Invisalign – Long Beach, NY
Leave Crooked, Crowded, and Gapped Teeth Behind
Sadly, most of us aren’t born with perfectly straight teeth, making smiling confidently a struggle. Thanks to Invisalign, however, you can leave crooked, crowded, and gapped teeth behind. With the help of clear, virtually undetectable aligners, our orthodontist can gradually shift your teeth into their ideal position. The end result? A perfectly straight, healthy, beautiful smile! Keep reading to learn more about this smile-transforming solution or get in touch with our team to schedule your initial consultation.
Why Choose Dr. Glen’s Happy Teeth For Invisalign?
- Board-Certified Orthodontist
- iTero Digital Impression System
- We Welcome Dental Insurance & Financing
How Invisalign Works
Although Invisalign in practice is complex, the theory behind this orthodontic treatment is quite simple. After confirming you are a candidate, non-putty impressions of your mouth will be taken, which will be used to craft your clear braces. Once you receive your first set of aligners, you will begin wearing them for 20 to 22 hours a day, putting just enough pressure to guide your teeth into their new and improved position. You will work your way through the series and have periodic appointments with our team to ensure your teeth are tracking properly. When your treatment is complete, you will be given a retainer to preserve your hard-earned results!
Invisalign Treatment Timeline
Your treatment timeline with Invisalign will depend on your unique dental needs. For example, a patient looking to address minor misalignment may achieve their smile goals in as little as six months. Those struggling with more complex orthodontic issues, however, may wear their aligners for 18 months. So, while the average treatment timeline with Invisalign is 12 months, it is best to speak directly with our orthodontist to see how long your orthodontic care will take.
The Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign was introduced to the public in the late 1990s, and the field of orthodontics was forever changed. Today, this virtually incognito braces option provides patients with a number of benefits, including:
- Discreet appearance.
- Hassle-free oral care.
- Improved comfort.
- No dietary restrictions.
- Shorter treatment timeline.
- Fewer appointments.
Am I a Candidate for Invisalign?
When you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror, do your eyes immediately go to your crooked teeth? Do you hesitate to smile in pictures due to gapped teeth? If so, then you may be a candidate for Invisalign. This innovative orthodontic treatment can help patients struggling with minor gaps to severe misalignment achieve their dream smile. To confirm you’re a candidate, just schedule an initial consultation with our team. From there, we can check the condition of your oral health, learn more about your dental needs, and take the next steps toward making your dream smile a reality.
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
Are you ready to leave crooked, crowded, and gapped teeth behind, but are wondering about the cost of Invisalign in Long Beach? Any orthodontic treatment is an investment in your long-term health and confidence, so we want you to have all the information you need to make your decision confidently. However, every Invisalign treatment is tailored to meet the unique needs and goals of a patient, so prices can vary significantly. We encourage you to come in for a consultation so we can evaluate your smile and give you a personalized estimate. In the meantime, we’ve gathered some important information below about the cost of Invisalign.
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. Anish Gala. He 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.
Invisalign FAQs
Are you ready to leave crooked, crowded, and gapped teeth behind with Invisalign in Long Beach? It’s likely that you have some questions that need answers before you’re ready to commit to a treatment plan. While we’ll be happy to answer all your questions personally during your consultation, we’ve gathered some of the most common inquiries we get about Invisalign below. If you have more questions or if you’re ready to schedule a consultation, give us a call!
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