Invisalign – Denison, IA
Achieving a Straight Smile Couldn’t Be Easier
At 32 & You, we offer many orthodontic solutions for patients with misaligned teeth, noticeable gaps, rotated teeth, and uneven bites. As a result, achieving a straight smile couldn’t be easier! One of the most sought-after treatments is Invisalign in Denison, which discreetly guides your teeth into their properly aligned positions, benefiting the look and function of your smile in the process. If you’re interested in learning more about this highly sought-after treatment, keep reading or get in touch with our team.
Why Choose 32 & U for Invisalign?
- iTero Digital Impression Technology In-House
- Experienced Dentist with 400 Hours of Orthodontic Training
- Personalized Treatments Designed to Meet Your Needs
How Invisalign Works
To start, Dr. Bygness will begin your Invisalign consultation by capturing detailed digital impressions of your smile. These will then be used to create your custom aligners. Each pair is designed to represent a different stage of your treatment. Simply wear the aligners for about 20 to 22 hours per day over the next two weeks, then move on to the next pair in your series. With each set you complete, your teeth slowly shift closer and closer to their straighter position. Every six to eight weeks, you’ll come back to our dental office so we can confirm that your teeth are moving as planned. After you complete your series, you’ll need to wear a clear retainer for the next year to ensure that your teeth do not relapse (or shift back) to their previous positions.
Who Can Invisalign Help?
Invisalign isn’t just incredibly discreet—it’s also highly effective at treating a variety of orthodontic issues. From simple crowding to more complex bite alignment issues, Dr. Bygness enables patients to get the results they desire while enjoying the comfort and convenience of custom-made clear aligners.
Crowded Teeth
If your teeth are crooked, then you’re significantly more likely to develop dental problems, like cavities and gum disease. That’s because the small crevices where the teeth meet can harbor food particles, bacteria, and plaque. Luckily, Invisalign can gradually shift your teeth into their properly aligned positions, improving the appearance and health of your smile.
Gaps Between Teeth
Gaps between teeth allow food particles and other debris to easily get lodged between the gums. Again, this orthodontic issue can pose a serious risk to your oral health. To prevent dental problems like gum disease from developing, our dentist in Denison can use Invisalign’s clear aligners to close the gaps in your smile.
Overbite
It’s perfectly natural to have a slight overbite, where the upper teeth stick out in front of the lower ones. However, if this is too pronounced, it can lead to cosmetic issues, encourage mouth breathing, and also make the teeth more susceptible to chipping. However, Invisalign can correct this issue easily.
Underbite
An underbite occurs when the lower teeth stick out further than the upper teeth, and the drawbacks are basically the same as an overbite. Invisalign can gradually adjust both rows of teeth so that they are more equal, providing a more functional bite and symmetrical facial appearance.
Crossbite
While an overbite and underbite happen when the teeth are incorrectly aligned front to back, a crossbite is when the upper and lower arches are offset side to side. While the aesthetic concerns aren’t as bad, this can create a lot of tension in the jaw that can lead to pain, stiffness, and even chronic headaches. Invisalign can help take the pressure off of the overworked jaw joint while also protecting the teeth from accelerated wear.
Open Bite
With an open bite, the front teeth don’t come together even when the back teeth touch. This can make eating and drinking feel really awkward, cause a speech impediment, and the front teeth typically bow out at an angle. Gently and precisely, Invisalign can move the teeth back so they slightly touch and provide support for the lips so they look full and healthy.
The Benefits of Invisalign
Not only does Invisalign not make use of any metal materials whatsoever, but the trays are completely transparent. This means you don’t have to make significant changes to your appearance just to straighten your teeth. Furthermore, the average treatment time for Invisalign falls between 12 and 18 months, but this can vary depending on the severity of your misalignment. Even for severe cases, you can expect treatment to be a fraction of what is needed for traditional orthodontics.
Since the trays are removable, you can even eat the foods you want and you don’t have to make changes to your oral care habits just to accommodate them.
Living with Invisalign Aligners
Now you might be wondering, “What will life with Invisalign look like?” It’s a great question, and one that we will answer in this next section! Below, you’ll learn more about the importance of wearing your aligners for 20+ hours a day, how to keep them stain and odor-free, and what to do if you accidentally lose or break one.
Wearing Your Trays
As you may already know, you need to wear your Invisalign aligners for at least 20 hours a day to avoid unwanted treatment plan delays. At first, this might seem like an easy task, but once you add up the time needed for three meals, snacks, and dental care, there isn’t a lot of wiggle room! That’s why it’s so important that you take your aligners out only when necessary, and that you put them back on ASAP.
Cleaning Your Aligners
Cleaning your Invisalign aligners won’t take much time at all, and you don’t need any special oral hygiene products either! Simply use a damp, soft-bristled toothbrush, some clear, mild dishwashing liquid, and clean, cool water to clean them each morning and evening. Outside of that, rinse them with cool (never hot) water each time you take them out and soak them daily in a dentist-recommended cleaner for 15 minutes or so.
Eating & Drinking
There is one simple, but important, rule when it comes to eating and drinking with Invisalign: you need to remove your trays beforehand (with the exception of water, of course). If you get in the habit of keeping them on – whether it’s while you’re drinking iced coffee or enjoying a smoothie – stains will quickly develop. Plus, the chances of tooth decay and other common oral health problems skyrocket. So, make sure you take them off first!
Losing or Damaging a Tray
If you lose one or both of your aligners, then carefully retrace your steps. There’s a chance that they ended up somewhere “random,” like your hamper, so make sure to look in the not-so-obvious places as well. If you can’t find them, then call us. We recommend contacting us if one of your aligners is damaged as well. That way, we can quickly determine if you can move onto the next set in the series or if we need to have a replacement made.
Routine Check-Ins
To make sure that your teeth are responding to the clear aligners and that you’re on-track with your treatment plan, you need to come to our office every 6-8 weeks. We also use these appointments to answer any questions you have about the teeth-straightening process and to share any helpful tips or recommendations we have. Plus, we will provide you with the next batch of aligners (this saves you from having to keep track of all of them from the start of your orthodontic treatment!).
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
When you meet with our dental team for a consultation, you can expect us to examine your smile in its entirety before coming up with a treatment plan and expected total cost. We’ll consider everything including the number of aligners you need, the severity of your case, and even the type of retainer you’ll need to wear once you’re all done with your treatment. If you have any additional questions about the cost of Invisalign in Denison, feel free to contact us for assistance or to schedule a visit.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
Since everybody has unique smile needs, the cost of Invisalign will vary from patient to patient. A few of the main factors that affect the total cost include:
- The number of aligners needed – This is often related to the extent and type of your misalignment.
- Whether you are straightening one arch or both – It’s more expensive to straighten both the upper and lower teeth than straightening just one or the other.
- Your compliance with treatment – Lost or damaged aligners will inevitably need to be replaced, and these added costs can quickly add up. Additionally, not adhering to the 22-hour rule will lengthen your overall treatment process.
- Any necessary accessories – If you need elastics (small rubber bands) or other accessories, these can also factor into the final cost.
Invisalign VS Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?
It’s not uncommon for some patients to want to opt for cheaper solutions including Smile Direct Club™. These DIY alternatives usually cost around $2,000 whereas Invisalign may cost anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000, often falling within the $6,000 to $6,500 range. But as attractive as the DIY system might be, it’s important to note a few differences between this option and Invisalign:
- DIY aligners are often made out of cheap plastic, while Invisalign uses a patented material that is designed for comfort and
- There have been accounts where DIY aligners have been ineffective, and in some cases, they’ve even been known to worsen alignment!
- With Invisalign, you’re guaranteed the personalized support of our amazing team; this guidance is instrumental in your treatment’s success.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
In some cases, dental insurance plans include a one-time provision for orthodontic treatment and Invisalign is often included. That said, you should verify with your provider beforehand to be sure that your treatment is covered. We’re happy to review the details of your insurance plan with you so that you’re able to fully maximize your benefits and lessen the strain on your wallet.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance coverage for orthodontic care, you aren’t entirely out of luck! We’re proud to offer alternative payment options with low-interest financing including CareCredit or Lending Point for Invisalign specifically that can break up the cost of your treatment into smaller, more manageable installments.
Invisalign FAQs – Denison, IA
With the outstanding results our patients get from Invisalign at 32 & You, it’s easy to see why people give it a satisfaction rating of more than 96%. But, even with the many benefits of Invisalign in Denison, it’s still a big decision to make and you may have a few questions. Keep reading as we answer some of the most common FAQs we hear below. And don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bygness or simply want to know more!
How Noticeable Is Invisalign?
Invisalign aligner trays are smooth, clear, and practically undetectable, but your teeth will look a bit “shinier” than normal when your trays are in. And when you’ve removed your aligners during meals, people may notice the small, temporary attachments on your teeth called “buttons” that anchor your trays into place. But since they’re tooth-colored to blend in with your smile, they’re far from obvious.
Will Invisalign Affect the Way I Talk?
It’s not uncommon for new Invisalign users to speak with a slight lisp for the first few days after getting their aligners. Fortunately, adjusting to the way the trays feel and learning how to enunciate is relatively quick and easy. Plus, you can speed up the adjustment period by reading out loud and saying the more difficult words, like “sixty,” repeatedly.
How Long Will It Take To Start Seeing Results?
Many of our patients begin to see changes in the first several months, but it depends on how severe your bite alignment issues are. If you only need relatively small corrections, you might even start seeing shifts within a few weeks.
What Should I Do If I Lose My Invisalign Trays?
If you lose your trays, call us right away so we can notify the Invisalign lab and have them make a new set (this typically takes 2 to 3 weeks). In the meantime, we’ll have you wear your most recent pair of aligner trays until the new ones are made. These will act as temporary retainers to keep your teeth in place and prevent them from moving back to their initial positions. Although your final results will be a bit delayed, you won’t lose any ground.
To minimize the chance of losing your trays, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of putting them in their case instead of a napkin during meals. This will prevent you from accidentally throwing them in the trash.
Does Insurance Cover Invisalign?
Each insurance plan is different, and some cover orthodontic treatment while others don’t. With that said, the plans that do cover it typically cover Invisalign at the same rate as traditional braces.
And, as an orthodontist in Denison, we know that Invisalign is an outstanding investment and want to make it as affordable as possible, so we accept most major PPO plans and are in-network with Delta Dental Premier and Blue Cross Blue Shield. We also offer Care Credit, a third-party financing option that allows qualified patients to make monthly payments with little to no interest. If you’d like to know more about what your insurance plan covers, give us a call and we’ll be happy to explain your benefits.