Invisalign – Aspen Hill, MD

Crowded Teeth

Using clear aligners, Invisalign will gradually shift crowded teeth to lay flush with each other, eliminating any hard-to-reach crevices that can collect plaque and tartar, leading to the development of cavities and gum disease.

Gaps Between Teeth

While some patients may embrace the gaps between their teeth, others may find a sense of relief and confidence by closing them using Invisalign aligners. This is also a great way to improve your oral health by making it easier to brush and floss.

Overbite

An overbite occurs when the upper teeth protrude too far beyond the lower set, disrupting the natural alignment. While a slight overbite is normal, an excessive gap between the gum lines can cause discomfort in the jaw, uneven tooth wear, and speech impediments. With Invisalign and complementary appliances like elastic bands, our team can adjust your jaw alignment to resolve these issues.

Underbite

An underbite is when the lower teeth extend past the upper arch. This may arise from genetic predispositions, traumatic events, or childhood habits like thumb-sucking. If left unaddressed, an underbite can lead to complications such as mouth breathing, persistent bad breath, chewing difficulties, and sleep disturbances. Depending on your unique case, our team can use Invisalign with elastic bands and other attachments to realign your lower jaw.

Crossbite

In some cases, teeth can grow misaligned, causing the bottom set to overlap the upper set either in front or in the back. This is known as crossbite and requires corrective measures to prevent further complications. Invisalign can effectively reposition the lower teeth to achieve proper alignment with the upper ones. If the crossbite is linked to jaw development issues, additional treatments may be required in tandem with Invisalign.

Open Bite

An open bite occurs when the upper and lower teeth fail to make contact upon biting. While less common, this condition can have significant implications for oral and overall health, including enamel erosion, heightened risk of tooth chipping, and speech articulation challenges. By wearing Invisalign aligners, gradual correction of the open bite can be achieved by repositioning the arches of teeth. Over time, this results in an optimal bite pattern and increased self-assurance.

Improved Comfort

Although traditional braces are reliable, effective, and a tried-and-true orthodontic treatment, the metal brackets and wires can be uncomfortable at times. Thankfully, Invisalign takes a metal-free approach. In fact, the aligners are crafted from high-quality, low-profile plastic that is incredibly smooth. Plus, it’s custom-made to fit the contours of your mouth, which helps prevent soft tissue irritation! Simply put, while some soreness from the movement of your teeth is normal, you won’t have to worry about discomfort outside of that.

Discreet, Clear Trays

If you ask the majority of Invisalign patients what made them choose clear aligners, they will say the appearance. After all, the trays are completely see-through and custom-made to fit against your teeth perfectly, which makes them virtually undetectable. In fact, it’s even common for close friends and family members to have a hard time telling when they are on or off!

Better Dental Hygiene

Since metal brackets and wires can’t be removed, patients with traditional braces need to adapt their oral hygiene regimen considerably. Oftentimes, this requires special oral hygiene tools as well, including interproximal toothbrushes and pre-threaded floss. The good news is that’s not the case with Invisalign. When you’re ready to brush and floss your teeth, simply remove your aligners and proceed as you usually would!

Quick Follow-Ups

Is your schedule filled with work meetings, dinners with friends, time with family, and the like? If so, you might not want to add another thing to your plate. Fortunately, Invisalign doesn’t require 45+ minute-long appointments every four weeks. Instead, the check-in visits are spaced out to every 6-8 weeks, and they are usually only 15 minutes or so.

Faster Average Treatment Timeline

Although patients have unique dental needs and smile goals, they almost always have one thing in common: they want to have a straight smile as quickly as possible. If that’s the case for you, then you’ll be happy to know that the average treatment timeline with Invisalign is only 12-18 months! We’ll also provide you with an estimate at your consultation and share everything we know about how to stay on-track with your plan so you see results as quickly as possible.

Eat All The Foods You Enjoy

One of the drawbacks of traditional braces is that there are some dietary restrictions. More specifically, patients with metal brackets and wires are encouraged to avoid foods like tortilla chips, hard pretzels, popcorn, and whole apples. If these are some of your favorites, don’t worry – you can eat all of the foods you enjoy with Invisalign since the aligners are removable.

Wearing Your Trays

There’s really one rule: you must wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day. This is crucial because if you don’t wear your trays, your teeth won’t move. If your teeth don’t move, then you’ll fall off-track with your treatment plan. We encourage patients to use the timer on their phone to make sure that they are meeting this goal each and every day. You can also use the alarm on your phone to help you remember to put them back on right away.

Cleaning Your Aligners

Patients with traditional braces often need special oral hygiene products, like an interproximal toothbrush. That’s not the case with Invisalign because you can remove your aligners! When it comes time to complete your dental care regimen, simply take them off, rinse them with clean, cool water, and place them in their designated case before brushing and flossing as usual. In other words, you only need to add one step to your routine: taking your aligners off.

Eating & Drinking

If you’ve had traditional braces in the past (or you know someone who has), then you know that there are certain foods that are off-limits, like whole apples, popcorn, tortilla chips, and raw nuts. The good news is that Invisalign won’t impact your diet at all! The only thing we ask is that you do your best to keep your consumption of sugary foods and drinks to a minimum. That way, your teeth and gums stay healthy throughout your teeth-straightening journey.

Losing a Tray

The only time having clear aligners is a downside is when you accidentally misplace them. If you find yourself in this situation, try not to panic. We recommend taking a few deep breaths and doing your best to remember the last place you saw them. Then, retrace your steps. In the process, make sure to look in “odd” places, like the trash can and the center console of your car. If you’ve looked and looked but haven’t had any luck, then give us a call.

Routine Check-Ins

Periodically throughout your Invisalign treatment, you will come into our office so we can take new scans of your teeth. This allows us to see how your teeth are tracking and, if one or more aren’t moving as anticipated, make any necessary changes to your treatment plan. This is also a great time to ask any questions you have about life with clear aligners!

Factors that Affect the Cost of Invisalign

The cost of Invisalign will vary from case to case based on these deciding factors:

• Do you need to straighten your entire smile, or just one arch? While it’s usually the whole mouth, only getting Invisalign for one arch will typically be less expensive.
• How complex is your case? Do you have severe crookedness or just small gaps? For example, a single gap in your smile will usually cost less to fix compared to several affected teeth.
• How long will your treatment take? Longer treatment will require more aligners, increasing the total cost of your Invisalign.

Invisalign VS Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?

If you’re looking for the quickest fix at the lowest cost, then Smile Direct Club wins every time. It costs as little as $2,000 while Invisalign is priced anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000. That said, you must remember that Smile Direct Club is a “do it yourself” aligner system with little to no supervision throughout the entire process. That means any issues that occur during treatment will go unchecked, leading to potential issues that are more extensive and expensive than the original orthodontics.

On the other hand, we will be with you every step of the way if you choose to get Invisalign. These aligners are completely customized and professionally made. Plus, we can make any needed adjustments along the way to ensure that you enjoy a comfortable and effective treatment. If you’re looking for peace of mind and unmatched results, Invisalign is the best solution!

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Some dental insurance plans cover orthodontics, but Invisalign is usually left out. This is not always the case, which is why it’s important to check with your provider first. Our friendly front desk team can communicate directly with your dental insurance to ensure that you’re maximizing your benefits. If you have an FSA account, you can use these funds to help cover your treatment cost. 

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

No insurance? No problem! We are committed to making Invisalign in Aspen Hill as affordable as possible. That’s why we have our own in-house membership plan, which allows you to enjoy all the dental care you need, including 15% off additional services for a low monthly fee. We also accept alternative financing through CareCredit. With this solution, simply pick the payment plan that works best for you – it comes with little to no interest. Lastly, we have special offers, including $500 off of Invisalign! If you’re ready to start on an amazingly cost-effective way to straighten your teeth, please don’t hesitate to contact our office today!