Invisalign – Catonsville, MD
Giving You a Straighter Smile the Invisible Way
Are you interested in straightening crooked teeth but unwilling to undergo several months of traditional metal braces? Advance Dental Clinic invites you to visit our dental office and learn more about Invisalign. Our dental team has helped many local patients align their smiles with these incredibly clear braces. Reach out today to learn how Invisalign in Catonsville can make a difference in your confidence!
Why Choose Advance Dental Clinic For Invisalign?
- Enhanced Imaging with Digital Dental X-Rays
- Flexible Dental Financing Available
- High-Quality Materials Used to Create Aligners
How Invisalign Works
Invisalign clear braces are revolutionary straightening devices that put your convenience first. The rules are simple: wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day, removing them only to eat, drink anything other than water, and complete your oral hygiene routine. Every 7-14 days, you’ll move onto the next tray in the series, which will move your teeth even closer to their ideal positions. At the end of your treatment, we will provide you with a retainer to preserve your results. Since this orthodontic device is often just as discreet, you’ll never have to worry about losing face at school, at work, or when you're out with friends!
Indications for Invisalign
Fortunately, our talented Catonsville dentist, Dr. Maryam Bemani , can use Invisalign to help with more than just one orthodontic issue. Here are a few of the most common reasons patients consider clear aligner treatment:
Crowded Teeth
Overcrowding is extremely common and, unfortunately, can result in numerous complications. The good news is that we can improve your bite, oral health, and the look of your smile with Invisalign. With each new tray, your teeth will be gently guided closer to their ideal, properly aligned positions.
Gaps Between Teeth
Spaced-out teeth are another orthodontic problem that Invisalign can address. Plus, since the aligners are clear, you’ll be able to watch as the gaps get smaller and smaller before they eventually disappear altogether!
Bite Alignment
The position of your teeth also impacts how well you chew and how clearly you speak. Fortunately, Invisalign can address bite problems as well, including overbites, crossbites, and underbites.
The Benefits of Invisalign
Compared with traditional metal braces, clear braces are the "clear" winner. They offer more in the way of discretion and flexibility, as they're easy to remove and difficult to spot. It's one of the reasons so many adults and teenagers prefer them. You never have to compromise your appearance and your confidence to get the straighter smile you deserve.
If you're interested in learning more about ways our team can improve your smile, be sure to meet with our cosmetic dentist. She will explain which treatments and procedures can help you achieve your smile goals. Just a few of our most popular cosmetic dentistry services include professional teeth whitening and Lumineers application, so reach out today to find out which is right for you.
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
Simply put, the cost of Invisalign varies. After all, each treatment plan is 100% customized to the patient! That’s why we can only provide you with a precise estimate once you come in for a consultation, and we have all of the details solidified, including how many aligners are needed. At this time, we will also review all of the financial solutions that we offer at our Catonsville dental office. For example, we’re offering an exclusive discount on Invisalign products; patients can save up to $500 on their clear braces, as well as on other cosmetic dentistry services!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
We mentioned above that each treatment plan is 100% customized to the patient. Naturally, your follow-up question to that might be, “What factors impact the cost of Invisalign?” Here are a few:
- The complexity of your case
- If single-arch treatment is possible
- How many aligners are needed
- If rubber bands, attachments, and other orthodontic accessories are required
- The type of retainer you need
Invisalign vs. Mail-In Aligners: Which Costs More?
Over the years, countless mail-in aligner brands have popped up. Although they are almost always cheaper than Invisalign, they are problematic for more than one reason. To start, these alternatives don’t complete a comprehensive initial exam and rely on DIY impressions, which are really easy to mess up. They also aren’t overseen by a licensed dental professional in most cases. This can lead to several consequences and, when those arise, there’s nowhere to turn. Simply put, it’s best to choose Invisalign, even if the upfront cost is a bit higher.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Although the majority of dental insurance plans typically do not fully cover the expenses of dental implants, certain plans may extend benefits for specific components of the treatment, such as necessary preliminary procedures and the restoration costs. If you have any questions regarding your coverage, feel free to reach out to our office. Our financial team is available to assist you in understanding any potential out-of-pocket costs you might be responsible for.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance currently, that’s okay! We also welcome CareCredit flexible financing, allowing you to space out the cost of Invisalign instead of paying for it all in one lump sum. Furthermore, we offer our patients periodic specials, including up to $500 off clear braces. If you’re interested in learning more about either of these financial solutions, then take the next step: reach out to our friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful team for details.
Living with Invisalign Aligners
We want to provide patients with as much information as possible upfront so that their transition to life with clear aligners is smooth and seamless. With this in mind, keep reading to learn helpful information about wearing your trays, cleaning your aligners, and attending your routine check-in visits. Of course, if you have any questions, you’re more than welcome to reach out to us too!
Wearing Your Trays
There is one really important rule when it comes to wearing your trays: you need to wear them for 20-22 hours each day. Otherwise, your teeth won’t track as anticipated, and you’ll fall off-track with your treatment plan! So, do your best to create a schedule you can stick to, like designating 30 minutes for each meal. You can also use the stopwatch on your phone to make sure you’re meeting this goal daily.
Cleaning Your Aligners
For some patients, clean, cool water and a soft-bristled toothbrush are enough to keep their aligners clear. For others, adding some mild, clear dishwashing liquid or toothpaste into the mix is helpful. The only strict rule when it comes to cleaning your trays is that you shouldn’t use bleach and other household products since they contain toxins that are not safe to ingest.
Eating & Drinking
Thankfully, you don’t have to alter your diet with Invisalign; you can continue to eat all of your favorite foods since the aligners are removable! The only thing that we ask of our patients is that they do their best to keep foods and drinks with added sugar to a minimum. This is important because this sweetener is one of the leading causes of tooth decay, and, if a cavity develops, your treatment plan will be put on hold temporarily.
Damaging a Tray
Although Invisalign aligners are crafted from high-quality, durable plastic, it is possible for them to break. If you find yourself in this situation, then it’s imperative that you call us ASAP.
Tip: To prevent your trays from breaking, clean them over a soft towel or a sink filled with water so there is something to cushion the fall if they drop!
Routine Check-Ins
After your first official appointment (when we provide you with your clear aligners), you’ll need to come in every 6-8 weeks for follow-up visits. This allows us to accomplish a few things, including taking new scans of your teeth to monitor how they are tracking and answer any questions you have about your Invisalign treatment. Usually, these visits are only 15 minutes or so, making them easy to schedule over lunch or after school/work.
Invisalign FAQs
Who is Not Eligible for Invisalign?
Naturally, infants, toddlers, and very young children are not candidates for Invisalign. The youngest age for clear aligner treatment is usually 13 years old, but, even then, it depends on the patient. This orthodontic treatment also isn’t suitable for patients who are struggling with a severe case of malocclusion. Significant overcrowding, crossbites, and the like require traditional braces.
How Long Does Invisalign Take?
Although there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, there is an average. Usually, patients work through their series of aligners in 12-18 months. Again, your treatment plan could be shorter or longer – it really depends on your specific case! If you’d like a more precise estimate, then schedule a consultation so we can assess how severe your misalignment is and how many aligners are needed.
Note: Don’t get discouraged if your treatment is on the longer side. After all, traditional braces sometimes take 36 months or more. Plus, you don’t have to alter your diet or oral hygiene regimen with Invisalign. In other words, the results are worth the time it takes!
Does Invisalign Hurt?
We’ll be honest, your teeth may feel slightly sore when you transition to a new set of aligners. Fortunately, the sensation is only temporary, and there are several ways you can alleviate it even quicker. That starts with moving onto each new set right before you go to bed so you sleep through the biggest adjustment. Additionally, stick to soft foods for the first day or so while your teeth are moving the most, and take OTC pain medication as directed on the label. As your teeth adjust to your orthodontic treatment, the soreness will become less and less.
How Do I Clean My Invisalign?
You might have heard that you need special oral hygiene products to keep your aligners clean, like denture cleaners, but that’s not the case! There are really only two things you need: clean, cool water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. After rinsing your aligners in the water and dampening the bristles, gently remove food particles, plaque, and other debris from the surface. Then, rinse them off again. That’s it! You can also use a mild dishwashing liquid, but stay away from other household products (like bleach) since they have toxins that are not safe to ingest.
What Happens After Invisalign?
Once your time with clear aligners is over, the retention phase of your orthodontic treatment will begin. This is when we provide you with a customized retainer, which helps prevent orthodontic relapse. This phenomenon occurs when the teeth begin to regress back to their previous, misaligned positions, and it happens to upwards of 50% of patients. You can dramatically decrease the chances of that happening to you by wearing your retainer consistently.