Invisalign® Teeth Aligners Edina, MN

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign is the result of modern technology’s impact on the field of dentistry. You can now have the alignment of your teeth corrected without dealing with metal brackets and wires, spacers, expanders, and headgear. Invisalign is a digitally designed program with the correction being accomplished by clear plastic trays. Let us look at the primary differences between the Invisalign program and traditional braces, how the system works, the benefits of using Invisalign for orthodontic correction and the difference in costs.

The Differences between Invisalign and Traditional Braces

There are several differences when comparing traditional orthodontic braces to the new Invisalign. Here is a list of the primary factors:

• Visibility- Traditional braces operate with brackets affixed to the teeth and an arch wire hooking the brackets together. The push and pull tension are created with the arch wire. Whether metal or ceramic, with your smile you have a dental appliance on your teeth. With Invisalign it is a clear plastic tray that is difficult to see. This is a huge difference when finding comfort in your smile.
• Fixed versus Removable- Invisalign is a removable tray. It must be in place 22 hours a day, but you still have the option to take the tray out.
• Oral Hygiene- Because the tray is removable it makes it much easier for you to maintain good oral hygiene regarding maintaining the condition of your teeth and gums. You can continue to brush twice a day and floss at least once knowing that you are removing plaque clinging to your teeth. With brackets and wires it becomes difficult to achieve this same effect with your maintenance.
• Fewer Appointments- Base on two points. With Invisalign, the first reason is the continued adjustment for pressure is digitally designed into the trays. The orthodontist does not have to keep adjusting an arch wire for proper treatment. Secondly, since you can keep your teeth and gums clean, you do not need to rely on your dentist to help you clean around brackets and wires.
• Faster Treatment- There is now documentation that confirms that you can finish your orthodontic goals with Invisalign faster than with traditional braces, providing you follow treatment program as instructed.

How does Invisalign Work

With Invisalign, the process begins with an evaluation that confirms that you would benefit from orthodontic corrections. Whether it be crooked teeth, unwanted gaps, an overbite, underbite, crossbite or poor alignment, your teeth need to be moved. An orthodontist will confirm this evaluation. After a discussion and you chose together to pursue the Invisalign program, the orthodontist will capture a three-dimensional, digital scan of your teeth. This scan goes into a software program that defines this as point A. Then the orthodontist can enter the desired results as point B. You can see what your teeth and smile will look like before you begin. The next step is to take this mapped out program into yet another software program for a CAD/CAM fabrication. The software driving the CAD/CAM will use those mapping points to create the clear plastic trays that are designed to push your teeth just like traditional braces. The pressure points move the teeth .25 of a millimeter at one time. Not a visibly discernable distance. This tray is worn for 22 hours a day for two weeks, when it is replaced by the next tray, which continues with the next step of gentle pressure.

Depending on the amount of correction desirable, you can complete your treatment in as little as six months or up to two years. The national average for an Invisalign treatment program is 13 months.

The Invisalign Benefits

The primary benefit is that of visibility. The Invisalign tray is close to invisible. With the opportunity to remove the trays you can keep your teeth clean, remove the tray for a dinner engagement or a professional speaking assignment, or to wear a protective mouth guard for sports. The Invisalign treatment has been documented to generate less discomfort. Fewer office visits to the orthodontist and it is just easier.

The Cost Comparison

Your average traditional set of metal or ceramic braces will cost between $2,000 and $6,000. The Invisalign program is slightly more, ranging from $3000 to $7,000. It would be advantageous as you discuss your options with the orthodontist that you have the staff research the coverage with your dental insurance plan. It might be in your best interests to consider Invisalign to improve your smile and the quality of your life that comes with the perception of a healthy smile.

Invisalign versus Braces

The comparisons between Invisalign and traditional braces quite honestly can be extensive. We will start with defining what and how the Invisalign treatment program works. Once you have a better understanding then of this orthodontic appliance, we will compile a list of comparative features, concluding with the difference in cost.

What is Invisalign?

Traditional braces have been around for centuries. Today’s version of this corrective device has brackets affixed to the teeth and then the gentle tension to push and pull the teeth comes from a connecting arch wire. The improvements with traditional braces are that you can now get ceramic brackets and arch wire to minimize the mouth full of metal look, or you can put the wire on the backside of the teeth to not make that visible.

Invisalign is totally different. The treatment program is designed to be invisible. The gentle tension to move the teeth comes from clear plastic trays. For effective results you need to wear this tray about 22 hours per day, but yet it is removable. Every two weeks the computer designed tray is replaced by the next in the series to keep the push pull movement progressing. To date over three million Americans have successfully used Invisalign.

How does Invisalign Work?

Once your evaluation says you need to correct your teeth due to crooked teeth, an overbite, an underbite, or simple alignment issues, your orthodontist will capture a three-dimensional scan of your teeth. This digital image is programmed into a software program that accepts the scan as your point A. Then a point B is decided, and you immediately have a visual of your corrected teeth. Next, a second software program is introduced. This program creates the clear plastic trays through a CAD/CAM system. Each tray is digitally designed to move any particular tooth .25 of one millimeter. A change not visibly evident. Therefore, the tray is replaced every two weeks, to introduce the next level of gentle tension.

The List of Comparative Features, Invisalign versus Braces

Here are the highlights of the comparative features, many of which benefit Invisalign.

• Removable- Traditional braces are fixed in place, the Invisalign trays are removable. This gives you the ability to take the tray out for a date or a speaking engagement. You can wear your regular mouthguard if you participate in a sporting activity.
• Dental Appointments-They can be fewer with Invisalign. The series of trays introduces the continued correction. With traditional braces the orthodontist must do this with the arch wire.
• Oral Hygiene- By removing the trays you can brush and floss your teeth normally. With traditional braces you are fighting the brackets and the arch wire, relying on your orthodontist to help you keep your teeth clean during your appointments. This means the constant brushing to remove bacteria and plaque and even to keep up with any possible staining or discoloring. With traditional braces, when the brackets are removed upon completion, the orthodontist will most likely need to clean and whiten your teeth because you will be able to see where the brackets where.
• Visibility- Metal or ceramic versus clear plastic. The clear plastic makes Invisalign difficult to see, having a huge impact on your smile.
• Comfort- The level of discomfort is noticeably less with Invisalign. The gentle pressure is digitally designed versus a manual correction with the arch wire.
• Treatment Time- It has been now proven that you can get your desired correction faster with Invisalign. The treatment program is a quick as six months to up to two years, with the national average of correction time being 13 months.
• Eating- By removing the Invisalign tray to eat you do not get food stuck in the brackets and the wire. The tray simply gets cleaned once or twice a day and discarded in two weeks.
• Discipline- If you do not follow the suggested program, which strongly highlights wearing the clear plastic tray 22 hours per day, you will not achieve the correction and the benefits of the program. With the traditional braces affixed permanently, you do not run into this issue.
• Complex Correction- If you are looking at a serious orthodontic correction, traditional braces may very well be in your best interests.

The Cost Comparisons

Invisalign in more expensive on the average. Traditional braces range from costing $2,000 to $6,000. Invisalign can cost from $3,000 to $7,000. Most Americans do not realize the role their smile plays in their everyday lives. It is foundational to your personality, your self-esteem, and your self-confidence. Consider these factors when you are evaluating which method is best for you.

How Much Does Invisalign Cost?

The cost associated with the Invisalign program has a national average of costing between $3,000 and $7,000. This reflects the fact that each of us are different. Our teeth, gums and smile are as unique to us as our fingerprints. The orthodontic correction may be completed in six months or in several years. Let us identify what the Invisalign program is, how it works, the cost variances, and the benefits of using Invisalign.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a result of modern technology’s influence on the industry of dentistry. For centuries, to correct orthodontic issues such as crooked teeth, overbites and underbites, crossbites, gaps and overcrowding, your orthodontist would adhere metal brackets on to your teeth and then add an arch wire that would deliver the tension to gently push and pull the teeth into their desired position.

Invisalign will accomplish the same results without any brackets and wires. The Invisalign system was introduced two decades ago. It uses a series of clear plastic trays that have been designed on a 3D CAD/CAM system. When you insert the tray into your mouth the tray is designed to apply that same gentle pressure to push your teeth. To date there have been more than three million Americans that have successfully had their teeth corrected by using Invisalign.

How does Invisalign work?

In moving and relocating teeth, it is imperative to have constant pressure on the tooth. There are lingual tissues below the soft tissue surface that support the tooth. These ligaments need to be stretched and tightened. The pressure creates a gap on the back side as it is pushed. This is a slow and deliberate process as these tissues are redesigned.

The Invisalign clear plastic retainers do the exact same thing as the metal arch wire of traditional orthodontic braces. The digitally designed tray is fabricated such that it is tighter on one side of the tooth and looser on the other. With this constant pressure over two weeks the tooth is encouraged to move. Those ligaments are encouraged to loosen. After two weeks the next tray will be digitally designed to continue that slight encouragement. But the program is only successful if the tray is worn the appropriate amount of time. Each tray is designed to move a tooth .25 of a millimeter. A distance that is not discernible to the eye. The trays are removable. If you neglect to keep it in the tray cannot accomplish its task. You will have regular and consistent appointments with the orthodontist throughout the process monitoring your changes. 

You can remove the tray when you eat. You can remove the tray if you wear a protective mouthguard for sports. You can remove the tray for a date or a professional encounter such as a speaking engagement. Of course, you will remove the tray to thoroughly clean it twice a day.

Having the ability to remove the Invisalign tray also give you the opportunity to maintain good oral hygiene with your teeth and gums.

 The Cost Variances in using Invisalign

The national average for the cost of traditional braces can vary from $2,000 to $6,000. As mentioned before, Invisalign will on the average cost slightly more. Depending on the amount of desired correction, you can achieve success in as little as six months, or it could be two years. The average treatment is 13 months. The cost is based on the number of trays designed and the number of checkup appointment throughout your treatment.

The Benefits of Invisalign

• Visual Difference-First and foremost, the most obvious benefit is the fact that they are almost invisible. When you smile your teeth are not covered with metal.
• Removable- By removing the trays you can easily continue proper care of your teeth and gums. You are not trying to brush and floss around brackets and an arch wire.
• Time for Treatment- It takes no longer for Invisalign results than traditional braces. It has been argued that it can be faster.
• Appointments- If worn 22 hours a day as advised; the correction is already placed in the design of the trays. Traditional braces need the orthodontist to make the correction in the arch wire. Therefore, you will have fewer appointments with Invisalign.
• Discomfort- The gentle pressure of the trays is usually less than the arch wire, resulting in less discomfort through the process.
• Oral Hygiene- To repeat the fact that they are removable, this can have a dramatic effect on the condition of your teeth. Crooked teeth, with brackets, are difficult to keep clean.

If you would like to consider improving your smile, schedule an appointment and have a consultation with your dentist. The time and costs of Invisalign will be worth the effort in your overall daily health. 

Invisalign Review

Your smile is a greatly under-appreciated asset. Most adults do not realize that their smile is literally foundational to their personality, their self-esteem, and their level of self-confidence. Orthodontic correction for crooked teeth, unwanted gaps, overbites, underbites, and just poor alignment is not cheap. But at the end of the day how do you put a price on your perception of a healthy smile. Here is an objective review of the technology driven Invisalign treatment program.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Once an evaluation has determined that you need orthodontic correction, if the Invisalign option is chosen, the orthodontist creates a three-dimensional scan of your teeth. Recognized as point A, this scan is entered into a software program. Now the orthodontist can enter point B, the desired final location of the teeth to be moved. At this point you can see results before even beginning. These starting and ending points are programmed into yet another software program which then uses a CAD/CAM system to generate and fabricate clear plastic trays. These trays are digitally designed to apply .25 of a millimeter of gentle pressure on a tooth at a time. By wearing the tray 22 hours a day for two weeks, this movement can be achieved. Then you discard the tray and put in the next tray. Depending on your amount of correction you may do this for as little as six months to up to two years.

Is Invisalign as Effective as Traditional Braces

The short answer is yes. Invisalign has now been used successfully by over three million Americans. The effectiveness is based on your discipline to wear the tray for the required 22 hours to achieve the digitally programmed correction.

Is the Invisalign Program Affordable?

Traditional braces cost from $2,000 to $6,000. Invisalign ranges from $3,000 to $7,000. Slightly more. Let the staff of your orthodontist place an inquiry with your dental insurance provider to research your amount of coverage. Once that is determined only you can determine if the visible difference is worth the added cost.

How about the Appearance Differences to Traditional Braces?

This is the number one comparison feature between the two orthodontic treatment methods. Traditional braces consist of brackets cemented to your teeth and an arch wire that connects all the brackets. Even with the new options of having the metal replaced with ceramic to minimize the immediate visibility, or moving the brackets and the arch wire to the backside of your teeth next to your tongue, when it is all said and done, you have braces. Braces that are evident with your smile. Invisalign is next to invisible with nothing more that clear plastic trays. Huge difference.

Is Invisalign Convenient?

Invisalign is not only convenient, but for some patients maybe too convenient. It takes consistent discipline to make sure you have the trays in 22 hours a day. It is convenient to remove the tray to eat, or go on a date, or for a speaking engagement, and of course for the regular hygiene of your teeth and gums. But if you do not keep an eye on the clock every single day the treatment time will be extended.

A Few Pros and Cons in Reviewing Invisalign

• Rated #1- The most popular option with clear aligner treatment. Available to the public now for two decades, Invisalign has had the most success within the orthodontic community.
• Availability- Almost all dental office, especially orthodontists, now offer Invisalign.
• Dental Appointments- You will need fewer appointments since the correction is already established in the trays. With traditional braces the orthodontist makes that correction with the arch wire.
• Oral Hygiene- A huge difference when you can remove the tray and brush and floss your teeth as you have been instructed. When you must brush around brackets and wires it is difficult to say the least.
• Comfort- For the most part it has been established that you will experience less discomfort with Invisalign versus traditional braces. Not only the gentle pressure with the trays but you are not dealing with the metal appliances against the soft tissue of your cheeks.
• Faster Results- It has even been proven that Invisalign can deliver your desired orthodontic changes quicker. The national average is 13 months.
• Sports- Either young or old, if you participate in a contact sport that strongly suggests you wear a protective mouthguard, this is easy with Invisalign. You just remove your trays.

A Wonderful Option

When you are reviewing your options with your orthodontist it is certainly something to discuss. Invisalign may not be the option chosen if the is severe correction and traditional braces will be best. It may be for your teenager and you cannot be certain they will keep the trays in for 22 hours. And it might end up with the cost difference. We do enjoy our options, consider, and make your choice wisely.