What Are Clear Aligners?
Clear Aligners are a treatment that gently move teeth into place. The trays are worn in a series over time to create a beautiful smile. Clear Aligners are a popular alternative to traditional braces, and do not have any brackets or wires. The aligners are discrete and are comfortable when worn, and do not cause any mouth or gum irritation.
The clear aligner trays are worn anywhere between 20-22 hours a day. The time worn each day depends on the patient’s treatment plan and the level of correction needed. Clear aligners are easily removable for drinking and eating, and have a blue indicator to let patients know when they have worn the trays for the required amount of tine each day. The blue indicator is great for teens using the clear aligners, and helps parents know if their child has worn the trays for the correct amount of time.
What is the difference between clear aligner orthodontics, Invisalign, and traditional braces?
Patients want to know the difference between clear aligner orthodontics, Invisalign, or traditional braces. It’s really pretty simple. Obviously, the first thing is the cosmetics of it. You’re not going to have the brackets and wires on your teeth. But they also work very differently in the sense that
traditional orthodontics has a wire that has memory. That wire is bent to fit where the teeth are, and it basically expands the teeth to the proper position.
Whereas the orthodontic clear aligner trays are going to gradually move each tooth individually into the proper position. Your results can be different with traditional ortho versus
Invisalign. It’s really best to get your consultation and figure out what works best for you with your goals and what kind of treatment you need.
Is Invisalign is faster than traditional braces?
In some cases it can be, and in some cases it’s not. It really depends on your specific situation. We do have a lot of patients that consider Invisalign, or clear aligner orthodontics, to be more comfortable than traditional braces because you’re not getting that rapid expansion that braces initially put on the teeth.
We’re gradually moving one tooth at a time. You’ll feel it a little bit differently in the sense that you may feel it in this area one day, and then with the next tray you’ll feel it in this area. You’re going to feel discomfort in different areas versus discomfort in the whole mouth all at the same time.
How long is orthodontic treatment with Invisalign or clear aligners?
Again, that’s very specific to the patient, and to what corrections you need and want in your mouth. It’s best to have a consultation, but I’ve had patients that have been finished with their clear aligner orthodontics in as little as 3 months and as long as 2 years.
What Are the Benefits of Clear Aligners?
- The clear aligner trays can be easily removed for eating and drinking.
- There are fewer food restrictions compared to other treatments.
- The clear aligners can be easily cleaned or rinsed.
- The clear aligners are smooth and comfortable, and do not cause any gum or mouth irritation.
- The clear aligners are easy to remove to play sports or a musical instrument
- This treatment builds confidence and improve self-esteem.
- Clear aligners are a discrete treatment and have no brackets are wires.
What is the process involved with Invisalign or clear aligners?
The process involved with Invisalign or Clear Aligner Orthodontics is that we will take a digital scan of your teeth and jaw. We’ll also take some photos. We submit that through an online portal that will give us an estimated time frame for your treatment and an estimated outcome of your treatment. I go in and tailor that to my specific preferences as a clinician. I also like to meet up with what the patient’s specific desires or outcome are. We meet in the middle for something that’s an acceptable clinical and functional result. The trays are then made. They come back here to the office.
Once the trays are here, we get you in. Sometimes what we need to do is place things called buttons on the teeth. Buttons are little white dots of some composite resin material that are placed on specific teeth that give torque to the angles or the area that the teeth need to move. Sometimes we also need to do what’s called IPR, or interproximal reduction, where we go in between each tooth with some textured floss and kind of smooth each tooth so that those teeth can move properly in the right direction and that you have enough room to move.
Then we give you your trays, give you instructions on how to use them, and turn you loose. We like to see you probably every 6 to 8 weeks after that process is complete and check your progress, making sure that you’re doing your part and making sure that the trays are working properly so that we can make any adjustments as needed throughout the treatment process.
How many trays will I need with Invisalign?
Again, that’s very specific based on the treatment time. You will get a new tray every week. I give you six to eight trays at a time, specifically based on what type of movements I can expect with those sets of trays. You change them every week on the same day. If we start on a Thursday, you’re going to change your trays every Thursday night. Again, depending on the amount of time that you’re in treatment, that will determine the number of trays that you have.
How many hours a day do you need to wear the trays, and can they sleep or eat with them?
You’re not going to want to eat anything or drink anything other than clear liquids with your aligners in. We don’t want to stain the teeth or have the aligners hold anything against the teeth. You’re going to take them out to eat and drink and clean your teeth.
The goal is to wear them 20 to 22 hours of the day. You’re taking them out only to clean your teeth, eat and drink, and anything else that you need in between that. But really, the key is wearing the trays as much as you can. They’re only working when they’re in your mouth. The more compliant you are, the more quickly you will get through your treatment.
If there's anything that could disqualify them from being a candidate for Invisalign or clear aligners?
With active periodontal disease, or gum disease, we wouldn’t initiate treatment. If you’re a heavy smoker and don’t want to be compliant with taking the trays out to smoke, that would be another disqualifier. If you’re not willing to be compliant, that would definitely disqualify you. We ask a lot of these questions before you initiate treatment: if you’re willing to be compliant, what your habits are, and also to make sure that your mouth is healthy before we initiate treatment from a periodontal and dental decay standpoint.
Is Invisalign or clear aligners painful?
If Invisalign or Clear Aligner Orthodontics is painful, I will tell you that you may have some mild discomfort specifically. You’ll feel it in specific teeth at different times that you change the trays, but the discomfort really only lasts for a couple of days and then you kind of go back to normal. The first 2 to 3 days that you have your tray in, you may feel some minor discomfort in some different teeth. After that, for the remainder of the week, your teeth will feel mostly normal. That’s basically just the way that the clear aligners work. They go through a period of active movement of the tooth, and then the tooth and the bone have to kind of settle before we move on to the next tray.
Will dental insurance cover the cost of Invisalign or clear aligners?
That depends on your specific plan. You’ll want to know if you have any orthodontic benefits for your
dental insurance plan. You’re also going to want to know if there’s an age clause, like if you’re an adult. A lot of insurance plans will not cover orthodontics after the age of 16 or 19 or 21. You’ll want to check your individual plan or have us research those benefits for you to see if your insurance will cover any portion of it and what that exactly will be.
What is the cost of the Invisalign or clear aligners?
Again, that depends on the time frame that you need treatment. The cost is based on the treatment length, and it can go anywhere from $3,500 up to four, five, $6,000. It just depends. It would be best if we could really determine what your goals are and how long your treatment needs to be so that we can give you a better idea.
How can a patient pay for their orthodontic or Invisalign treatment at Gearin Aesthetic and General Dentistry?
The best way is that we will talk to you about what your out-of-pocket costs are if you’re paying with your insurance or if you are paying out of pocket with cash. There are options as far as using HSA accounts. Third-party financing, cash, credit card, check. We’ll sit down and discuss with you what your exact cost is and the best way that we can make it fit into your budget and get your treatment done for you.
How can I make an appointment?
You can call us at (702) 710-8847, or schedule below! Our staff would love to talk with you.
Who is a Good Candidate for Clear Aligners?
Having that beautiful straight smile is important, and we want our patients to be proud of their smile. A smile is the first thing you see, and our team will listen to each patient’s goals to ensure we get you the results you desire.
Clear aligners are a popular choice for both teens and adults. This treatment helps if you have overcrowding, chewing, or overbite issues. Older teens and adults can follow instructions daily and ensure the trays are worn for the required amount of time. On average this treatment takes between 6-18 months, and this is comparable to the treatment time for traditional braces. During our consultation process we will discuss each patient’s age, level of correction, and smile goals to help choose which orthodontic treatment is best.
Schedule a Consultation with Gearin Aesthetic and General Dentistry to Improve Your Smile Today
