Traditional braces have definitely withstood the test of time, but even so, many patients would prefer to straighten their teeth in a way that doesn’t involve eye-catching brackets and wires. At Texas Dentistry & Braces, we can fix crooked teeth, uneven bites, and other common orthodontic problems with Invisalign clear aligners, which have proven to be both reliable and convenient. Call our office if you want to learn more about Invisalign in Kaufman or are interested in setting up an appointment.
You’ll be given multiple plastic trays called aligners, which are designed to fit on the teeth. When you wear your aligners, the pressure they exert helps to shift your teeth closer to their correct positions. For the aligners to work, they must be kept in the mouth for around 20 or 22 hours a day. Each aligner is used for approximately two weeks before you start wearing the next one. You’ll know for sure that the treatment is working because our team will examine your smile every six weeks or so to confirm that everything is proceeding according to plan.
When should Invisalign be used to correct the alignment of your smile? Here are some situations it can potentially be used to resolve:
Invisalign can help reposition teeth that are too close together, making it easier to clean them while also ensuring they can function properly.
If you’ve noticed any gaps in your smile, Invisalign can often be a good way to close them so that they don’t draw attention away from your beautiful teeth.
Do you have an overbite, underbite, or crossbite that’s contributing to teeth grinding, jaw pain, and other issues? We can help thanks to Invisalign.
If you ask past Invisalign patients what makes the treatment worthwhile, they’re likely to mention some of the following benefits:
Like many aspects of Invisalign – from the treatment timeline to the number of aligners needed – the price isn’t the same from patient to patient. If you’re interested in getting an estimate of the cost to better understand your financial investment, then we highly recommend scheduling a consultation with our team at Texas Dentistry & Braces. Otherwise, you can learn more general information about the cost of Invisalign by reading on!
There are actually several factors that heavily influence the cost of Invisalign! A few noteworthy ones include the number of aligners needed (which can vary based on the complexity of the treatment), the age of the patient, and whether or not you’re straightening both arches of your teeth. The good news is that learning more about what you can expect to pay for your own treatment is as easy as talking to our team! We can both provide you with an estimate and review the financial solutions available to make your teeth-straightening journey more affordable.
The cost of mail-order clear aligners is more expensive than Invisalign, at least initially. However, there are several past patients that have experienced worsened misalignment and even serious dental injuries as a result of using alternatives. That’s why professional organizations, like the American Dental Association, strongly encourage patients interested in straightening their teeth to choose professional orthodontic treatments, like Invisalign. In addition to having more than two decades of experience straightening teeth, Invisalign has more than 12 million happy patients throughout the world.
If you are insured and are interested in Invisalign, don’t forget to double-check the fine print on your insurance plan. After all, some insurance companies might be willing to partially cover Invisalign.
Note: if you’re having trouble understanding your benefits and how they work, you’re more than welcome to talk to our team as well! We’re happy to help you better understand your coverage and utilize them to the fullest!
If you don’t have dental insurance, please don’t let that stop you from pursuing your dream smile. We’re proud to offer our patients in Kaufman several other financial solutions, including our in-house membership plan and flexible financing. Although they aren’t the same, they both can help make the cost of Invisalign fit seamlessly into your budget. If you want to learn more, then ask our team for the details of each and how to sign up!
To ensure that you stay on track with your treatment plan, we recommend wearing your aligners for a minimum of 20 hours a day. Although having four hours of aligner-free time each day may sound like a lot, you’ll realize how quickly it goes once you officially begin your orthodontic treatment. The key is to only remove your aligners when it’s absolutely necessary and to multitask where you can. For example, you should drink your coffee alongside your breakfast instead of sipping on it slowly throughout the entire morning.
This is one of the most-asked questions about Invisalign in Kaufman. If you’ve been wondering what the answer is, you’ll be happy to hear that it’s “no.” After all, the aligners are crafted from smooth plastic and are made to fit snugly against your teeth without digging into the soft tissue in your mouth. Plus, there aren’t monthly adjustment appointments. Instead, your teeth will gradually move as you progress through your series of aligners. As a result, the journey to the straight smile that you desire will be considerably more comfortable than if you chose traditional braces.
Yes, but you need to remove your aligners first. We recommend rinsing them with clean, cool water and placing them in their designated case while you enjoy your coffee. Then, once you’re done, brush your teeth, clean your aligners, and put them back on.
The length of your teeth-straightening journey will depend on several factors, starting with the severity of your misalignment. How well you follow the guidelines will also play a role. After all, if you don’t wear your trays for a minimum of 20 hours each day, or you consistently lose them, then time will be added onto the backend of your treatment. With all of that said, patients usually achieve the results they desire in just 12-18 months.
Yes, you will need to wear a retainer after your Invisalign treatment. There is an important reason for this: orthodontic relapse happens to roughly 50% of patients. To prevent that from happening, we will create a custom retainer from impressions of your teeth and share how often you need to wear it. The good news is that they make retainers that closely resemble clear aligners. So, if you need to wear them around the clock for the first few weeks, you won’t have to worry about unwanted attention being drawn to your smile.
The best thing to do is retrace your steps, starting from the last place you know you had your aligners. Since they are clear, it’s important to be thorough in the process. It’s also a good idea to look in the not-so-obvious places, like your laundry basket or the waste bin in your kitchen. If you can’t find them anywhere, then give our team at Texas Dentistry and Braces a call so we can determine if you can progress to the next set of aligners in the series without jeopardizing your hard-earned progress.