Invisalign – Long Beach, NY

Virtually Undetectable

Of course, one of the biggest perks of Invisalign is that there aren’t any metal brackets and wires! Instead, your teeth are comfortably guided into their new and improved positions with see-through aligners, which are virtually undetectable once you put them on. As with your natural teeth, it is possible for them to discolor, which is why it’s so important that you make cleaning them throughout the day a habit.

No Dietary Restrictions

Since raw celery, whole apples, and other crunchy foods can cause a bracket or wire to come loose, you need to adjust your diet with traditional braces. Since the clear aligners are removable, the same cannot be said with Invisalign! The only “dietary restriction” is being mindful of added sugar. After all, if you develop a cavity, gum disease, or another serious oral health problem, your orthodontic treatment will be temporarily put on hold until you get the restorative dentistry you need.

Easy Oral Hygiene

In short, you don’t need to buy pre-threaded floss, interproximal toothbrushes, or any other special oral hygiene tools! Instead, you can use all of your usual dental care tools, like a soft-bristled toothbrush, fluoridated toothpaste, and antimicrobial mouthwash. It’s also worth mentioning here that you don’t need anything expensive to clean your aligners either. All you need is clean, cool water, a soft-bristled toothbrush, and the cleaning crystals that came in your welcome kit.

Comfortable Aligners

The fact that there aren’t any brackets or wires already makes Invisalign quite comfortable. However, every single aligner is also custom-made to fit you perfectly, preventing soft tissue irritation in the process. With all of that said, it is normal to experience some soreness as your teeth begin to move into their properly aligned positions. The good news is that simple steps like sipping on cold water and sticking to soft foods can help alleviate this sensation.

Quicker Average Treatment Times

The average treatment timeline with Invisalign is only 12-18 months! So, there’s a chance that you can get the results you desire even quicker with clear aligners. Of course, the actual length of your treatment will depend on everything from the complexity of your case to if your teeth move as expected. That’s why we provide our patients with a rough estimate upfront as well as helpful tips on how to stay on-track with the treatment plan.

Wearing Your Trays

Since your trays aren’t bonded to your teeth, it’s important to make a conscious effort to wear them for 20-22 hours a day. If you don’t, then your teeth won’t move as anticipated, resulting in considerable delays. To prevent that from happening, we encourage our patients to only take them out when absolutely necessary, like to eat or brush.

Tip: If you’re having trouble keeping track of your wear time, use the Invisalign app!

Cleaning Your Aligners

One of the most popular reasons patients choose Invisalign is because of the clear aligners. However, it is possible for them to turn yellow, which is why it’s of the utmost importance that you care for them properly! That starts with rinsing them thoroughly with clean water when you take them out and extends to using a soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub them after each meal.

Eating & Drinking

Since your aligners are removable, you don’t have to worry about completely eliminating foods from your diet during your orthodontic treatment. You do have to worry about tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems, however. To keep your teeth free of cavities and your gums free of infections, make sure to fill your plate with nutrient-dense foods that are low in sugar often.

Losing or Damaging a Tray

Accidents sometimes happen. Whether you accidentally dropped your trays or lost your aligners, don’t hesitate to call our Long Beach dental team. Once we learn what happened, we can take a look at your treatment plan and determine what the next best steps are. Most often, we have patients wear their previous tray in the meantime or move onto the next one in the series if there was only a day or two left.

Routine Check-Ins

One reason your routine check-in visits with us are so important is that they allow us to take periodic scans and determine if your teeth are moving as anticipated. If they aren’t, then we will give you specific instructions to help (like using your chewies) or make adjustments to your treatment plan. Of course, these appointments are also a great time to ask questions and pick up your next batch of aligners in the series.

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. Eliana. 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!