A patient complained of misaligned teeth when they arrived at our appointment today. She asked me initially if I could recommend an orthodontist for braces. We examined her and concluded that Invisalign would be a better option for her than traditional metal braces.
Upon examining her mouth and teeth, I discovered that she had crowding in her bottom teeth from a relapse following childhood braces. She also experienced crowding on her top teeth. I told her that Invisalign was a better option for her than traditional metal braces.
Benefits of Invisalign
While traditional metal braces are immovable, Invisalign allows her to take out the aligners whenever she wants to brush and floss her teeth and take them off while eating. I also mentioned how wearing metal braces might make it difficult to floss, which increases the risk of gum disease and cavities.
Of course, there are aesthetic advantages to using the Invisalign trays as well.
In comparison to metal braces, Invisalign offers the opportunity to visit the Dentist NYC or orthodontist much less frequently. The patient receives a series of several custom-made aligners beforehand as part of Invisalign, and they replace the aligners on their own every two weeks. They check in with us roughly every six to eight weeks to see how they’re doing.
Not every patient should get Invisalign, but this patient was a great candidate with mild to moderate crowding.
“How does Invisalign work?”
I was asked by my patient, “How does Invisalign work?” We would first take pictures and x-rays of her teeth, I told her. We also make use of a sophisticated scanner that provides a three-dimensional image of her teeth. The Itero scanner allows us to digitally plan her whole course of treatment in three dimensions. We may demonstrate to patients how their teeth will seem once Invisalign is finished. At this point, our patient became ecstatic about her new smile.
The Invisalign custom aligners are designed and manufactured to apply pressure where necessary in order to gently move the teeth into alignment over time.
The teeth are forced to move closer to the ideal position with each step until they are all in the right alignment.
Additionally, I informed our patient that she should aim to wear the Invisalign aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day. In essence, I told her to take them off only to eat, brush, and floss.
This improves the trays’ ability to hold the teeth and move them as needed. Additionally, in certain situations, filing the teeth might be required to improve their fit. To reach our objectives, we make an effort to file as little as feasible. Not every patient needs to be filed.
Both adults and teenagers can use Invisalign. Invisalign is a great substitute for traditional metal braces in most situations, but it does not entirely replace them. Patients with crowding of teeth, gaps in their teeth, and crooked teeth can all be treated with Invisalign.
I explained to my patient that the course of treatment can take anything from six to eighteen months, or perhaps longer. I told her that it would take about ten months because her condition was only minor. It goes without saying that Invisalign takes longer to work in cases that are more complicated. In some instances, patients require multiple refinements if the teeth are not moving as predicted.
“What is it like living with Invisalign?”
“What is it like to live with these aligners?” my patient then inquired. I informed her that there is no pain associated with the aligners. When using a new tray for the first time, there can be a little tightness or discomfort, but no pain. The majority of people say that this feels more like pressure than pain. I told her that, like brushing one’s teeth, she must clean her aligners every day by brushing them.
Best Cosmetic Dentist NYC informed my patient that in order to keep her teeth from sliding back after completing Invisalign, she would need to wear a retainer. Using conventional metal braces also requires this.
Cost of Invisalign
I informed my patient that, up to their annual maximum, many dental insurance plans will pay 50–60% of the cost of Invisalign. I told her that before beginning Invisalign, we would verify with her insurance and inform her of the out-of-pocket expenses. The cost would be between $6,000 and $7,500, I explained, if insurance did not cover it. This includes the initial set of retainers, all follow-up appointments, all exams, and all aligners.
Our patient expressed worry about the expense and inquired about other options in the event that her insurance did not pay for it. I informed her that we provide 0% financing via Lending Club and Care Credit.
“I would like to get started with Invisalign!”
Our patient made the decision to go with Invisalign. We showed her what her teeth would look like once the Invisalign treatment was finished by taking an Itero scan of her mouth. She appeared to be extremely content. We invited her to return in about two weeks to pick up and begin using her new aligners after her scan was finished. In addition to taking before and after photos, we will continue to take pictures as she undergoes therapy.
For anyone who believes they might need orthodontic treatment to straighten their teeth, Invisalign is a great option. We encourage you to give us a call right now and schedule a consultation.
