importantly, for tooth-brushing and flossing. This advantage can also be a disadvantage as they do require great discipline to keep in for 22hrs per day: It means you must resist the temptation to take your aligners out more than is advised. But trust us, once you see your teeth straighten, you won’t want to take them out!
Here are some other advantages of the Invisalign system:
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Improved Oral Hygiene — With an orthodontic appliance that is removable, you will be able to clean your teeth much more easily than if you were wearing metal braces.
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A Discreet Look — If you consider your orthodontic treatment to be a private matter, or simply feel that metal braces don't fit with your self-image, a practically invisible form of orthodontic treatment might suit you.
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More Dietary Choices — To protect metal wires and braces, some diet modifications are necessary. With clear aligners, you can still bite into an apple or a crispy pizza crust.
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Comfort — The soft, flexible material of which Invisalign is made will not irritate the soft tissues of the mouth, as metal wires and braces can.
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Teeth-Grinding Protection — If you have a teeth-grinding or clenching habit, clear aligners can function as thin nightguards that will protect your teeth from excessive wear.
Clear aligner technology has been improving over the years and can correct many malocclusions that once would have been too complicated for this form of treatment. Yet there are still some situations for which traditional braces would still be best. We would be happy to discuss this in detail with you.
How much will Invisalign cost?
One of the first questions people usually ask when considering Invisalign is, "How much will it cost?" You might be surprised to hear that the cost of Invisalign treatment is usually comparable to the cost of traditional braces.
Most dental insurance plans that cover traditional braces will also cover Invisalign and your insurance company can tell you exactly how much is covered. If you do not have insurance, if it does not cover all of your treatment costs or if cost is a concern for you, please talk to us at your consultations about payment options. As always we offer interest free payment plans.
The exact cost of your Invisalign Treatment varies and is dependent on the specifics needs of the individual patient. These factors can include the complexity of your treatment plan, how long your treatment will take and the aims of treatment. Following your throughout assessment, we will provide you with an exact breakdown of cost involved.