Invisalign – Springdale, AR
The Clear Alternative to Brackets & Wires
Even if you want a straighter smile, you might hesitate to get orthodontic work. After all, many don’t like the idea of sticking brackets and wires on their teeth. Dealing with that situation can seem like a hassle! However, metal braces aren’t the only way to align pearly whites. Invisalign in Springdale is an excellent alternative. With it, Dr. Bollin and the rest of Sunset Avenue Dental can straighten your grin subtly. Just keep reading to learn more about it, or book a visit for details.
How Invisalign Works
If you don’t already know, Invisalign is a series of clear, plastic aligners. Its trays gradually straighten teeth with micro-movements, which shift each tooth into the proper position. Once the aligners finish their work, they’ll give you the straight smile of your dreams!
Of course, you have to comply with treatment guidelines for Invisalign to work. As such, you must wear each aligner for 7-14 days before moving to the next one. Furthermore, the trays should be worn 22 hours daily – anything less will lead to alignment delays. So long as you follow these rules, you can expect a straight grin in only 12-18 months.
Invisalign vs. Other Orthodontic Treatments
With today’s orthodontic treatments, you’ll expect to choose from a variety of ways to effectively straighten your smile. However, although Invisalign is similar to other solutions, it does come with separate advantages you might not find with other options. On top of being virtually invisible to others, the material is also designed for enhanced comfort and precise tooth movements. Learn more about what differentiates Invisalign from other orthodontic treatments.
Learn More About Invisalign vs. Other Orthodontic Treatments
Indications for Invisalign
Generally speaking, Invisalign is ideal for patients with mild to moderate tooth misalignment. Its trays are most often used to address the following issues:
Learn More About Cases Treatable with Invisalign
Crowded Teeth
When teeth crowd together, they harm the health and look of your smile. For instance, you’ll likely see the bottom ones protruding and rubbing up against the upper ones excessively.
Still, Invisalign can keep such things at bay. Since its trays gently guide your smile, it corrects crooked and overcrowded teeth.
Gaps Between Teeth
Your appearance and health are at risk when you suffer gaps between teeth.
Thankfully, Invisalign also fixes tooth gaps. As its trays work, the relevant spaces are eventually closed.
Bite Alignment
When you have a poor bite, your grin looks worse and puts undue pressure on your jaw joints. In fact, the latter pressure can cause TMJ disorder, teeth grinding, or clenching.
However, Invisalign can solve many bite issues – underbites, overbites, crossbites, etc.
The Benefits of Invisalign
Compared to metal braces, Invisalign has many unique perks. The most common of these include:
- Shorter Treatment – While braces take upward of two years to work, Invisalign only needs 12 to 18 months.
- Ease of Use – Invisalign aligners are removable, so they won’t get in the way of meals or teeth-cleaning. Thus, you can eat the foods you like and easily brush your smile.
- Fewer Follow-Up Visits – On average, braces require that you visit a dentist twenty to forty times throughout treatment. In contrast, aligners only need about six to twelve follow-ups.
Living with Invisalign
A key benefit of choosing Invisalign treatment over traditional braces is that clear, removable trays have less of a day-to-day impact on your life than metal brackets and wires that are affixed to your teeth. Invisalign only requires making small adjustments to your existing habits, which makes the process of undergoing orthodontic treatment easier and more streamlined. We invite you to learn a little more about what living with your new aligners will look like below.
Wearing Your Trays
Even though your trays are removable, it doesn’t mean that your treatment is part-time. Just like braces, it’s crucial to wear your aligners for most of the day, every day. In fact, the recommended minimum time to wear them is 20 to 22 hours a day, only taking them out whenever you clean your teeth and eat. When you leave your trays out of your mouth for longer than a few hours, it will only add more time to your treatment.
Cleaning Your Aligners
After each time you take your aligners out of your mouth, before you put them back in, you will need to rinse them with lukewarm water. This will help minimize any cross-contamination of whatever surface you placed them on to your mouth.
It’s important to thoroughly clean them using a soft-bristled toothbrush and clear hand soap after every time you eat or drink anything besides water. Finally, you’ll want to make sure that you maintain good dental hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth after each of your meals. This will keep food debris from becoming trapped between your trays and teeth.
Eating & Drinking
There aren’t many restrictions when it comes to Invisalign treatment, but there are a couple adjustments you will need to make to avoid damaging an aligner. Before you eat or drink anything besides water, it’s important to remove your trays. This will keep them from becoming misshapen, discolored, or otherwise altered, which could halt your treatment until you receive a new tray from your dentist in Springdale.
Losing or Damaging a Tray
If you accidentally damage or lose one of your Invisalign aligners, don’t worry! Simply call our team at Sunset Avenue Dental as soon as possible. Depending on how long until you switch to the next series of aligners in your treatment, we may either recommend coming in for a replacement or moving forward with your next trays.
Routine Check-Ins
Throughout your Invisalign treatment, you will need to visit our office every six to eight weeks for routine check-ins. These appointments are very short, typically around 15 minutes. We will check to make sure that your teeth are moving as anticipated and provide you with the next sets of aligners in your treatment.
Invisalign Teen
If you have a middle or high schooler who’s self-conscious about their smile, then you might consider having them undergo Invisalign Teen. Instead of metal brackets and wires, your teenager will be able to wear smooth plastic aligners that are much more comfortable while straightening their pearly whites. Completely removable and effective, this treatment can help set your teen up for a healthier and more confident smile.
Read More About Invisalign Teen
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
Invisalign trays are customized for a specific mouth, so treatment price varies by patient. Fortunately, you can get a precise estimate during your consult with Dr. Bollin! At this appointment, he will assess various factors of your situation, including your misalignment’s severity. Whatever your situation, trust that we’ll guide you through the financing process. Our team is here to help you get an accurate estimate and review all the financial solutions available.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
As mentioned above, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all Invisalign treatment, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all cost. Before determining the price, Dr. Bollin will need to assess:
- The severity of your misalignment
- How many trays are needed to straighten your teeth
- If rubber bands or any other additional accessories are needed
- If you need to straighten one or both arches of your teeth
Of course, those are just factors that will impact the initial price. Once you begin your clear aligner treatment, you will need to follow all of the guidelines (like wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours a day) to avoid falling off-track with your plan. In the case that you do, new trays will need to be made, which will require additional time and money.
Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?
Since mail-order aligner companies lead with a lower upfront cost, it’s not surprising that many patients wonder if they should opt for Invisalign or an alternative. In short, while Invisalign may come with a higher upfront cost, it’s well worth it. Unlike mail-order options, Invisalign starts with a thorough initial exam to determine whether or not you’re a candidate. Furthermore, Invisalign cases are supervised by licensed professionals that conduct periodic check-ins to ensure your teeth are tracking properly. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Invisalign has support from professional organizations like the American Dental Association, and the same cannot be said for mail-order alternatives.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
There are some cases where the answer is “yes!” Although some plans don’t include any orthodontic coverage, others include a once-in-a-lifetime benefit that will cover a portion of the cost. So, don’t hesitate to review the fine print on your dental plan to find out. You can also get in touch with our team; we’re proud to be in-network with many popular providers like Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, and Delta Dental.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
In addition to welcoming dental insurance, Sunset Avenue Dental has an in-house membership plan, happily accepts flexible financing through CareCredit, and offers periodic specials. So, don’t hesitate to talk to us about the cost of Invisalign! We’d be more than happy to review each financial solution, answer any questions you have, and help you determine which one is best for you.
Invisalign FAQs
Want to learn more about Invisalign in Springdale? We’re here to help! From “Does Invisalign give you a lisp?” to “How do I clean my aligners?” our team has responded to a few of the most frequently asked questions we hear from patients below. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.
Does Invisalign Give You a Lisp?
Over the years, a misconception has surfaced that Invisalign gives you a lisp. Not only do the large majority of patients not have a lisp, but the ones that do have a short adjustment period can rest easy knowing it’s temporary. Furthermore, there are several things you can do to speed up the learning curve, including reading out loud and repeating the more difficult words when you come across them.
What Happens After Invisalign?
While Invisalign can guide your teeth into their properly aligned positions, you’ll need a retainer to keep them in place. Typically, patients are encouraged to wear them as much as possible while their teeth “set” (usually around six months). After that, we will give you the green light to wear them solely at night. Since orthodontic relapse can happen in the short and long-term, it’s important to make this a life-long habit.
How Do I Clean My Invisalign?
Patients often overcomplicate the process of cleaning their aligners. In reality, it just takes a few simple steps! First, rinse your trays with clean, room temperature water. Second, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently scrub each surface. Third: rinse your trays again. That’s it! If your aligners have begun to discolor and you want to give them a deeper clean, you can also soak them in a mixture of water and cleaning crystals (which are in your welcome kit).
How Long Does Invisalign Take?
On average, Invisalign treatment timelines are 12-18 months. Since every treatment plan is completely personalized, however, the exact length can change. For example, patients with minor misalignment can complete their series of trays in just six months. On the other hand, patients struggling with more moderate malocclusion may need more than 18 months. Don’t worry – an estimate of your treatment timeline will be provided at your consultation!
Can You Eat with Invisalign?
Eating with your aligners in is an absolute no-no since it can damage your aligners, delaying your treatment timeline in the process. Fortunately, you can eat whatever you’d like after you remove them! With that said, it’s always a good idea to exercise caution with hard, sticky, and chewy foods, especially if you have attachments. You should also keep your consumption of sugary foods to a minimum since they increase your chances of developing cavities. Instead, focus on eating lots of vitamin-rich foods that will keep your smile healthy from the inside out!