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Invisalign® Clear Aligners And Clear Braces

One of the most popular choices for straightening teeth is Invisalign® clear aligners! Treatment with Invisalign® involves a series of clear aligner trays that are custom-made for each patient. If you have been wanting straight teeth, but were hesitant because you didn’t want traditional braces, you can now achieve the beautiful smile you have always wanted with our almost undetectable clear aligners! They are easily removable and can straighten your smile in as little as six months to just over one year, depending on your individual dental needs.

How Do Orthodontics Straighten Your Teeth?

Orthodontic treatments, such as clear braces or invisible aligners, apply gentle pressure to gradually migrate your teeth into the proper, desired positions. Orthodontic care can benefit patients of any age! Give us a call to find out how we can help you take the first steps towards reclaiming your self-esteem with a straighter, more radiant smile.

Dr. Libby and our team of clinical providers at Libby Dental will guide you through a careful examination of your mouth and teeth to discuss all of your treatment options with you. Advances in dentistry have provided us with numerous choices: you can pick clear braces or discreet trays that fit over your teeth.

How Do Invisalign® Clear Aligners Work?

Invisalign Invisalign® aligners gradually move your teeth over time until they are beautifully straight, healthy, and functional. To properly reposition your teeth and bite, the aligners are worn at all times — except when eating and cleaning your teeth. There may be an initial sensation of slight pressure as your aligners apply gentle force to your teeth, but this feeling should subside as you become acclimated to treatment. Invisalign® can offer a very comfortable experience, and many patients appreciate the ability to straighten their teeth without the discomfort of metal wires and brackets. You will change your custom-made aligner trays every few weeks as your teeth gradually move into the correct places. The overall Invisalign® treatment is very gentle and long-lasting. Invisalign® clear aligners can be an excellent option for adult patients!

“It was a great experience. The staff is so sweet and always smiling. The office is also very comfortable and has cute decorations. Dr. Libby is very personable and explains everything so you know exactly what you are going to have done. He does great work. :)”
Grace S.

What are the Benefits of Invisalign® Aligners?

Invisalign® is widely considered a more cosmetic orthodontic system than metal braces, as these clear and inconspicuous aligners do not interfere with your smile throughout the course of treatment. This gives our patients the ability to attend events, take pictures, and live their life undeterred by the inconveniences typically caused by braces. Benefits of Invisalign® aligners commonly include:

  • No metal wires or brackets irritating the gums
  • Treatment doesn’t obstruct your smile
  • You can enjoy all your favorite foods during the treatment process
  • You can brush and floss your teeth as normal
  • Fewer office visits compared to traditional metal braces
  • No broken wires/brace tightening required
  • Can correct most biting and alignment issues traditionally treated with braces

Ultimately, Invisalign® is designed to be as unobtrusive to your daily life as possible. Dr. Landon Libby and our team of skilled dentists would be happy to help you find the most optimal orthodontic system to straighten your smile according to your needs. After a consultation, we can help confirm whether your concerns can be corrected with clear braces or another treatment option.

Is Invisalign® Right for Me?

Clear, removable aligners can help many patients achieve a healthier alignment for their smile and bite. Younger patients and teenagers, in particular, usually appreciate the discreet nature of treatment and convenient teeth-straightening process associated with Invisalign®. Although there are some limitations to treatment, Invisalign® can resolve many of the issues traditionally treated with metal braces, such as:

  • Overbite

  • Underbite

  • Cross bite

  • Open bite

  • Misalignments

  • Crowding and other spacing issues

While Invisalign® can achieve beautiful results, clear aligners may not be the right solution for every patient. For individuals who have more severe or complex concerns, traditional braces or another orthodontic system may be a more ideal approach to achieve your goals.

Invisalign® vs. Braces

Invisalign® can eliminate many of the inconveniences associated with metal braces, and treatment is often considered an upgrade from traditional orthodontic systems. Clear aligners are capable of correcting the issues usually resolved with wire braces, such as crowding and malocclusion (poor bite), but often do not cause concerns like discomfort and gum irritation. Since Invisalign® aligners are removable, there’s also no need to restrict your diet during treatment. Patients no longer have to avoid their favorite foods during the teeth-straightening process!

Maintaining your oral hygiene is also much easier, as there is no longer a need to floss between wires and brackets. Best of all, Invisalign® may be able to correct the positioning of your teeth in less time and fewer office visits than traditional braces.

What is the Treatment Process Like for Invisalign®?

On average, most Invisalign® treatments are complete in approximately 9 to 12 months. During your first appointment, your dentist will evaluate your bite and take impressions of your teeth and mouth. An orthodontic plan will then be developed to outline an approximate timeline of your treatment. After your custom aligner trays are created by an advanced dental lab, you will wear each version for two to three weeks before progressing to the next aligner. Dr. Landon Libby and our team will monitor your progress through periodic office visits to ensure your treatment is proceeding according to your orthodontic plan. In general, your aligners should be worn for approximately 20 to 22 hours per day. The more often you wear your aligners, the lower the likelihood of prolonging your treatment time.

What Can I Expect From My Invisalign® Results?

Invisalign® can often achieve the desired results in the same amount of time as traditional metal braces. Following treatment, patients are typically thrilled with their straighter, more symmetrical smile and also enjoy improved function from having a more aligned bite. We welcome you to explore our smile gallery to see before-and-after photos of previous Invisalign® patients to see the types of results you can expect to achieve. After completing your Invisalign® plan, you will still have to wear a retainer at night in order to preserve the results of your treatment. This helps ensure your teeth stay in the correct positioning and don’t migrate back to their original location. Unfortunately, failing to wear your retainer on a regular basis can change your smile/bite over time and recreate the same concerns you originally sought to improve.

How Long Does Invisalign® Take to Straighten Teeth?

In most cases, Invisalign® can achieve a patient’s goals in the same amount of time as traditional braces. Since aligners are clear and removable, there are no concerns associated with broken wires/brackets and zero need to tighten braces, often allowing individuals to accelerate their treatment time when compared to older methods of teeth-straightening. That said, the best way to minimize the time it takes to achieve your dream smile is to closely follow your instructions for treatment and wear your aligners for the amount of time prescribed by your dentist. If your aligners become warped, distorted, or stained, you may require a replacement set and unnecessarily prolong your treatment time. For this reason, we encourage patients to always remove their Invisalign® aligners whenever eating or drinking, and avoid exposing the thermoplastic to extreme temperatures.

How Do I Clean Invisalign® Aligners?

A major benefit of treatment with Invisalign® is that your aligners do not require timely or excessive maintenance to keep them in good condition. Simply rinse your aligners in lukewarm water, and brush them lightly with an unscented antibacterial soap and a soft-bristled toothbrush. After you remove your aligners, you can brush and floss your teeth and gums as you normally would. In general, our team recommends brushing your teeth right after meals and before putting your aligners back into place. This can help avoid the unnecessary staining and yellowing of your aligners, allowing them to remain in pristine condition.

How Much Does Invisalign® Cost?

The cost of Invisalign® is comparable to the price of treatment with regular braces, but each patient will receive a personalized quote based on their individual treatment plan. Certain factors will affect the total cost of Invisalign®, including:

  • The extent of corrections required
  • The number of aligners necessary to achieve the desired result
  • The complexity of your case

Our office will be able to provide you with a cost estimate after your initial consultation with Dr. Libby. For patients interested in dental financing options, Libby Dental accepts CareCredit® for qualified individuals. Don’t hesitate to contact our office for any other questions you may have about the cost of Invisalign® or our accepted payment methods.

Are There Alternatives to Invisalign®?

Invisalign® can straighten teeth with beautiful results, but there are some cases in which another treatment may be of greater benefit. If you’re mainly concerned with misalignment in an individual tooth, porcelain veneers may be able to achieve your goals faster than orthodontic treatment. A veneer is a thin, porcelain shell bonded to the front of a tooth to improve the appearance of shortness, misalignments, asymmetry, and other minor cosmetic issues. This may be a potential solution for aesthetic issues, but a porcelain veneer cannot treat malocclusion (poor bite), crowded teeth, or other common orthodontic concerns.

Patients also commonly incorporate Invisalign® into a more comprehensive Smile Makeover or full mouth rehabilitation. These plans combine multiple cosmetic and restorative services — such as dental crowns, bridges, dental implants, teeth whitening, and “gummy smile” recontouring, among other potential treatments — to achieve a brighter smile and a healthier bite based on your unique goals. Dr. Libby would be happy to discuss the best way(s) to address your concerns in a consultation.

Think For A Moment…

Do you — or does anyone in your family — have:

  • Crooked teeth?
  • Misaligned teeth?
  • A crowded smile?
  • An underbite, overbite, or crossbite?

Get Started With Your Dream Smile Today!

If you are looking for a dental experience that brings you renewed confidence as well as a more beautiful smile, come to Libby Dental. Our goal is to make you feel comfortable and build trust as we work on a healthy, beautiful smile that you will love.