A Brief, Easy To Understand Guide To Invisalign®

If you’ve found this article, you have probably heard of Invisalign but you may not know that much about it.

Invisalign is a popular option for straightening teeth that’s been used over 2 million people across the globe. Let’s look take a closer look at Invisalign and answer some of the most common questions people have about it.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign are a way to get straighter teeth. They do this using clear, plastic aligners instead of the traditional metal and wire braces that most people are familiar with. Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible so it’s hard for others to tell you’re wearing them. They are also removable so you can take them out of your mouth to eat, brush your teeth or in other situations where they would be inconvenient.

Invisalign can help fix various problems with teeth alignment including gapped teeth, overbit, underbite, crossbite, open bit and overcrowding. However, it’s generally not an ideal treatment for severe cases.

How Invisalign Works

To get Invisalign, you’ll need to visit an orthodontist of dentist that is trained to provide this treatment option. They’ll assess your situation and your mouth to determine if Invisalign is a good fit for you. If it is a good fit, then the dentist will take a 3D scan of your mouth and teeth. This scan will be used to develop your treatment plan and to make a custom set of aligners designed to get your teeth from where they are today to the straight teeth and beautiful smile you’re after. The process generally takes about a year. You can read about this process in more detail here.

How Long Does Invisalign Take?

As we just said, the average time it takes for an Invisalign treatment is about a year. This can range from as little as 6 months to as long as 2 years. It just depends on how badly your teeth are misaligned and if you were your aligners as often as recommended (22 hours a day).

While going through your treatment, you’ll go through a series of aligners. On average, you’ll switch aligners (which look very similar to teeth whitening trays) about every 2 weeks or so. Each aligner builds on the adjustments made from the previous aligners and will slowly shift your teeth until you end up with the alignment you’re looking for.

Invisalign aligners work very similar to the way traditional braces do. They used the targeted placement of controlled forces to gradually shift the teeth into the right position. It is not a painful treatment, however, you might feel some pressure when you first start the treatment and when you switch out aligners. Invisalign aligners are different from traditional braces in that they not only control the force but also the timing of the application of the force to specific teeth. So only certain teeth are moved with each set of aligners.

What Does Invisalign Cost?

The average cost of Invisalign treatment in the US is around $5000. This can range from $3500 on the low end to $8000 on the high end. Many dentists that offer Invisalign offer financing options and/or payment plans to make the costs easier to pay.