Invisalign – New York, NY

Crowded Teeth

Young adults aren’t the only ones who suffer from overcrowded teeth. As you age, they tend to shift due to the ongoing tension exerted whenever you bite and chew. When they’re pressed closely together, it’s harder to reach all their surfaces to thoroughly brush and floss them. You’re unfortunately more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease as a result.

Invisalign can shift your teeth to their ideal placements to simultaneously enhance both your appearance and your oral health.

Gaps Between Teeth

Gaps in your grin can leave you feeling self-conscious, whether due to natural bone development, teeth that are too small, or having a larger jawbone. They’re also more likely to cause food to become trapped between your pearly whites. This can irritate your gums and attract germs that cause plaque buildup and lead to dental issues. You could have gum disease or bad breath as a result.

Fortunately, clear aligners can gently close the spaces for an evenly balanced smile that’s less likely to capture any leftovers.

Overbite

An overbite is a condition in which the top arch of teeth sticks out too far from the lower set. This can cause challenges enunciating certain sounds, unevenly worn enamel, and jaw pain or tension. You might even develop a stiff or locked jaw.

Dr. Sanchez can use Invisalign to adjust your bite, which can resolve these issues and improve your dental condition.

Underbite

People with an underbite have bottom teeth that either match the top set or extend past them when they close their mouths. This can occur in children who have a habit of sucking on their thumb or pacifier but can also result from genetics or an injury. This can increase the risk of sleep apnea because it can restrict your airway when lying down at night.

Using rubber bands and other attachments in conjunction with your Invisalign, Dr. Sanchez can gradually pull your lower arch back into its rightful place.

Crossbite

If your upper teeth fit inside your lower ones when you close your mouth, then you might have a crossbite. It can be caused by genetics, premature loss of baby teeth, or poor oral hygiene habits. If left unaddressed, it can lead to an enhanced risk of tooth decay, gum disease, headaches, and jaw pain, in addition to denting your self-confidence.

Invisalign, combined with elastics and other accessories, can often remedy this problem.   

Open Bite

This condition happens when your bottom front teeth don’t touch or overlap in any way when you shut your jaw. It’s usually a product of poor bone development or prolonged thumb sucking. It can cause challenges when speaking, as well as excessively wearing down the enamel on your back teeth, which increases the likelihood of cavities.

By bringing your top and bottom teeth together, Invisalign can reduce the risk of potentially uneven wear and tear.  

Visual Appeal

If you’re worried about the appearance of your smile, the discreet nature of Invisalign can make it a very attractive choice. Most people won’t even notice the aligners, so there’s less of a chance of attention being drawn to your smile for the wrong reasons. On top of that, without any metal brackets and wires to get in the way, you’ll be able to get a clear look at your teeth as they gradually move toward their ideal positions, bringing you closer to the straighter smile of your dreams.

Shortened Treatment Time

You may have heard that traditional braces often need to be worn for a few years. With Invisalign, this typically isn’t the case. The exact length of the treatment isn’t the same for every patient, but on average, it usually only takes around 12 to 18 months for Invisalign to yield results.

More Convenient Cleaning

The fact that Invisalign aligners can be taken out of your mouth at any time can make things much simpler when it comes to maintaining them. You’ll be able to easily clean every surface of your aligners in order to keep them in excellent condition. Furthermore, you’ll have the freedom to brush and floss your teeth like you normally would without any brackets or wires getting in the way.

No Dietary Restrictions

One of the more notable downsides of traditional braces is the fact that they can significantly limit your diet. For example, you will need to stay away from crunchy foods that could damage your brackets and wires. But this isn’t a concern with Invisalign because you can simply store your aligners in a protective case while you enjoy your meal. As a result, you will be able to eat all of your favorite foods without having to worry about disrupting the orthodontic process.

Improved Comfort

If you don’t like the idea of metal brackets rubbing against the inside of your cheeks, Invisalign can be a more comfortable alternative. The aligners are made of smooth plastic, making them unlikely to cause soft tissue irritation or sores.

Fewer Follow-Up Appointments

Compared to traditional braces, Invisalign doesn’t require as many appointments. You’ll only need to return to our office every six or eight weeks so that we can make sure there aren’t any unexpected developments and provide you with the next set of aligners. This can be good news for patients with hectic schedules.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign

At your consultation, our team will examine your current dental condition, chat with you about your goals, and closely review your medical history. With this information, we can determine:

• The complexity of your case
• If any restorative treatments are needed
• How many clear aligners need to be made
• If single-arch treatment is possible
• If rubber bands and other orthodontic accessories are necessary
• The type of retainer needed

Are Mail-In Aligners Cheaper Than Invisalign?

Mail-in aligners are usually cheaper than Invisalign. Before you let that make up your mind, it’s important to ask an important question: Why? The answer is that alternatives like these bypass the initial consultation, they rely on DIY impressions, they usually aren’t supervised by licensed dental professionals, and there often isn’t anywhere to turn if something goes wrong. So, even if Invisalign requires a higher upfront investment, it’s well worth it.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Many dental patients have 100% of preventive care covered and between 50% and 80% of restorative treatments covered. However, it’s worth taking a look at your plan to see if you have any other benefits, like a once-in-a-lifetime orthodontic benefit. This might include Invisalign, so it’s worth reading through the fine print and calling your provider with any questions you have. You’re more than welcome to ask us for help too since we are in-network with several major dental insurance companies.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

Don’t have dental insurance at the moment? Good news: our team at FS Dental Arts also welcomes CareCredit! As a result, you can space out your payments into smaller, more manageable monthly chunks instead of paying for the entire cost at once. If you want to learn more details, you’re welcome to reach out to us with any questions you have – we’re here to help ensure that your budget doesn’t keep you from having the perfectly straight smile that you deserve!