INVISALIGN® CLEAR BRACES – RICHARDSON, TX
An Almost Invisible Way to Straighten Your Teeth
Have you been considering a straighter smile but don’t want to deal with uncomfortable and noticeable braces? While effective, braces can cause self-consciousness, hassle, and even discomfort. Thankfully, at EPO Dental Specialists, we offer Invisalign clear braces to provide you with a way to align your teeth with comfort and style. We have a highly trained orthodontist, Dr. Jan Ortiz , who is experienced in Invisalign treatment. Keep reading to learn more about how you can align your teeth with comfort and confidence using Invisalign in Richardson.
How Invisalign Works
Rather than using brackets and wires to shift teeth into position, the Invisalign orthodontic system uses a series of removable alignment trays to gently guide teeth into their desired position. We can use Invisalign to adjust teeth and correct a variety of bite alignment concerns including uneven spacing, overbite or underbite, and other orthodontic issues. Not every patient is a good candidate for Invisalign treatment, so call our office to schedule a consultation today.
Dr. Ortiz will take special images and impressions of your smile to develop your custom-made Invisalign aligners. You will wear each aligner for about 2 weeks, switching them out for the next one in your series to progress your treatment. You should wear your trays 20 to 22 hours a day, which means you should only take them out when you’re eating and cleaning your teeth.
The Invisalign Process
While every patient’s journey towards a straighter smile will be unique, there are a few basic steps you can typically expect if you choose to move forward with Invisalign. During your consultation, we’ll walk you through the entire process so you’ll know exactly what to expect. In the meantime, read on to learn more about what it’s like to start Invisalign treatment.
Consultation
During this initial visit, we’ll examine your smile to determine whether or not Invisalign is a viable option to straighten your smile. We also capture digital images and X-rays and answer any questions you may have. These visits typically take less than hour.
Impressions
This visit will last about an hour, and we can schedule this appointment anytime following your consultation. The procedure itself is simple. We’ll capture molds of your teeth by having you bite down into a putty-like substance that will create impressions. These impressions are used by the Invisalign team to craft your alignment trays.
Aligner Delivery
The Invisalign lab will typically return the first sets of alignment trays just a few weeks after the impression visit. At this time, you’ll return to our office. We’ll place your first set of alignment trays and examine the fit to ensure comfort. You’ll wear each set of aligners for about two weeks at a time, and return to our office for your next sets of trays. Depending on whether or not your aligners are easily fitted, this appointment can take as much as an hour.
Adjustment Appointments
About six weeks after your initial aligner appointment, you’ll return to our office where we’ll check your progress and provide your next few sets of alignment trays. These periodic checkups will continue throughout your treatment every 4-6 weeks so we can monitor your progress. These visits are short, usually about half an hour, and they will be continued until you achieve your desired results.
The Deband Visit
This is typically your very last appointment with our team. We’ll evaluate your results to determine if we need to make any additional adjustments. In some cases, patients need case refinement, and we’ll need to capture new bite impressions to create one or more additional sets of aligners. Depending on whether or not you need additional refinement, your appointment should last less than an hour.
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
Every mouth and situation are unique, so there’s no flat fee for Invisalign, but we strive to keep a straight smile affordable for everyone. Various factors influence the cost of Invisalign in Richardson because your treatment plan will be tailored to your needs. Don’t worry, we’ll provide you with an estimate and review your payment options to invest in the clear choice in orthodontics.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
No two treatment plans are identical because your mouth is as unique as your fingerprints. Therefore, everyone’s estimate is different. Your Invisalign dentist in Richardson will examine your mouth and design your treatment plan. The amount you’ll pay will be determined by several factors, including:
- Preliminary Treatments: Your teeth and gums must be healthy before beginning Invisalign.
- The Complexity of Your Case: Major tooth movements will require more aligners.
- Number of Arches: Single arch treatment isn’t common, so you can expect to need aligners for both the top and bottom.
We will explain your estimate and answer any questions, so you’ll know exactly what you’ll have to pay before committing to anything.
Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?
Mail-order aligners seem like an affordable, convenient option, but there are serious risks involved with cutting out the “middle man.” Although you’ll pay more when visiting a dentist, they are more than the middleman. You're paying for their experience and qualifications to promote the overall success of your investment. Since you’re never under the supervision of a dentist with mail-order systems, you may not even be a candidate for clear aligners. Not to mention, the slightest error with an aligner can lead to irreversible complications, like tooth loss. A dentist will ensure Invisalign is the right option for you and monitor your treatment to intervene at the slightest concern. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you’ve made the right choice for your smile.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
Many dental plans cover orthodontics, including Invisalign. After meeting your deductible, you can use your orthodontic allowance to lower the amount you’ll pay out-of-pocket. You can also use your coverage for other steps in your treatment, like the consultation or preparatory procedures. A member of our team will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize any orthodontia benefits.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
You don’t have to be rich or famous to improve your smile with Invisalign in Richardson. It’s affordable for all budgets because we offer various solutions to fix your bite and alignment problems, even if money is tight, including:
- Traditional Payments: Our office accepts all traditional payment methods, including cash, checks, and credit cards.
- Monthly Payments: Pay any out-of-pocket expenses using monthly installments with little or no interest through a third-party financing company, like CareCredit.
If you have questions about your payment options, or you are ready to schedule your consultation, contact our office today. We look forward to helping you achieve your best smile using a nearly invisible solution.
Is Invisalign Right for You?
If you’re interested in straightening with the comfortable, cosmetic Invisalign orthodontic system, we encourage you to contact our team to schedule an Invisalign consultation with our skilled orthodontist. We can examine your smile to determine if Invisalign is the most effective way for you to achieve the straighter, healthier smile you deserve.
Invisalign can be used to treat mild to moderate dental and bite misalignment in adults or older teens. The best way of knowing if you’re a candidate for Invisalign is to visit our office. Dr. Ortiz will carefully examine your mouth, teeth, bite, and the condition of your oral health to see if you’re a good candidate. Unfortunately, more severe bite and alignment issues can only be corrected by traditional orthodontics. Patients who are candidates for Invisalign must also be committed to wearing their aligners for the recommended amount of time
The Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign in Richardson offers a set of unique benefits that you simply can’t get with traditional braces. Its primary benefit is that it gives you the ability to straighten your teeth in your personal and professional lives without anyone noticing. This confidence boost comes in handy especially if you’re already self-conscious about crooked teeth.
An additional benefit is the treatment time. On average, Invisalign takes a shorter amount of time than traditional braces. The treatment usually takes between 10 and 18 months, and it will typically require less visits to our office than traditional orthodontics.
Because Invisalign is completely removeable and made of smooth plastic, you won’t have to worry about brackets and wires irritating the inside of your mouth. This design also allows for you to eat all of your favorite foods without damaging your orthodontics. Just take them out when you’re ready to eat and put them back in after cleaning your teeth.
Invisalign FAQs
If you’re considering Invisalign, you may have some questions about the treatment. We understand that you may not know all of the in’s and out’s of this new technology, which is why we’ve included some frequently asked questions as well as their answers. Read on to learn everything you need to know about Invisalign in Richardson.
How Long Does Invisalign Take?
On average, the treatment time for Invisalign takes between 10 and 18 months. This time will depend on the original position of your teeth as well as how committed you are to following our instructions. The treatment process can take longer if you don’t wear your aligners between 20 to 22 hours a day.
What If I Lose or Break an Invisalign Aligner?
If you’ve lost or broken your aligners, you should start by wearing the previous set of trays to maintain your progress. Then, please contact our team to schedule an emergency consultation. We’ll need to reorder your aligners to continue your treatment plan as soon as possible.
What Do I Do If My Invisalign Aligners Are Hurting?
Many patients experience discomfort for the first few hours after changing to their new set of alignment trays. This is completely normal and should fade on its own within a day or two. You can take over-the-counter pain relievers and use ice packs as necessary to relieve pain. If you continue to experience excessive discomfort for more than 48 hours, please contact our office. We may need to make adjustments to your treatment plan. You can return to wearing your previous set of aligners to maintain your current progress until we can see you.
What Do I Do If I Can’t Take My Aligners Out?
If you can’t remove your aligners, try swishing warm water around in your mouth to loosen it. Remember, don’t use any other beverage besides water to avoid staining! If for some reason you’re still unable to extract your aligners, please call us to schedule an emergency visit. We’ll examine your aligner and make any necessary changes to your treatment plan. Never try to use sharp objects like tweezers or toothpicks to dislodge your aligners, as this could easily damage your gums or scratch your aligners.
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