Is Invisalign worth it? For many people, the answer is yes! These clear aligners are a solution that proves effective for a wide range of different smiles, delivering a beautiful appearance and improved oral health. 

In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about this exceptional cosmetic dentistry treatment option.

How does Invisalign work?

First and foremost, what is Invisalign? It’s a system that relies on clear plastic aligners to shift a patient’s teeth into their proper positions throughout treatment. The aligners are customized to the recipient’s smile, ensuring that steady pressure is applied to their teeth throughout the entire treatment. Altogether, Invisalign represents a cosmetic dentistry treatment option for many cases that would otherwise require traditional braces. 

Can these clear aligners fix overbite and other issues? Although the aligners aren’t suitable for every type of orthodontic treatment, they can resolve a wide range of misalignment and malocclusion, including an overbite, underbite, crossbite, and crowding.

Above all, does Invisalign work? When you follow through with treatment, you can absolutely achieve stunning results. It achieves much the same results as traditional braces in most cases, providing a straight, strong, and healthy smile that you can confidently share with the world.

How long does Invisalign treatment take?

Invisalign treatment typically lasts anywhere from 12 to 18 months. However, that is only an average. These clear aligners are used to treat a wide range of different orthodontic issues, which means the specific adjustments that need to be carried out and the time you spend with the aligners will vary depending on your unique needs. Larger and more complex movements take longer, while smaller adjustments to your smile could take as little as six months.

You’ll also need to follow specific instructions during treatment to keep your timeline on track. Can you eat with Invisalign aligners on, for instance? No, you’ll need to remove them during mealtimes, which also means you don’t have any dietary restrictions like you would with traditional braces. At the same time, though, if you keep them off for extended periods, they won’t work as intended, and your treatment will fall behind or relapse.

How to clean Invisalign retainers.

Learning how to clean Invisalign aligners is straightforward. Each morning and night, when you brush your teeth, take the time to incorporate cleaning the aligners into your routine. In most cases, you can clean the aligners with a soft toothbrush and a nonabrasive toothpaste, so you don’t risk scratching the aligners, but there is another option: cleaning crystals. 

If you’re not sure how to use Invisalign cleaning crystals, here’s how, simply fill the cleaning container with warm water, add the aligners and a packet of crystals, and shake for 20 seconds. From there, let them sit for 15 minutes and rinse before putting them back in.

It’s important to keep your aligners clean and safe when they aren’t in your mouth. Rinsing and drying them briefly after taking them out and placing them in a dry case can prevent bacteria from growing. Furthermore, you should always rinse them off with water before putting them back in your mouth after removing them for meals.

Is Invisalign a better option than braces?

Deciding between braces and Invisalign is, arguably, a simple choice. Of course, you’ll have to talk with your dentist to find out which treatment options are suitable for your specific needs, but Invisalign provides a variety of benefits over braces in many cases. 

Comfort is one major factor. Does this treatment hurt? Nope! In fact, the treatment is quite comfortable. You won’t have to deal with potentially uncomfortable brace adjustments or the irritation that comes with brackets rubbing against soft tissue inside your mouth, either.

You’ll also enjoy a more varied diet with Invisalign because you can remove them during meals. Plenty of food can get stuck in braces, and taking care of your teeth in that regard is more difficult. Can you chew gum while wearing clear aligners? Not with them on, but you can enjoy a piece without worry when you take them off!

How to Get Invisalign

The first step to Invisalign treatment is talking with your dentist. They’ll determine whether this type of treatment is the right choice. From there, they take digital impressions of your smile. Your custom aligners will be prepared based on those impressions to provide the perfect fit and guide your treatment.

The last major question to ask, then, is how expensive is Invisalign? Prices are often comparable to traditional braces, but insurance approval can be more complicated. Talk with your dentist about insurance and other potential options to get clear aligner treatment and enjoy a beautiful, healthy smile.

Get started on your new smile with your St. Joseph dentist.

If you’re considering improving your smile with Invisalign or other cosmetic dentistry options, turn to Berrien Dental, your local dentist in St. Joseph, Michigan, for a full range of treatments. Schedule a consultation today to talk about how to get Invisalign and discover an exceptional solution for your smile.