Dr. Theron Baker is a Dentist who has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Invisalign.
Q. What is an invisalign?
A. Invisalign is a way to move your teeth. Traditional braces consist of wires and brackets. Invisalign is a series of clear retainers that move your teeth as you progress through the trays. Anyone who has gone through traditional braces and then tried invisalign will attest to the superior look and feel of moving their teeth with invisalign.
Q. How does invisalign work?
A. Invisalign works by going through a series of retainers (called aligners). Each aligner moves your teeth slightly. Once you have worn an aligner for 2-3 weeks and the teeth fit it well, then we move to the next aligner. The new aligner will feel tight at first but after a day or two your teeth will begin moving into the new aligner. 2-3 weeks later we move to the next aligner and that continues until you wear the final aligner and your teeth have moved into the intended position. Discomfort is minimal, especially when you compare it to traditional braces.
Q. What are the primary benefits of invisalign?
A. Most people don't consider tooth movement an option due to the poor esthetic (metal mouth) associated with traditional tooth movement. Invisalign offers an option for patients to move their teeth without looking bad. Proper tooth alignment is important for the overall health of your teeth and gums. Your ability to keep your teeth clean is enhanced when they are aligned properly.
Traditional braces offer a major problem for those who want to straighten their teeth but maintain a clean mouth. Anyone who has gone through braces can tell stories of threading floss under wires. This takes a lot of time and honestly, not always done as well as we would like. The result is an increased incidence of cavities and gingivitis. With invisalign it's easy. You just take the aligner out and brush and floss normally. After you're fresh and clean you simply put the aligner back in.
Invisalign is hands down more comfortable than traditional braces. Biting lips, canker sores and painful eating are minimal compared to the wires and brackets of old. Did I mention you take the aligners out when you eat?
Q. How long does invisalign treatment take?
A. As you might guess, treatment time varies considerably. It all depends on the extent of correction required. Align Technology says their average case is approximately 11 months. We find this to be consistent with what we see in our office.
Q. How much does invisalign cost?
A. There is variation here as well. In our office a typical case will run around $5,700. This includes the dignostics, treatment and retainers.
Q. Who uses invisalign?
A. Inivsalign isn't for everyone. Certain malalignments cannot be corrected with invisalign. Most mild to moderate crowding or spacing can be corrected with invisalign and this constitutes the majority of our cases. The number one type of patient we treat with invisalign is someone who has had braces in the past and stopped wearing their retainers. After a time teeth will begin to move back or recrowd or spaces reopen up. Invisalign will get things back where they were.
Q. Are there certain dental conditions that automatically exclude someone from being an eligible patient?
A. The best way to approach this is to ask your dentist. There are several things I look for and certain situations that exclude some patients.
