What are Invisalign aligners, and how does Invisalign work to straighten teeth without traditional braces?
Invisalign aligners are a system of clear, flexible, nearly invisible trays that you wear to take your teeth from where they are now to the ideal position, where the teeth should be. We start with a very customized scan and a treatment plan that moves your teeth to the ideal position.
You wear the aligners, and they have numbers. You go from one to two to three to four until the end of the treatment. The first tray looks very similar to your current teeth. The last tray looks like the end result. They are very flexible aligners. They're comfortable and almost invisible.
What are the benefits of Invisalign for adults and teens?
Invisalign can be very beneficial for both adults and teens. The Invisalign aligners will move the teeth into the ideal position. They will straighten the teeth and improve the smile. They can also improve bite function and the longevity of the teeth, definitely, when we talk about confidence and the smile.
How long does Invisalign take for most patients, and what factors can affect the treatment timeline?
Most patients will finish their treatment between 6 and 18 months, but of course, that depends on everybody's individualized treatment plan. It has to do with the amount of movement that we need to do, the amount of rotation that's needed, and whether the teeth are responding quickly or not.
A big factor is patient compliance, and that's the biggest factor in getting the best result and the fastest Invisalign treatment. Patients should wear their aligners 20 to 22 hours per day.
How often do patients typically change to a new set of Invisalign aligners?
Patients change their aligners from one set to another every one to two weeks, but there are some cases when we change faster or wait longer. It depends on the personalized treatment plan and the personalized movement of the teeth.
How much does Invisalign cost, and what can influence the final price of treatment?
Invisalign cost varies. It depends on the complexity of the case and the amount of movement needed, the type of movement needed, how long the treatment is going to take, and also if this is part of a bigger treatment. Invisalign can be part of a cosmetic treatment or part of a restorative treatment.
But here at Loudoun Smile Center, we believe that every patient deserves a healthy and confident smile. So, we do offer financing plans, and we do offer easy options to pay for Invisalign.
How much is Invisalign with insurance, and what should patients check with their dental benefits provider?
Insurance coverage for Invisalign varies. It depends on the case and on the insurance plan. But if patients want to check with their insurance, you would need to ask whether the insurance does have orthodontic coverage or not, and whether there's an age limit on this orthodontic coverage.
Also, you want to check what's the maximum lifetime benefit, whether you've used any of this maximum lifetime benefit, and what's remaining. But at Loudoun Smile Center, we do all this work for you. Just let us know and give us your insurance information, and we will be more than happy to confirm all the information needed and give you the benefit breakdown before starting your treatment.
What should patients expect when looking at Invisalign before and after results?
Patients are usually very amazed by the transformation that they get when they finish their Invisalign treatment. Yes, the teeth are straighter, the smile symmetry is very much improved, and patients love the end result, but function can also improve with that.
The bite function improves, as can the position of the teeth, the health of the gums, and the ease of oral hygiene. It is much easier to keep your teeth and gums clean and your gums healthy.
What factors should a patient consider when looking at Invisalign versus braces?
Both traditional metal braces and Invisalign are great options to move teeth. Invisalign might be preferred if a patient cares about having an invisible option in their mouth or if they care about the ease of being able to remove the aligners. You can eat, drink, brush, floss, and then put the aligners back on.
What are Invisalign attachments, and why might some patients need them during treatment?
Invisalign attachments are small, tiny things. Think about them like buttons that have the same color as the teeth, and they are on your teeth temporarily. They're placed at the beginning of the Invisalign treatment and removed by the end of the Invisalign treatment.
Think about it like a grip, like handles, something that the aligners can grip onto to get strength so they can move the teeth.
What should patients know about cleaning Invisalign aligners and keeping them clear during treatment?
Invisalign aligners are very easy to clean. We usually recommend just brushing them with water. It could be gentle hand soap. There are Invisalign cleaning crystals or some kind of approved tablets that patients can use to clean them every now and then if needed.
How can patients find out whether they are a good candidate for Invisalign?
The best way to find out whether you're a good candidate for Invisalign is just to contact our office. We'll do a digital scan. It's called an iTero scan. With a digital scan, we can analyze the bite, see the teeth and the movement, do all the measurements, and even see the end results if you are going to do Invisalign.
It's all digital, and this is how we find out if the patient is a good candidate for it.
If you're ready to schedule an exam or would like to learn more about our services, we'd love to hear from you. Call us at (703) 297-4407 or email [email protected]. We look forward to caring for your smile.