A smile can change the world, but if your teeth are not properly aligned or crooked, it makes you conscious every time you smile. Braces have proved to be a great help for many people for many years, but this is the age for Invisalign braces where no one will know that you are wearing in your mouth.
Invisalign braces are plastic trays that fit your teeth and treat mild or moderately misaligned teeth. It is an orthodontic treatment that is far better than braces. Invisalign braces are clear and fit your teeth to move them gradually in alignment. Patients need to wear these trays for at least 20 hours a day. There are no wires and brackets which cause any complications while chewing, brushing, or flossing.
In case you have an overbite, underbite, or crossbite, it is advised to consult Invisalign Boston Dentist and see if you are a fit candidate for Invisalign. You don’t need to wear those traditional metal braces and announce it to the world about fixing your teeth. Instead, go for Invisalign in Boston area if you are an eligible candidate. A beautiful smile is worth it, after all.
Who Is A Candidate For Invisalign braces?
Invisalign braces are simple, easy, and comfortable treatment that aligns your teeth without any problem. It’s the reason why people are opting more and more for Invisalign. They don’t scream “I am taking treatment” as braces do. But before you consult an Invisalign Boston dentist or surgeon for Invisalign, learn about your problem and decide if you need an Invisalign and whether you are the right candidate or not.
You can learn on your own whether you are the right fit for Invisalign treatment or not. There are four steps to do it-
How are your teeth misaligned?
Invisalign is for those who have mild or moderate malocclusion. So, you need to determine if you have any of the following bite problem-
- Underbite
- Overbite
- Crossbite
- Crowded Teeth
- Gapped Teeth
If your situation is not too severe, Invisalign is for you; else, you need to adhere to other options to correct your teeth.
Invisalign Braces Cost In Boston
When you consult an Invisalign Boston Orthodontist, you must know about the cost beforehand, so you can save your time and determine beforehand whether you are comfortable with the cost or not. The cost of an Invisalign treatment in Boston usually ranges between $3000 and $8000, an average of $5500. This is not a fixed cost as it depends on your case and the number of aligner sets you will need. The average US national cost for aligners is $3000-$5000. In comparison, the cost of metal braces is between $2000-and $6000. Some Orthodontist clinics also offer an installment system.
Who is eligible candidate for Invisalign Treatment in Boston?
Adults and older teenagers are the perfect fit for the Invisalign treatment. Children and young teenagers are off the list. You can say that anyone above 18 but not too old can opt for Invisalign. Older teenagers feel conscious about their smiles, and apart from all the school stress and dating problems, they do not want another smiley stress on their minds. Adults also prefer Invisalign braces as they get more conscious with age.
So, if you have one of the above tooth problems or your child has an angry tooth fairy, take them to an Invisalign Boston dentist today.
Are You Ready For Invisalign braces Treatment?
The prospect of perfect teeth drives people to arrive at the dentist’s door, and people get their Invisalign braces designed, but when it comes to wearing a plastic tray for 22 hours a day, people chicken out. This is an easy and simple treatment, but it is costly, and you cannot leave your Invisalign braces alone. Removing them is easy, but no orthodontist allows it. Plus, you also need to wear a retainer after your treatment else your teeth will get back to their original position. If you think you can complete your treatment and your post-treatment obligations dedicatedly, then you should opt for it.
Take An Online Assessment Test
To determine if you need an Boston Invisalign treatment, you can also go for online assessment tests where you only have to answer a few questions, and it will tell you whether you need Invisalign braces or not.
How Long Does Invisalign Take To Straighten Teeth?
There is no straightforward answer to this question because it greatly depends on your teeth and the severity of the problem. Plus, the teeth move at a different pace for each individual. It also depends on your dedication if you follow all the instructions and take your treatment seriously. Your gums, genetics, your diet, etc., are the most impacting factors.
If you take care of your Invisalign braces and wear them properly, it takes around 12 months approximately. As you visit your Invisalign Boston Dentist during the treatment, you will learn your progress and the length of your treatment.
For people with crowded teeth, it takes about six months. However, if you have gaps in your teeth or the alignment issues are severe, it will take a long time.
A Step-By-Step Process For Invisalign Braces
If you think you are a prospective Invisalign patient, you must know how the Invisalign process works. It is very easy, and you will be assured after reading this.
Meet Your Invisalign Boston Orthodontist
Fix a meeting with a reputed Orthodontist or your regular one and discuss your issue. The first meeting is about knowing your needs and determining if you are a fit candidate for Invisalign or not. This is the last moment to decide if you want to go with the treatment or not.
A Treatment Plan
If you are the fit candidate for Invisalign, your Orthodontist will chart a treatment plan. Plus, you will be taken for X-rays and photographs of your teeth so that a mold can be created that’s right for you. These images are fed to a computer to render 3D images of your teeth and get them right. Once you agree, your trays are given the nod.
Get Your Aligners and Wear Them
It takes around a month to get your aligners. Once they come, you are informed by your Orthodontist, and you can collect them and wear them. They are worn in a certain order. Each set of the aligner is worn for two weeks and at least 22 hours a day. You are given a new set of aligners every two weeks. It is important to take your treatment seriously; else, your new aligners won’t fit as they should.
Getting Rid Of Your Aligners
You need to visit your Orthodontist regularly during the treatment. At the end of treatment, your teeth are checked if the treatment plan has worked or not. Sometimes, you may need a few tweaks, and you are given refinement trays.
Post Treatment
After your teeth are in position, it is time for retainers which you must wear for at least one month after your treatment so that your jaw accepts your new teeth placement. This post-Invisalign treatment is essential, and you must undergo it as dedicatedly as you did with aligners.
This is the complete process of Invisalign.
How Often Do You Have To Visit The Dentist With Invisalign?
When you are undergoing an Invisalign treatment, your dentist schedules regular appointments every six or eight weeks, depending on your case. Your progress is assessed at each of these visits. This is not a standard appointment schedule as it differs on a case-to-case basis. Some severe cases may require more frequent appointments.
You can ask questions, and the dentist may instruct on some dos and don’ts. Plus, if there is a need for a change of treatment plan, it is figured out at these appointments.
What Are Invisalign Refinements?
When you have worn aligners for months, you don’t want to slip your progress back to its former position, do you? Thus, after you have completed your Invisalign treatment and gotten rid of your last set of aligners, you get your teeth checked if your teeth are looking as they were planned or not. At the end of the treatment, your teeth are scanned, and if there is a need, you only need to wear Invisalign Refinements.
This is not something to panic about. It is the last stage of treatment where you are given an extra set of aligners that will help your teeth slip into the right position. These are no different than the aligners you were wearing for almost 12 months. And, you don’t even need to incur any extra cost for these. They are covered in your original treatment plan.
People wonder why they need to wear Invisalign Refinements and if it is bad that they need those. But many times, it is not your fault that your progress was not as planned. Sometimes teeth move at a slower pace. But the most common reasons why you need Invisalign Refinements are-
- You didn’t wear your aligners for the recommended 20-22 hours a day.
- The teeth are moving at different speeds, some slower than others.
- You had to get rid of aligners for a long time, say due to an accident or other reasons.
There are some controllable while some uncontrollable reasons. Control what you can and see how the treatment goes.
Taking Care Of Your New Smile With Invisalign Retainers
To keep your teeth in place and make the jaws slip into this new habit, you need to wear the retainer at the end of the treatment. There are three types of retainers, and you can ask your Invisalign Boston orthodontist which one you should go for. There are three types of retainers available in the market. First, there are fixed retainers which are metal wire fixed in place. It is non-removable. Then there are clear retainers which are cool for those who don’t want to show them off. Then there are Hawley retainers made of acrylic and fit in your mouth roof with a wire in front of your teeth. You can choose one at your convenience.
In the case of clear and Hawley retainers, you can remove them, so you need to take proper care of them in the following ways.
Clean Them Properly
Always keep a retainer case with you and place your retainer in it after cleaning them properly. They are a part of your mouth for a long time, so germs are inevitable. Do not place them in your bag or purse. They get damaged.
Read The Instructions
Many people wonder if they should soak or not soak their retainers. It is advised to read the instructions on the package and do as instructed.
Keep Them In Right Place
Retainers are fragile things. You need to keep them safe and away from heat, especially clear plastic retainers.
Keep Then Away From Pets
No matter how many toys your pet owns, the moment they see retainers, they are on them. So, strictly keep these away from your furball.
Clean The Case As Well
Only cleaning the retainers is not enough. Clean the case regularly as well.
Timely Replacement
As you wear them for long hours, they get damaged or get broken. So replace them when required just as you change your old clothes or shoes.
Does Insurance Covers Invisalign?
Yes, your dental insurance covers Invisalign in the same way it covers braces. If you think that you can pay for your entire Invisalign cost through insurance, you are wrong. It only covers a part of the cost. There are various dental insurance plans and not each one of them is accepted everywhere.
You can consult your benefits manager and learn about your dental insurance and the cost it will cover. Plus, when you visit the clinic, you must learn about the payment options and the insurance cover they accept. It’s better to be prepared if your budget is tight.
How To Clean Invisalign Retainers?
You brush your teeth twice daily, right? So, when you wear retainers in your mouth daily, you need to brush them or clean them as well. They don’t require any special care, just cleaning every day. You don’t want dirty-looking and smelly retainers in your mouth, right?
Follow the following process to clean your retainers.
First of all, you don’t need to remember to clean them. Whenever you are brushing your teeth, brush your retainers as well.
- Run them under lukewarm water.
- Take your toothbrush and apply some toothpaste and brush your retainers in soft motions. Clean it inside and out. Take a soft-bristled brush.
- Rinse it with water again.
- Check for any tartar build-up. These retainers are the same as your teeth, and you can see the white film of tartar which the brush can’t remove. Soak your retainers in the retainer cleaning solution and leave them for the instructed time.
- Now, clean them after some time, dry them, and wear them.
Wearing retainers after Invisalign treatment is essential, and it is essential to keep these retainers clean to keep the germs away. Else, you will invite other tooth problems.
For fixed retainers, a mouthwash will do. Floss your teeth regularly to keep them clean.
Eating With Invisalign
Invisalign has its own set of benefits, and one of them is that you don’t need to worry about the stuck food in your wires or brackets. You can simply remove your aligners and eat your food. The list of “off-limit” foods with brackets is a long one, but fortunately, it is not the case with aligners. You can eat almost anything, but there are some foods you should avoid.
Plus, you should always brush your teeth before wearing your aligners back. If the food particles get stuck in your teeth and you wear aligners over them, it may cause tooth decay. Never ever eat with your aligners on. Keep them in case, else they will get damaged and won’t work in the desired manner. Do not eat spicy and acidic foods during your Invisalign treatment. It is to be avoided at any cost. Avoid cold foods as well as it may cause sensitivity. So, no ice cream. Do not chew gum as well.
It is impossible to remove your aligner every time you drink something. Water is safe. Drink as much as you can. Avoid sugary, non-sugary, and acidic drinks. Do not drink too much coffee. Alcohol is not off-limits, but you must drink only a small amount and must brush your teeth afterward.
Yes, it is important that you take off your aligners while eating and drinking, but it is also important that you wear them every day for at least 20-22 hours. Only then, you get the desired results from your treatment. To learn more, talk to your Invisalign Boston orthodontist about it.
Invisalign Vs. Braces
When it comes to getting your teeth to straighten and making your smile beautiful, more and more people choose Invisalign as their treatment option. As discussed earlier, Invisalign is not for everyone. There is another option of braces which is also a very effective one. If you are also looking forward to making your smile more beautiful with properly aligned teeth, first, you must know which is the better option for you- Invisalign or Braces.
These two options differ from each other in various ways, which are discussed below-
- Appearance
This is the first and most common reason why people choose Invisalign over braces. No matter if you are concerned with your looks or not, and even if you are cool with braces, you are going to choose Invisalign each and every time on the point of appearance.
Invisalign trays are clear plastic trays that fit your teeth like a second skin. Braces are different, and a person with braces can be identified from miles away. Young teens and adults who are most conscious about their appearance choose Invisalign but let your orthodontist decide.
- Price
If you are tight on budget, braces are a better option. In this department, braces are a clear winner. Their cost starts from $2000 and goes as high as $8000. Invisalign is not too costly, $3000-$8000. Its average cost is $5500. If you are without insurance cover and this amount will cause a hole in your pocket, go for braces.
Check insurance, discuss your payment plan, and then choose.
- Convenience
Invisalign needs to be worn at least 20-22 hours a day. If you don’t wear them enough, you are back on square one. You need to remember wearing them. But eating with Invisalign is easy. Just remove them, eat, drink, brush your teeth and wear them again.
Braces are far more convenient if you have a bad reputation in the memory department. You don’t have to remember wearing braces as they are fixed. Of course, they are problematic in eating and drinking.
- Comfort
You are shifting your teeth in both the treatments, so comfort is a far cry. Both Invisalign and braces have their limitations when it comes to comfort, but Invisalign is still better than braces. Braces are metal, and cutting the inner lip and tongue is quite common in people with braces. Plus, If you play sports, braces are a big no-no. It takes time to adjust both of these fixers.
- Cleaning
Cleaning seems far easier with braces unless you have food stuck in difficult places. But a smaller brush can remove anything. With Invisalign, you need to clean your aligners every time you brush. It’s like brushing your teeth twice in the morning itself. And if you are running late for school or work and don’t have time to clean your aligners, you have to spend the day with smelly aligners. With braces, you can brush and floss normally.
- Effectiveness
Braces are far more secure as they are sure to get the teeth in place. Patients can’t remove them and thus, get desired results.
After you wear aligners for a year, your progress is checked, and if you are behind your progress chart, you are given Invisalign refinements. As the patients can remove them, there is a great possibility that they don’t comply with the mandatory “22-hour” rule. Thus braces are more effective.
- Post Treatment
During both treatments, regular visits to the orthodontist every 6-8 weeks are essential. Braces are simpler as you don’t have to wear a retainer afterward. In Invisalign treatment, you need to wear retainers to stop your teeth from falling back into their original places.
Cons Of Invisalign
Invisalign is not a panacea for all tooth problems. It is not an entirely foolproof treatment option. Like every coin has two sides, it also has some cons, which you must know before consulting your Invisalign Boston Orthodontist.
- They only work for mild and moderate alignment issues. They are not fit for complex issues.
- They are more uncomfortable every time you wear a new set of aligners as it pushes your teeth in a new position which may cause soreness.
- If you don’t wear them 20-22 hours a day, you fall behind your progress chart.
- They need to be removed when you are eating or drinking. Slipping them back requires a good memory.
- It also imposes a limitation on food, especially when you are using a new aligner set.
Note: You must know that every orthodontist is a dentist but not every dentist is an experienced orthodontist who has experience in Invisalign treatments. So, it is better to choose an orthodontist over a dentist if you’re going for the Invisalign treatment in Boston.
Conclusion: Are Invisalign braces Worth it?
Yes, when you get the right Invisalign Boston orthodontist, comply with every instruction, and undergo treatment as required, it is worth it. It is an invisible way to claim your beautiful smile by correcting your teeth. Yes, it costs, but it is worth it as you get a lifetime to cherish your beautiful smile by spending a few grand dollars.
It is recommended to ask as many questions as you have to your orthodontist before undergoing the treatment.