Category: Invisalign

Invisalign treatment provides a fairly simple and convenient way to straighten your teeth in a short amount of time. It is the discreet and hygienic alternative to traditional metal braces that allows you to maintain your diet, oral hygiene habits, and other aspects of your lifestyle while correcting orthodontic issues. 

The Invisalign system uses a series of custom-made, clear, removable aligners to gradually move your teeth towards the desired position. The treatment is prescribed by trained Invisalign dentists once they determine your suitability and an exact treatment plan that will deliver the desired results. Your aligners are fabricated for your specific situation based on scans, X-rays, photographs, and an assessment of your bite. Each set of aligners is worn for a period of two weeks to move certain teeth, before advancing to the next one in the series. The number of aligners and duration of treatment depends on your individualized Invisalign treatment plan. 

Steps to Starting Your Invisalign Treatment

If you have an orthodontic issue, such as crooked or crowded teeth, misaligned bite, or over/under-bite, your dentist will evaluate your teeth to determine whether you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. If you’re eligible for Invisalign, you can expect:

• Measurements of your teeth – The dentist will take a detailed scan of your teeth, photographs, and a full-mouth X-ray that will be used to design your Invisalign treatment plan and custom aligners. 
• Second appointment for fitting – When your custom aligners are fabricated, the first set will be inserted on your next appointment, and any interproximal reduction (IPR) or slenderizing (slimming) done to provide good teeth alignment. 
• Instruction – Since they’re removable, the Invisalign specialist will also instruct you on how to insert and remove them, as well as how to care for your aligners. Each set of aligners is worn for two weeks, so you will be given the next 3-4 sets of aligners in your treatment plan to change at home. 
• Monitoring visits – Invisalign monitoring visits are scheduled every 6-8 weeks to assess the progress of your treatment and receive the next set of aligners. You should go with your current aligner set in the mouth. If there’s any slenderizing needed, it will be performed before placing your new aligners. The number of scheduled visits depend on the number of aligner sets prescribed in your individual treatment plan. 

If you have an orthodontic issue, please visit your dentist or Invisalign specialist in Bakersfield CA today to determine whether you’re a suitable candidate for the treatment. 

You’re considered to have an overbite if your upper front teeth overlap with the lower front teeth. This is a very common occurrence, and in most cases, it won’t affect your speech, eating habits, aesthetics, or other oral functions. Dentists consider the ideal overbite to be in the range of 5 to 25 percent, or a gap of 2-4mm. If it exceeds this measure, then you have a very large overbite that might cause a variety of oral problems, ranging from uneven teeth wear to jaw pain. Fortunately, a deep bite or large overbite can be fixed with various orthodontic appliances, including Invisalign clear aligners. To determine whether Invisalign aligners are good for your case, the orthodontist will determine:

• Your age 
• The severity of the overbite 
• Your ability to follow the treatment’s guidelines 

The Invisalign system uses removable aligners that must be worn for the recommended amount of time each day to ensure good progress of your treatment. They can be removed when eating and brushing/flossing your teeth, when participating in sports, or when playing wind musical instruments. 

That said, you should keep in mind that Invisalign clear aligners are typically used with other orthodontic appliances to correct an overbite. These appliances include:

• Invisalign Mandibular Advancement – For young patients under 12 years, the orthodontist may recommend using Invisalign and the child’s tooth growth and development to naturally correct an overbite. The Invisalign Mandibular Advancement comprises aligners with plastic wings that help to gradually guide the lower jaw forward in small increments, while simultaneously straightening the lower front teeth and aligning the jaws. 
• Elastics – For patients above the age of 12 years, mandibular advancement appliances cannot be successfully used to fix an overbite. Instead, your orthodontist may recommend wearing Invisalign aligners with elastics to gradually move the front teeth in the lower jaw forward, while moving the front teeth in the upper jaw backwards to correct a deep bite. 
• Motion device – If you have a severe overbite, your orthodontist may recommend an additional orthodontic appliance known as the “motion” device. This is a small bar that is placed on the upper teeth to reduce the underbite while undergoing your treatment with elastics and aligners. 

To learn more about Invisalign for overbites, please contact your orthodontist in Bakersfield CA today. Following an assessment of your case, your orthodontist will help you design a customized Invisalign treatment plan to correct your overbite. 

You can straighten your teeth and improve your smile discreetly with Invisalign. Although this approach is becoming increasingly popular among teens and adults of all ages, many people tend to be concerned about the cost of Invisalign. Generally, you want to choose the treatment that gives you the best possible results with minimal interruption to your normal life and routine, but without breaking the bank. 

Orthodontists agree that the cost of straightening your teeth with Invisalign varies from person to person depending on the severity of the problem. It may also be affected by

• The complexity of the case 
• Treatment goals 
• Duration of treatment 
• Availability of orthodontic insurance coverage 
• Your location
• Flexible spending accounts or payment plans 

With more Invisalign specialists popping up, the two may cost more or less the same, or with a small difference. 

The cost of Invisalign usually includes:

• The initial consult 
• The set of x-rays (but not always, so it’s best to ask your orthodontist)
• The retainer can be charged separately. 

Part of the payment may be catered for through your insurance provider.

Is Invisalign Worth the Cost?

Invisalign was developed by leading orthodontists to meet the demands of the active lifestyles and unique treatment needs of different kinds of patients, like those who want to play wind instruments or feel shy when smiling in public. The system has proven to be as effective as conventional braces for correcting a wide range of orthodontic issues. 

Even with Invisalign Teen, the variation recommended for teenagers looking for a discreet orthodontic treatment, there are measures in place to ensure that the aligners are worn for the required duration of 20 – 22 hours per day. 

To find out if you or your teen qualifies for Invisalign, and to compare the price with other orthodontic solutions, please visit your orthodontist in Bakersfield CA today.