Invisalign – Gainesville, FL

Shorter Average Treatment Timeline

One of the biggest benefits of Invisalign is often overlooked: the average treatment timeline is shorter. While traditional braces typically take between two and three years to deliver results, Invisalign usually only takes 12-18 months. So, you can see why patients who have an important event coming up, like a wedding, choose clear aligners!

Basically Invisible Aligners

Of course, one of the biggest perks of Invisalign is that the aligners don’t have any metal components. They are crafted from smooth, see-through plastic, and they are custom-made for each patient to fit the contours of their teeth perfectly. As a result, they won’t draw any unwanted attention to your smile as long as you take good care of them!

There Aren’t Any Food Restrictions

Another advantage: you don’t need to abide by a long list of dietary restrictions! All we ask is that you eat mostly healthy, well-balanced meals to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, or another serious oral health problem from derailing your treatment plan. It’s also a good idea to exercise caution with crunchy foods, like raw almonds, especially if you have attachments.

Maintaining a Healthy Smile Is Easy

Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners are removable. So, you don’t need to completely alter your oral hygiene regimen or buy special cleaning products, like interproximal toothbrushes. Simply brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash like usual. Then, clean your aligners (you don’t need anything fancy; a damp, soft-bristled toothbrush and clear, mild dishwashing liquid should do the trick!).

There Aren’t Monthly Adjustment Appointments

Patients with traditional braces need to attend monthly adjustment appointments. Patients with Invisalign, however, do not. Instead, the progress visits are every 6-8 weeks, and they are usually less than 30 minutes. As a result, you’ll spend significantly less time in the treatment chair overall.

Important reminder: You need to wear your current aligners to each progress visit, even if you are switching to the next set in the series shortly after. This may seem insignificant, but it can make a big difference in keeping you on track with your treatment plan.

Wearing Your Trays

Many patients in Gainesville opt for Invisalign because the trays are removable, making it a less invasive treatment option than standard braces. With that said, they must be worn for 20 to 22 hours daily to prevent your teeth from reverting to their starting places. That usually means you can plan to have your trays inserted all day and night except during meals and cleanings.

Then, after a week or two, you’ll switch to the next set of aligners in your series to maintain movement momentum.

Cleaning Your Aligners

The transparent plastic material of Invisalign allows your natural enamel to shine through, which can boost your confidence throughout your treatment timeline. But the trays can become stained or cloudy with plaque if you don’t care for them correctly, defeating the purpose of “invisible” orthodontics.

You can help keep them clean by removing them morning and night to scrub all surfaces with a soft-bristle toothbrush and clear hand soap or non-abrasive toothpaste. They can also be placed in a glass of water with Invisalign cleaning crystals, which are designed to remove germs without harming the trays.

Eating & Drinking

Unlike with traditional orthodontics, there are no dietary restrictions with Invisalign because the trays are intended to be removed for meals. They’re not designed to withstand the pressure of biting and chewing, and might be harmed if you keep them in your mouth to eat or drink anything other than water. For instance, chomping on something hard or crunchy could scratch or break them, and consuming darkly toned drinks, like tea and coffee, can stain them.

You may want to keep the carrying case with you so that you have a safe place to store your trays when they’re not in your mouth.

Losing or Damaging a Tray

It’s not necessarily an emergency if you break or lose an aligner, but please contact our office in Gainesville to let us know so we can give you appropriate instructions to move forward. For instance, depending on how long you wore the missing tray(s), we might have you revert to a previous set while we order replacements. Otherwise, we might ask you to switch to the next pair earlier than initially anticipated.

Routine Check-Ins

Most patients are required to schedule routine check-ins every four to eight weeks throughout their treatment. This allows our team to monitor your progress, make any adjustments to your treatment plan as needed, and provide the next aligners in your series. These visits can often be as brief as 15 to 30 minutes, which is often shorter than follow-up visits required for braces.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign

We mentioned one of the factors above: the severity of your misalignment. During your consultation, we’ll also determine if you need to straighten one or both arches of teeth, if rubber bands or any other orthodontic accessories are needed, and how many trays you’ll need. Of course, once you actually begin your clear aligner treatment, your compliance with the guidelines will also come into play. For example, if you consistently don’t wear your aligners for 20+ hours a day, then there may be additional costs to make the necessary changes to your treatment plan.

Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?

Typically, mail-order aligner companies are cheaper because they cut out crucial steps of the treatment process like the initial exam and professional X-rays. Unfortunately, this has resulted in several patients experiencing worsened misalignment and even serious dental emergencies, like a tooth that’s fallen out. These are just a few of the many reasons why you should trust your smile to a reliable, professional orthodontic treatment instead, like Invisalign. Although the upfront cost may be a bit higher, it’s worth investing in the look, health, and function of your smile.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

There are some cases where the answer is “yes,” like when your dental insurance provider deems Invisalign “medically necessary.” So, if you aren’t familiar with your benefits, it’s a good idea to read through the fine print on your plan! If you’re having trouble, you’re always welcome to reach out to our Gainesville dental team too. We can help you understand your coverage as well as file the claim on your behalf. In other words, we make it easy to utilize your available benefits to the fullest.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

If you are currently uninsured or your benefits don’t include orthodontic treatment, then don’t hesitate to talk to our team about the other financial solutions we offer, like flexible financing. CareCredit is a third-party financier that offers numerous payment plans so you don’t have to pay for the cost of Invisalign in one lump sum. Instead, you can break down the payments into monthly chunks that fit easily into your budget!