Invisalign – Ridgefield, CT
Improving Your Smile with See-Through Aligners
Don’t want to deal with braces but still want to do something about crooked teeth? At Ridgefield Perfect Smile Center, we offer Invisalign as another cosmetic solution for patients seeking to have a straighter, more beautiful smile. If you’re worried about the time, cost, and appearance concerns associated with other orthodontic solutions, you may benefit from Invisalign clear aligners! Take the first step and make an appointment for a consultation with us today.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Invisalign?
Crooked teeth not only affect your confidence and how you feel about your smile, but they also negatively impact your oral health by making it harder to remove plaque or potentially damaging your teeth over time.
Invisalign is a great option for teens and adults seeking to improve the appearance of their teeth. We can assess your misalignments and determine if the Invisalign system is right for your smile-improvement needs. This might include:
- Straightening crooked teeth.
- Realigning an overbite, underbite or crossbite that’s wearing down your teeth or making it hard to chew.
- Closing gaps between the teeth that could increase your risk of gum disease.
- Opening the space between overlapping, difficult-to-brush teeth.
The effectiveness of Invisalign depends on the extent of the adjustments that need to be made. Also, a good Invisalign candidate will have the discipline needed in order to not remove the aligners more than necessary or forget to put them in, as this might ultimately lead to a longer treatment time. (In other words, patients who are especially young might not be suited for Invisalign.)
The Invisalign Process
We’ll take impressions of your teeth and use them to create a number of alignment trays depending on your needs. Your trays will be worn for 20 to 22 hours each day. Every two weeks, you’ll switch out one set of Invisalign aligners for the next in your custom-made series. Every six weeks or so, you’ll visit our office so that we can make sure that the treatment is proceeding as scheduled; sometimes we might find that you’ll need to wear an aligner for longer than normal.
It can take between twelve to twenty-four months to get the full benefit of Invisalign, and the professionals at Ridgefield Perfect Smile Center will take care of you every step of the way!
Benefits of Invisalign
There are many reasons why you might choose Invisalign over more traditional orthodontic options. For example:
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
Have you always wished to have a beautifully aligned smile? Invisalign may be the best way for you to achieve this dream. Since this modern orthodontic method uses removable clear aligners to shift teeth into better positions, it is virtually invisible and requires no dietary restrictions. However, Invisalign is still a big commitment, so it’s important to consider the cost beforehand. Luckily, Dr. Jones will be more than happy to answer any questions you have and help you understand your payment options during your consultation.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Invisalign
The overall cost of your Invisalign treatment hinges on several factors. These include:
- Whether one or both arches are being treated. It will usually, but not always, be both.
- The complexity of the case. For example, treating a slight gap is usually less expensive than addressing severely crooked teeth.
- How long it will take to complete your treatment. Longer treatment times require more aligners, thereby increasing the cost.
- How well the patient complies with the treatment. Neglecting your oral hygiene or not wearing your aligners enough every day can lead to delays.
Invisalign vs. Mail-In Aligners: Which Costs More?
If you’re looking for a cheap and quick way to straighten out your teeth, then mail-in aligners may be for you. After all, Invisalign usually costs somewhere between $3,000 and $8,000 while mail-in aligner treatments cost less than $2,000.
However, it’s also important to remember that you get what you pay for. Mail-in aligner treatments include little to no oversight from a dental professional, making it quite easy for users to injure themselves due to error. This can lead to a user requiring expensive professional dental treatments later, which probably could have been avoided if they had stuck with professionally supervised orthodontics in the first place. With Invisalign, you have our dental team with you every step of the way to ensure your treatment effectively produces lasting results. That’s the sort of peace of mind that doesn’t come cheap.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
Some dental insurance plans cover orthodontic treatments, but Invisalign is usually left out. However, every insurance plan is different, so yours may very well offer some coverage for Invisalign. Our team will be quite happy to work with you so you understand what your insurance will pay for and how you can get the most out of your plan. We’ll also file claims on your behalf to make the whole process that much easier.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
For patients who are underinsured, we offer financing options through Springstone Patient Financing. They offer a variety of plans that can break your bill down into monthly payments with minimal interest that can be easily managed.
If you’re interested in straightening out your smile with Invisalign clear aligners, we will be excited to help you get there. During your consultation, we will carefully detail your payment options so you can find the best way to achieve the smile you deserve.
Invisalign FAQs
What Does Invisalign Look Like?
One of the greatest benefits of Invisalign is that it’s so discreet, especially when compared to traditional braces. This treatment utilizes clear, plastic aligners that become almost invisible once you place them over your teeth. It allows you to straighten your smile without the same level of self-consciousness you might feel if you had bulky metal brackets bonded to your teeth.
Some patients with more severely crooked teeth might require small attachments, buttons, or elastics to help shift their teeth. If these aren’t also made of transparent materials, then they might be more visible. Also, the trays can become cloudy or stained, so be sure to clean them regularly to prevent any unsightly residue buildup.
How Long Does Invisalign Take?
The length of your Invisalign treatment might differ from someone else’s because it can vary based on your unique situation. Typically, you can expect to wear the aligners for 12 to 18 months. Some flaws, like a slight gap between your front teeth, can potentially be fixed after just 6 months. Other more severe overcrowding, crookedness, and bite misalignments can take longer.
If your teeth revert to their previous positions, your overall timeline will be extended. To keep it within the anticipated parameters, it’s important to comply with your dentist’s directions and wear your trays for the allotted time each day.
Does Invisalign Hurt?
It’s natural to wonder whether Invisalign will hurt, but thankfully, it’s not considered a painful treatment. The smooth plastic won’t abrade the tender tissue inside your mouth like sharp metal brackets and wires would. That said, anything that exerts enough pressure on your teeth to move them has the potential to cause some degree of discomfort. Many people feel sore or sensitive when they first start wearing a new set of trays, but this sensation is usually temporary. If for whatever reason it doesn’t dissipate or gets worse, please let us know right away so we can ensure it fits correctly.
It’s usually safe to take over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen to address any aches or inflammation associated with wearing Invisalign. You can also apply a cold compress to your face for some well-deserved relief.
Can You Eat with Invisalign?
Although you probably could technically eat with Invisalign in your mouth, it’s not usually recommended because doing so can damage the material. Hard foods could break or crack your aligners, and overly hot foods or drinks can warp the clear plastic so it no longer fits over your teeth. In either case, the resulting injury can interrupt your progress. Each set of trays throughout your treatment plays an essential role in the ongoing movement of your teeth, and if one breaks, you might have to revert to a previous set until it is replaced.
Fortunately, Invisalign can easily be removed for meals to prevent potential problems. Just be sure to store it in its carrier case (and not under a napkin on your plate) so you don’t accidentally toss it in the trash after your meal!