Patient FormsInvisalign – New York, NY
A Clear Alternative to Traditional Braces
If you’ve been longing for a straighter smile but don’t want to deal with the hassle of having metal brackets on your teeth, our team at FSU Dental Arts can help. Invisalign is a clear alternative to traditional braces and is customized to fit over your teeth to gently reposition them over a designated period. This solution has gained popularity because it is less visually obtrusive than standard braces. Plus, cleaning your teeth is a breeze because you can simply remove the plastic aligners to brush and floss then reinsert them when you’re done. If you’d like to know more or have additional questions, you’re welcome to contact our team today for information!
Why Choose FS Dental Arts For Invisalign?
- Flexible Financing Available
- Happy to Treat Children & Adults Alike
- Digital Imaging for Beautiful & Accurate Results
How Invisalign Works
Invisalign relies on clear plastic aligner trays rather than metal brackets, wires, and bands to fix misaligned teeth. These aligners use targeted pressure to gently guide teeth into healthier positions. Your treatment plan is tailored to your individual needs and takes into account the current position of your teeth as well as your bite alignment and key pressure points. You’ll wear these aligners for 22 hours every day and will receive a new set of aligners every two weeks or so to account for the recent movement and continue forward progress. It usually takes around 12-18 months to complete treatment, as opposed to several years with traditional braces.
Who Can Invisalign Help?
If you're considering Invisalign to enhance your smile, you're on the right track. It is a popular and effective treatment, but before we can determine whether it’s right for you, you must consult with our expert, Dr. Sanchez. She will examine your mouth and provide a professional recommendation based on your unique situation. Read on to discover some common issues that Invisalign can effectively address. Feel free to contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.
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.
The Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign has helped millions of people achieve perfectly even grins and continues to gain popularity due to the many advantages it provides, including:
- Visual appeal. The clear aligner trays are much less noticeable than glinting metal brackets.
- Shortened treatment time. Braces often take a few years to straighten your smile, but Invisalign takes about 12-18 months.
- Convenience. It’s simple to remove your aligners to clean them as well as your pearly whites.
- No dietary restrictions. Unlike with traditional braces, you don’t have to steer clear of certain foods because you’ll take Invisalign out for meals.
How Much Does Invisalign Cost?
Several factors are considered when calculating the cost for your Invisalign treatment and everyone’s circumstances are unique. During your consultation appointment, our team will examine your current dental condition, chat with you about your goals, and closely review your medical history to provide an estimate based on your individual needs. We are in-network with several major dental insurance companies and provide flexible financing options so that your budget doesn’t keep you from having the perfectly straight smile that you deserve!
Invisalign FAQs
Does Invisalign Hurt?
When you first start your Invisalign treatment, there will be some discomfort as your aligners begin to place pressure on your teeth. While this can be concerning at first, there’s no need to worry. This means that the aligners are doing their job. As Invisalign gradually shifts your teeth, bone is broken down and regrown, leaving a sore feeling behind, especially when changing to a new aligner. To cope with this discomfort, you can use over the counter pain medications like ibuprofen or place a cold compress on the affected areas. Try to stick to softer foods when you begin your treatment or change to a new aligner for the first few days.
Can You Eat with Invisalign In?
Dr. Sanchez strongly recommends that you remove your aligners before eating or drinking. The draw of Invisalign is their discreet, transparent appearance and the pigments from food and drink can stain them easily. In addition, eating with your aligners on, especially if you’re snacking on crunchy, tough, or chewy stuff can crack the plastic. Not only will this delay your treatment, but you could also lose some of your hard-earned progress. So, remove your aligners before every meal and then brush and floss before putting them back on.
What Are Invisalign Attachments?
Attachments are small opaque pieces of dental-grade plastic that are bonded to the surface of your teeth. When combined with your Invisalign trays, these small attachments help create more complex tooth movements. When Invisalign was first introduced, it could only treat minor orthodontic issues. However, with the creation of attachments and bumps, it can now be used to treat more severely crooked teeth and even jaw issues like overbites. Even with these attachments, you’ll still be able to enjoy all the great benefits of your Invisalign treatment.
What Happens After Invisalign?
Once you finish your final Invisalign set at FS Dental Arts, Dr. Sanchez will verify your results with a quick oral exam. In some cases, you may need a few additional trays called refinements to fully complete your transformation. These are generally included in the price of your treatment unless you need additional trays. These help make smaller adjustments over a few months until your smile is perfect. If you don’t need refinements, then you’ll be given a retainer to help maintain your results. These devices are worn every night as you sleep and keep your teeth from shifting back into their original positions.