Invisalign Clear Aligners Putnam

Crowded Teeth

If your teeth are tilted out of alignment because there isn’t enough space in your mouth for all of them, you’re not alone. This orthodontic problem comes with aesthetic drawbacks, but that’s not the only reason you should consider Invisalign. You’re also at an increased risk for oral health problems like tooth decay since it’s harder for your toothbrush and floss to clean the unique crevices between your teeth. Simply put, clear aligner treatment can benefit the look, function, and health of your smile.

Gaps Between Teeth

Some patients have the opposite problem: there is too much space in their mouth, resulting in significant gaps between their teeth. If that’s the case for you, it’s important that you come in for a consultation so that we can determine the complexity of your case and if you’re a candidate for Invisalign. If you are, then we will take impressions of your teeth, have a custom series of clear aligners made, and give you specific instructions on how long to wear each one. Before you know it, you’ll have the straight smile you’ve always wanted!

Overbite

While you want your upper teeth to sit in front of your lower teeth, you don’t want them to jut out too far. If they do, then you can experience several issues, including difficulty enunciating clearly and premature wear and tear on certain teeth. That’s why we recommend scheduling a consultation with us sooner rather than later! We want to see if you’re a candidate for Invisalign and, if you are, discreetly improve the position of your teeth and your bite.

Underbite

An underbite is when your lower teeth sit in front of your upper ones. Patients with this orthodontic problem are often worried about aesthetics, but chronic jaw pain and TMJ dysfunction are also a concern. For that reason, you shouldn’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us to find out if Invisalign is for you! Sometimes, we need additional orthodontic tools, like buttons, but they are still considerably more discreet than metal brackets and wires.

Crossbite

Do you seem to have a mix of an underbite and overbite? This is called a crossbite and, like the other bite problems on this list, it can negatively impact the look, health, and function of your smile. Fortunately, we can often use clear aligners, attachments, rubber bands, and other orthodontic accessories to move your teeth and bite back into alignment, positively impacting virtually every aspect of it in the process.

Open Bite

An open bite can develop for numerous reasons – from sucking your thumb as a child to simply genetics. The good news is that it can often be fixed with clear, comfortable aligners. To find out if you’re a candidate for Invisalign, reach out to us to schedule a consultation!

Wearing Your Trays

Invisalign requires patients to wear their aligners for twenty to twenty-two hours every day. Each set of aligners is designed to be worn for about two weeks before the patient switches to the next set. Neglecting to wear your aligners enough can lead to delays in treatment, so it’s best to only remove them when eating, drinking anything but water, and performing oral hygiene.

Cleaning Your Aligners

Since water that is too hot or cold can warp your clear aligners and ruin the way they fit, it’s crucial to only use lukewarm or room temperature water to clean them. Remember to rinse your aligners every time you put them back in your mouth, and they should be soaked in water with Invisalign cleaning crystals for fifteen to thirty minutes daily or cleaned with a soft-bristled toothbrush and clear hand soap. It’s crucial to thoroughly brush and floss before putting your aligners back in after eating.

Eating & Drinking

Since Invisalign clear aligners are removable, patients are free to eat or drink whatever they want as long as they are not wearing them. Whenever you remove your aligners to eat or drink, store them in a protective case. Removing your aligners during meals will keep them from being damaged during the chewing process or stained by dark-colored beverages.  This also prevents food debris from being trapped between the aligners and the teeth, which can lead to cavities and other oral health problems.

Losing or Damaging a Tray

While a lost Invisalign tray won’t ruin your treatment, it’s important to address the issue as soon as possible to keep the process on track. When aligners are lost, it is usually because the patient did not store them in their protective case after removing them to eat. If you lose or damage a tray, contact our office. Depending on how close you are to switching to your next set of trays, our dentist may order a new one or recommend advancing to the next aligner in the treatment.

Routine Check-Ins

An Invisalign patient is usually scheduled for check-ins every four to eight weeks depending on their treatment plan. When you come in for your check-in, our dentist will make sure your treatment is on track and provide the next series of aligners. These brief visits usually take about fifteen minutes.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign

In order to provide you with an accurate estimate of the cost of your Invisalign treatment, we need to determine whether both arches of your teeth need to be straightened, if rubber bands or any other orthodontic accessories need to be added to your treatment plan, how many aligners are needed, the type of retainer you need, and more. The good news is that we can determine all of this at your consultation, allowing us to give you a number at that time. We will also review the financial solutions we offer so the cost of your teeth-straightening treatment fits within your budget.

Do Mail-In Aligners Cost Less?

Have you seen commercials for mail-in aligners? If so, you know that the majority of their messaging centers around the lower upfront cost. While this orthodontic alternative certainly is cheaper in most cases, it’s not better. Quite the opposite since patients who have gone down this road in the past have experienced worsened misalignment and even dental emergencies, like loose permanent teeth. In short, it’s not worth the risk.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Although not all dental plans include orthodontic benefits, some do! So, definitely take a look at the fine print on yours to see if Invisalign is partially covered. You’re more than welcome to reach out to us if this process proves to be a bit difficult. We are in-network with several popular dental insurance companies, and we have years of experience helping our patients navigate the ins and outs of their coverage. In other words, we’re here to help, and we will do our very best to make utilizing your available benefits easy.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

Not insured at the moment? That’s okay – dental insurance is just one of the financial solutions we offer! At your appointment, we will review the details of our in-house dental membership plan, CareCredit flexible financing, and our current special offers. In the meantime, here’s a brief overview:

• In-House Dental Membership Plan – One of the biggest benefits of this financial solution is that you get a discount on the services completed at our office (without red tape like exclusions and waiting periods too!).
• Flexible Financing – With CareCredit, you don’t have to pay for the cost of Invisalign in one lump sum. Instead, you can choose a payment plan that works with your monthly budget, making the cost of Invisalign significantly more affordable.
• Special Offers – Throughout the year, our patients can take advantage of special offers designed to make the cost of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry more affordable, like a free Invisalign consultation!