Invisalign Clear Aligners

Aligners are easily removed before eating, brushing, and flossing.

Aligners are easily removed before eating, brushing, and flossing.

Among the various options offered by Simply Orthodontics, a common choice is the Invisalign Clear Aligner. These aligners provide many of the benefits of traditional bracket systems, with added benefits of being transparent and removable. Feedback received from our patients has been overwhelmingly positive.

Whereas traditional Metal or Clear brackets attach directly to your teeth, Invisalign is a series of removable clear aligners (trays) designed to re-position your teeth in a planned sequence.  Each aligner in your series includes a small change of teeth positions from the prior tray, gently moving your teeth over the period of your treatment. These trays are custom-made for you, based on the 3D digital impression of your teeth performed in our office.

Advantages

Simply Orthodontics provides you and your family with a full range of Orthodontic options – there are various personal factors for you to consider when selecting your preferred method of care. The following section provides a side-by-side comparison of some Pros and Cons of Invisalign:

Benefits Considerations
Appearance Clear Aligners are virtually invisible, may be ideal if you have an important event approaching such as a Wedding, or Graduation (could be removed entirely for pictures). Invisalign treatment does require the use of small, tooth colored attachments (bumps) that are attached to some teeth. These attachments help the aligners to grab and position the tooth. These may be required on front or back teeth to ensure your desired outcome is achieved.
Comfort Because the trays fit flush with the teeth, patients can often forget they are even wearing them. The first few days of tooth movement in each new aligner can bring mild discomfort, similar to an adjustment of traditional braces. Patients who chose AcceleDent find this discomfort reduced.
Cost
Typically the same as clear brackets. See Costs to Consider to learn more.
Effectiveness When worn as required, aligners are as effective as traditional bracket systems. Although removable, the trays must be worn for 22 hours per day. Your treatment effectiveness depends on them being in your mouth, working to move your teeth. Invisalign is not appropriate for all cases, learn more about if it could be effective for you.
Hygiene The aligner trays are removable, allowing for easy brushing, flossing. It is important to also clean the aligners regularly and be careful not to trap food, drinks or plaque under the aligner and against your teeth.
Lifestyle No problems with eating, no concerns with food getting caught – just remove the trays before eating! If you take part in rougher sports, such as wrestling, or boxing, Invisalign may be a better option so that they can be removed for the rough sport and replaced with a custom-fitted sportsguard. Being removable, you must keep track of your aligners and commit to the required wear-schedule of 22 hours per day. Losing trays or poor wear habits will result in treatment delays or poor outcomes. Some patients find that during Invisalign treatment they adjust their eating patterns from more of a “grazing” style to clearly defined meal-times so that the trays can be removed, the meal enjoyed, their mouth cleaned and the trays replaced for continued treatment.

Comparing Price of Invisalign vs Braces

We maintain prices of orthodontic aligners comparable with traditional braces.

The cost of Invisalign in our office is the same as clear bracket options. Keeping the price of Invisalign down allows you to focus on the treatment option most appropriate for your needs, supporting all of us towards achieving the desired results. Many factors impact the cost of your treatment, but the primary driver is the complexity of your orthodontic problem and the extensiveness of change required:

  1. Your current bite (how your teeth align);
  2. Your current level of crowding or spacing;
  3. Any other complicating factors (jaws, overall oral health, missing teeth);
  4. Your smile goals.

At your consultation, Dr. Duncan will come to understand your concerns and goals, what you want to improve about your smile or bite. She will assess your oral and orthodontic health and combine her diagnosis with your personal goals to develop a treatment proposal customized for you. Our team will help you understand the treatment proposal, steps and associated costs. Simply Orthodontics’ prices are competitive and your personalized treatment is provided by Dr. Duncan every step of the way.  Our office will work with you to remove barriers to treatment; providing flexible no-interest payment plans, and assistance with insurance management.

Will Invisalign Be Effective for You?

Invisalign is an option for almost all patients; there are three critical considerations in determining if it is a good option for you.

  1. Removable Trays: It is very convenient to have removable trays, but it is very inconvenient when misplaced. Although they can be replaced; it takes time to get replacements, and during that time you are not advancing your treatment. Lost trays usually causes a delay in your finish.
  2. 22+ Hours/Day: Will you, or your child, have the discipline to wear these for 22+ hours per day? The effectiveness of this depends largely upon the time spent worn.
  3. Treatment Goals: Certain changes in your teeth are not best accomplished with Invisalign. For example, rotation of premolars is at times more quickly done with traditional brackets.  There are ways to design your treatment to do some more difficult movements with other orthodontic options prior to starting your Invisalign care.

Next Step: Consult with an Orthodontic Specialist, particularly someone experienced with both Invisalign and Bracket systems. Your Orthodontist can offer an unbiased recommendation to effectively achieve your smile goals. Our team would love to help, schedule a consultation to discuss further with Dr. Duncan.