Invisalign – Long Beach, NY

What Is Invisalign First?

Over the years, parents have wondered if Invisalign could be used for their little ones. While Phase 1 orthodontics has been around to straighten children’s teeth with braces and certain oral appliances, clear aligners weren’t one of the options. Now, our practice can provide Invisalign First to help younger patients who have both primary and permanent teeth, or different-sized pearly whites. These clear trays have the ability to manage growing teeth and utilize advanced technology to make their movements predictable. This allows our team to support optimal arch development while effectively reaching your child’s orthodontic goals.

How Does Invisalign First Work?

Although the treatment process is relatively the same as regular Invisalign, the design of the clear aligners is slightly different. Our team will first digitally scan your child’s smile to create a 3D impression of their mouth. From there, we’ll accurately map out their treatment process by using the virtual model. We’ll send the design plans to the Invisalign lab so they can fabricate the custom-designed Invisalign First aligners.

During the treatment process, your child will wear and switch to new aligners based on their unique plan. This usually involves wearing their clear trays for 20-22 hours every day and changing to a new set after one or two weeks. Their custom aligners will place constant gentle pressure to move their teeth to their proper positions, and you should see the gradual change in your child’s smile as they work through the series.

What Are the Benefits of Invisalign for Kids?

Invisalign First is an incredibly reliable and comfortable orthodontic option for children younger than 13 years old. Your child should be able to enjoy the following benefits of this treatment:

• More convenient teeth cleaning process due to no wires and brackets.
• Removable trays allow for an expanded diet, allowing children to enjoy their favorite meals.
• Clear aligners offer more comfort and help prevent complications or irritations that can happen with traditional braces.
• Invisalign trays are virtually invisible and provide a discreet method of orthodontic treatment.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Invisalign

To create your personalized estimate during your consultation, we’ll take into account several factors, such as:

• Case Complexity: Naturally, the cost of treating mild orthodontic issues will be less expensive than correcting a severe case.
• Treatment Length: Invisalign utilizes a series of clear plastic aligners. The longer your treatment length, the more aligners you’ll need to pay for.
• Patient Compliance: You will play a key role in how effective and fast your treatment is. If you lose, break, or simply don’t wear your aligners frequently, your treatment could get off track, which would increase its length and cost.

Invisalign VS Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?

Invisalign is easily one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get a straighter smile. However, you may have seen advertisements for services like the Smile Direct Club™, which offer promises of the same results without visiting an orthodontist and at a lower cost. While at first this may seem like quite the bargain, it can come at a high price.

These DIY mail-in aligners come with little to no oversight from a professional orthodontist, which means plenty can go wrong. Not only will you be responsible for taking your own impressions correctly, but they won’t show any signs of tooth decay or gum disease. You could easily end up with serious issues that need to be corrected by a professional anyways.

On the other hand, when you visit Dr. Glen’s Happy Teeth, you’ll have the trusted oversight of our in-office orthodontist Dr. Sarit. She will be with you every step of the way to make sure you’re receiving accurate impressions, high-quality aligners, and a smoother, more successful treatment process overall. In the end, your peace-of-mind knowing that your smile is in the hands of a professional is well worth the extra cost. 

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Every dental insurance policy has different coverages when it comes to orthodontic treatments. Not all plans cover orthodontics, and of those who do, not all include Invisalign. To learn more about the details of your dental insurance, contact your provider or give our knowledgeable team a call. We’ll help make sure that your benefits are being maximized and your out-of-pocket expenses are being minimized.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

Don’t have dental insurance? Not happy with your coverage? Not to worry! There are several other ways you can make paying for Invisalign more affordable, like:

• Our In-House Savings Plan: For one flat, annual fee, you can enjoy regular preventive care and discounts on other dental services. Give us a call today to learn more.
• Flexible Dental Financing: We’re happy to accept low-interest financing through Lending Tree. This will let you break up the cost of Invisalign into smaller payments that fit into your monthly budget.

Does Invisalign Hurt?

Traditional braces are notorious for their sharp metal wires and brackets that cause abrasive sores on the inside of the cheeks and lips. Thankfully, this isn’t an issue with Invisalign! Invisalign clear aligners are made of a single piece of smooth plastic, allowing them to glide effortlessly past your soft tissues. As such, you can expect a much more comfortable straightening experience with Invisalign than you would with traditional braces!

However, soreness is common with any type of orthodontic treatment. If you experience discomfort when starting a new set of aligners, try eating or drinking cold things or taking over-the-counter pain relievers to ease your symptoms. Many patients find that switching to a new set of aligners right before bed allows them to sleep through much of the initial discomfort.

Are Invisalign Results Permanent?

Yes! Invisalign has the potential to help you achieve a straighter smile for life! However, you’ll need to take the proper steps to maintain your results, otherwise your teeth may shift out of place again. This typically includes wearing a custom-made retainer as we instruct you to do so. At first, you’ll likely wear it all day, but then you’ll gradually wear it only at night, and then perhaps only a few nights a week. It’s essential that you wear a retainer to keep your teeth in their newly-aligned positions!

What Do I Do If I Lose or Break an Aligner?

If you so happen to lose or break an aligner, don’t panic! Just give us a call so we can guide you on what to do next. Sometimes we’ll simply instruct you to move on to your next set of aligners, while other times we may tell you to wear your previous set until a replacement can be made. Do NOT try to make this decision on your own, as this could potentially damage your teeth!

Don’t wear broken aligners, and don’t try to fix them with super glue or other household products! We may be able to repair your aligners when you visit us, but we will likely need to replace them to safeguard your oral health.

Who Isn’t a Good Candidate for Invisalign

Invisalign is an excellent choice for straightening permanent teeth, so teenagers as young as 12 or 13 can potentially be a candidate. While most healthy adults and teens can get Invisalign, there are some patients who are not eligible, including:

• Patients with severe bite misalignment
• Patients with tooth rotation
• Patients who smoke or chew tobacco and are unwilling to quit
• Patients with small, misshapen, or eroded teeth

How Long Does Invisalign Take?

Several factors can influence how long Invisalign will take to complete, such as the difficulty of your misalignment and how committed you are to the treatment plan. However, the average time it takes for patients to finish their clear aligner process can be anywhere from 12 to 18 months. In some situations where misalignment is minor, patients have been able to complete their treatment in around 6 months. The overall process is still much quicker than traditional braces, which can take between 1 to 3 years.

What Does Invisalign Look Like?

Your Invisalign clear aligners will be made out of transparent plastic, which is virtually invisible while wearing them. Unless you tell someone about your treatment, the only people who’ll know they’re there will be you and your dentist in Long Beach. By practicing proper dental hygiene, you can ensure that they’re stain-free, maintaining a discreet process for straightening your smile. You might also need attachments, buttons, or elastics to aid in your treatment depending on your situation. While these are slightly more visible than your aligners, you can still feel more comfortable showing off your smile than with metal braces.

Can You Eat with Invisalign?

A rule of thumb with Invisalign is that you should never eat or drink anything while wearing them (with the exception of pure water). Doing so can risk damaging, warping, or staining your clear aligners, which can interfere with your straightening process significantly. However, unlike with traditional braces, your Invisalign trays are removable, meaning you can still enjoy all of your favorite foods throughout your treatment. Be sure to take them out and store them safely before eating a meal. You might also consider soaking them during this time to keep them clean and free of particles or bacteria.

What Happens After Invisalign?

After you’ve completed your final set of Invisalign trays, you’ll visit your cosmetic dentist in Long Beach so they can verify your results. They’ll assess your teeth to ensure they’re in the desired positions before discussing how you’ll maintain your newly straightened smile. Your post-treatment will consist of wearing a retainer, which is much more comfortable than those made in the past. You’ll likely get to choose the kind you prefer, wired or clear ones (similar to Invisalign aligners).

Wearing your retainers will be an essential part of the treatment process, as this will help retain the results you worked so hard for. Our team will suggest how often you’ll be required to put them on based on your specific needs. This typically involves wearing them all day like with your Invisalign aligners before reducing it to only having them on overnight. By following this step, you’ll be able to preserve your investment while enjoying a straightened smile for many years to come!