Invisalign – Chevy Chase, MD
Clear. Comfortable. Convenient.
There was once a time when metal braces were the only orthodontic treatment. That all changed when Invisalign debuted its clear aligners. Now, patients can straighten their teeth without noticeable brackets and wires! So, if you’ve been wanting to address crooked or spaced-out teeth, but were put off by the idea of having noticeable braces, there’s no better time to schedule a consultation with our Chevy Chase dental team. You can also read on to learn more, including how this discreet orthodontic treatment works.
Why Choose Avant Dentistry for Invisalign?
- Experienced Dentist
- Putty-Free Impressions
- Dental Insurance Welcome
How Invisalign Works
Simply put, a series of clear aligners are made from impressions of your teeth. Each set is designed to place just enough pressure on your teeth to move them a step closer to their ideal positions. Wearing the aligners for 20-22 hours a day is crucial in order to stay on track with your treatment plan, which is why we encourage our patients to only remove them when absolutely necessary, like before eating. Usually, the entire process of moving your teeth from where they are now to where they should be only takes 12-18 months!
Who Invisalign Can Help
If you want to straighten your teeth, but you aren’t thrilled about the prospect of wearing metal brackets and wires, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment at our Chevy Chase dental office to see if you’re a candidate for Invisalign! Oftentimes, the clear aligners can be used to address mild to moderate cases of the following orthodontic problems:
Crowded Teeth
Overcrowding is a common orthodontic problem, and one that has the potential to negatively impact the look, health, and function of your smile. That’s why we encourage patients to come to our office to explore their orthodontic treatment options, like Invisalign. That way, we can gently and gradually guide their teeth into their properly aligned positions, boosting self-esteem and reducing the risk of tooth decay in the process.
Gaps Between Teeth
Spaced-out teeth are also quite common and, like the other orthodontic problems mentioned here, they can take a toll on your confidence as well as your oral health. The good news is that moving your teeth together doesn’t always require metal brackets and wires. In some cases, we can use a series of clear aligners to discreetly and comfortably close the gaps. As we mentioned above, the average treatment timeline is only 12-18 months too!
Bite Alignment
There are four common bite problems: overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites. While they are unique in some ways, they also have some similarities, including that they can lead to premature wear and tear on your teeth, chronic jaw pain, and trouble chewing properly. For all of those reasons, we recommend finding out if you’re a candidate for Invisalign, even if you are happy with the appearance of your smile.
Benefits of Invisalign
Many patients choose Invisalign because this alternative orthodontic service is usually considered more comfortable and discreet than traditional braces. But there are several additional advantages of choosing to straighten your smile with these clear aligners.
Continue reading to learn more about the various benefits of this popular treatment to help you decide if it’s right for you!
More Comfortable Service
Standard orthodontics rely on bulky metal brackets and wires attached to your enamel to shift your teeth to their ideal places, which is effective but also notoriously cuts the tender tissues inside the mouth and causes plenty of associated aches.
Meanwhile, the smooth plastic trays of Invisalign are much less likely to cut the insides of your cheeks, lips, and gums, and they’re customized to fit over your arches like a glove. As a result, this is often considered a much more comfortable service.
Discreet Aligners
You’re not alone if you want to straighten your smile but prefer to avoid the hassle and potential embarrassment often associated with traditional braces. After all, it’s only natural to want to pursue a more discreet solution when you’re already feeling self-conscious about crooked or gapped teeth or a bite misalignment.
Fortunately, these transparent trays allow your natural enamel to shine through, so it’s harder to see your orthodontics.
Enhanced Self-Esteem
Many people choose clear aligners over traditional orthodontics to improve their appearance. If you’re worried about being judged for your looks, then awkward brackets and wires are unlikely to do much to help your confidence.
But Invisalign can start to shift your teeth within just a couple of weeks, and because the trays are entirely transparent, you’ll be showing off your already-straighter smile as your progress throughout your treatment to enhance your self-esteem.
Improved Dental Hygiene
It’s notoriously challenging to brush and floss with braces in place, and many patients require special accessories, like interproximal brushes or an oral irrigator, to do so successfully.
But these clear aligners are 100% removable, making it much easier to thoroughly brush and floss all sides of your teeth to avoid common oral issues, such as cavities or gum disease, during treatment. It’s also easy to brush the trays themselves to remove any plaque or residue buildup that might make them look dirty or cloudy.
Faster Follow-Ups
You’ll be required to attend a periodic check-in appointment every 6 to 10 weeks to ensure that you’re tracking with your Invisalign treatment timeline. Thankfully, these visits tend to be shorter than routine follow-ups required for braces because there’s no need to make painful adjustments to the tension of an archwire.
For instance, it might only take about 15 to 20 minutes for our team to examine your teeth, ensure they’re shifting at the anticipated rate, and provide the next trays in your series that you’ll be directed to wear.
Less-Invasive Treatment
The removable trays allow patients to maintain their usual habits and routines more easily, and so they’re also considered a less invasive treatment option. For example, not only can you brush and floss more normally, but there are no dietary restrictions to worry about because the trays aren’t intended to be in your mouth when eating or drinking anything other than cool or room-temperature water.
How Much Does Invisalign Cost?
You might initially assume that there is a flat fee for Invisalign. That’s not the case! After all, there are several factors that need to be considered, including how many aligners are needed. With all of that said, you don’t have to worry – we will provide you with an estimate of the cost at your consultation. We’ll also review all of the financial solutions available to you, including dental insurance.