By far the biggest appeal of Invisalign is the clear aligners that enable patients to discreetly correct their tooth alignment without drawing attention to themselves. Visible metal wires and brackets can be embarrassing, cause feelings of self-consciousness, and ruin pictures. Clear aligners blend in with your teeth and Invisalign attachments are also tooth-colored.

Many patients go through years of wearing uncomfortable braces, excited to finally be left with straight teeth, only to find that their teeth are discolored, have white or yellow spots, and have left them with cavities. This is because it is incredibly difficult to properly brush and floss between the immovable wires and brackets. Invisalign aligners can be taken out completely so you can brush and floss your teeth like normal with no obstructions. This reduces your chance of developing tooth decay, bad breath, discoloration, and uneven spots on your teeth.

Traditional braces place many restrictions on your diet. Patients aren't supposed to eat sticky, hard, crunchy, chewy, and sugary foods. They can become trapped in the braces, increase the risk of cavities, dislodge or damage your braces. Invisalign, however, places no restrictions on your diet, because you can remove your aligners to eat. As long as you remember to take your aligners out, keep them clean, and brush and floss your teeth before putting them back in, you can eat or drink whatever you want!

Metal braces place a lot of force on the teeth to shift them, which is what makes them the most effective at correcting severe malocclusions. However, this force can cause severe pain, soreness, and discomfort that never really goes away. Invisalign is much more comfortable because it places gentle pressure on the teeth to gradually shift them. The plastic material is much more comfortable and gentle than the metal wires and brackets in braces.

Invisalign's software allows us to digitally plan your entire orthodontic treatment from start to finish with the use of digital impressions, x-rays, and photos. You can see what the end result will look like from the very beginning and we can show you how we'll achieve these tooth movements on a digital model.

It’s important to anticipate the cost of treatment so we can work with your budget to develop a treatment that works for you. Some dental insurance plans may cover the cost of Invisalign, while others may not. This depends on whether or not the treatment is considered medically necessary or purely aesthetic.

It’s also crucial that you know if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign in the first place. While Invisalign can treat an array of orthodontic problems, from crooked teeth and overcrowding to bite problems, it’s not as suitable for performing complex tooth movements as braces. If you have severe malocclusions, you may be a better candidate for braces and this is something you should speak to your dentist about.

There are not as many limitations under Invisalign treatment as there are with traditional braces. That’s why so many people prefer Invisalign. However, you should know that you will be required to wear your aligners for 22 hours a day, need to regularly clean your aligners, and can’t eat or drink flavored beverages with your aligners on, nor should you smoke. All of these behaviors can negatively affect your treatment.

Many people think that once they have shifted their teeth with Invisalign, their work is done. However, the truth is that once you’ve finished the bulk of the treatment, you will move into the retention stage. You will be required to wear a retainer to prevent your teeth from shifting back.

First, let’s start with what you shouldn’t do. Don’t smoke, eat, drink hot liquids, or consume flavored drinks with your aligners in. We recommend abstaining from smoking during your treatment altogether. These behaviors increase your risk of staining your aligners and getting cavities.  

Hot water can morph your aligners. You should clean your aligners with denture cleaner and a soft-bristle toothbrush twice a day, preferably in the morning and at night. Rinse your aligners under cold water when taking them out and put them back in their storage case so you don’t lose or break them.  

You need to remove your aligners before eating but also remember to brush your teeth before putting the aligners back in. We recommend that you soak your aligners in denture cleaning solution or Invisalign cleaning crystals for at least 15 minutes a day.