Invisalign – Morgan Hill, CA
Discreetly Achieve a Perfectly Straight Smile
If you’re like many patients, you may be interested in orthodontic treatment but hesitant to move forward because of the aesthetic drawbacks of metal brackets and wires. Good news: there’s an alternative to traditional braces that’s both effective and discreet – Invisalign! With a custom series of clear aligners, we can gently guide your teeth out of their misaligned positions and into a perfectly straight smile. If you’re interested in this smile-enhancing service, schedule a consultation with us or read on.
Why Choose Timeless Smiles Morgan Hill for Invisalign?
- Member of the American Academy of Clear Aligners
- Invisalign Certified
- Convenient Hours, Including Saturdays
How Invisalign Works
As a prospective patient, you may know a few things about the Invisalign treatment process, like that you have to wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day. But how exactly do the trays work? Basically, Dr. Jenny Hong will give you a series of aligners, which are custom-made to guide your teeth from where they are now to their ideal positions. Every 7-14 days, you’ll move onto the next tray in the series, which will pick up where the last one left off. It won’t take long to see an improvement in the alignment of your teeth, and the average treatment timeline is just 12-18 months!
Who Can Invisalign Help?
In earlier years, Invisalign was more ideal for minor cases of misalignment. Flash forward to today, and the clear aligners can help with everything from crowded and spaced-out teeth to common bite problems. Here’s how!
Crowded Teeth
If your self-esteem has taken a hit because your teeth overlap or are tilted out of position, then you shouldn’t hesitate to schedule a consultation. That said, that’s not the only reason we recommend exploring your treatment options. Since this orthodontic problem makes it harder to remove food particles and plaque with your toothbrush, you’re at an increased risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease as well. Fortunately, we can create a custom series of trays to guide your teeth into their ideal, properly aligned positions with Invisalign.
Gaps Between Teeth
Spaced-out teeth are another common orthodontic issue that comes with drawbacks to the look, health, and function of your smile. So, if you have a large gap between your two front teeth or several smaller spaces throughout your mouth, don’t wait – schedule a consultation with us. If we determine that clear aligners can effectively and efficiently close the gaps, then we will get to work on your custom treatment plan, ensuring the final result is the gorgeous grin you’ve always wanted.
Overbite
Overbites refer to when the upper teeth jut out beyond the lower ones. Although this might not seem like an issue, it can actually lead to several consequences if left untreated, including premature wear on your teeth and chronic jaw pain. Luckily, Invisalign can fix mild to moderate cases with custom, clear, and comfortable aligners. If you’re interested in finding out if you’re a candidate, then take the next step: schedule an orthodontic assessment with us!
Underbite
If your lower teeth sit in front of your upper teeth, then you likely have an underbite. Unfortunately, even minor cases can take a serious toll on the look, health, and function of your smile, which is why we recommend visiting us to see if you’re a candidate for Invisalign. If you are, then we will use a custom series of aligners (and any other orthodontic accessories that are needed, like rubber bands) to align your teeth and bite properly.
Crossbite
Like the other bite problems on this list, crossbites can result in everything from premature wear on your teeth to difficulty chewing properly. Fortunately, Invisalign can improve the position of your teeth and the alignment of your bite without any metal at all. So, the journey to a healthier, happier smile will be practically invisible!
Open Bite
When you bite down, your teeth should come together evenly. If a space toward the front or back of your mouth is preventing that from happening, then you likely have an open bite. The best thing to do is schedule a consultation with us if you suspect that you have this bite problem (or you’ve been experiencing common consequences, like trouble enunciating clearly). That way, we can explore your treatment options.
The Benefits of Invisalign
Did you know that around 18 million patients have chosen Invisalign? With so many teeth-straightening services to choose from, you might be wondering, “Why?” Well, you can find a few reasons in this next section!
There Aren’t Any Dietary Restrictions
With traditional braces, there’s a chance that the brackets or wires will break with enough pressure. That’s why patients are asked to eliminate crunchy, hard, and sticky foods from their diet, like whole apples and raw carrots. That’s not the case with Invisalign! Since the aligners are removable, your orthodontic treatment won’t come with any dietary restrictions. All you need to focus on is eating a well-balanced diet that isn’t too heavy in starchy and sugary foods.
No Special Oral Hygiene Products Needed
Have you heard of interproximal toothbrushes? They are a special oral hygiene product designed to clean around the brackets and between the wires, making brushing much easier for patients with traditional braces. You won’t need a specific toothbrush, floss, or anything else with Invisalign because the aligners are removable! Once you take them out, you can continue your oral hygiene regimen as usual.
12-18 Months Is the Average Treatment Timeline
Most of the time, patients wear traditional braces for two years or more. Conversely, the average treatment timeline with Invisalign is only 12-18 months! To find out how long your teeth-straightening journey will be, we recommend scheduling a consultation with us so we can learn about your case. We can also share habits you should adopt and avoid to ensure you stay on-track with your treatment plan.
The Aligners Are Metal-Free
Of course, one of the biggest benefits of Invisalign is that there aren’t any metal brackets or wires. This makes the journey to a straight smile considerably more discreet (which is something that our image-conscious teens and adults love). There is another benefit of smooth, custom-made, and low-profile trays: they are comfortable. In fact, many patients report that they didn’t experience any soft tissue irritation during their clear aligner treatment!
There Are Fewer Check-In Visits
If you have a jam-packed schedule – whether it’s from school, work, or life as a parent – you’ll be happy to hear that there are fewer check-in visits with Invisalign. Typically, they are every six or eight weeks instead of every four since monthly adjustment appointments aren’t necessary. Instead, you’ll progress through a few sets of aligners at home and then come in periodically so we can make sure your teeth are moving as anticipated.
The Aligners Can Fix Multiple Orthodontic Issues
Lastly, Invisalign is quite versatile. Over the last two decades, it has proven to be effective at correcting everything from small spaces between teeth to more considerable overcrowding. It can also address common bite problems, including overbites and underbites. So, if you are unhappy with the alignment of your teeth or your bite, it’s worth coming in for a consultation – you might be a candidate for clear aligners!
Living with Invisalign Aligners
Naturally, there is a bit of an adjustment period when you first get braces, even invisible, comfortable, and removable ones. That’s why we encourage our patients to look into what day-to-day life with clear aligners looks like before they sign on the dotted line; it will make the transition considerably smoother. Plus, it will help you stay on-track with your treatment plan and avoid frustrating delays! So, read on!
Wearing Your Trays
The key to staying on-track with your treatment plan is wearing your aligners for the majority of the day (20+ hours, to be exact). So, even though they are removable, you should really only take them out before eating or brushing your teeth. If something else comes up, like an important presentation at work, and you would prefer not to wear your aligners, then do your best to make up for the extra aligner-free time the following day.
Cleaning Your Aligners
Cleaning your Invisalign aligners is easy because you only need three things: clean, cool water, a soft-bristled toothbrush, and mild, clear dishwashing liquid. Use these to gently clean the surface of your trays each morning and evening to clear away saliva, plaque, and other debris. For an even deeper clean, you can soak your aligners in a dentist-recommended cleaner for 15 minutes or so each night.
Eating & Drinking
Since there aren’t any metal brackets or wires, eating and drinking with Invisalign is considerably easier than eating and drinking with traditional braces. In fact, there’s basically only one rule: you need to remove your aligners beforehand (with the exception of water). Make sure you also rinse them off with clean, cool water and put them in their designated storage case. This will ensure saliva doesn’t linger on the surface and that your aligners don’t accidentally get damaged or misplaced.
Losing or Damaging a Tray
Even if you do your best to keep track of your aligners and protect them from harm, accidents sometimes happen! In that case, we recommend contacting our Morgan Hill dental team ASAP. Our goal is to learn about what happened, see where you are in your treatment plan, and find a solution right away to avoid unwanted treatment plan delays. In other words, we’re not here to judge – we’re here to help!
Routine Check-Ins
Another important part of your life with clear aligners is coming to our office every six or eight weeks for check-in appointments. These are a crucial part of the treatment process because they allow us to monitor the movement of your teeth, giving us insight into how they are responding to the aligners. If you’ve consistently worn your trays for 20+ hours a day, then there’s a good chance that everything will be progressing as anticipated, and you’ll be in and out of our office in 20 minutes or less!
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
The cost of Invisalign isn’t the same across the board. After all, each treatment plan is completely custom! To provide you with an accurate estimate of the price, we need to first conduct a thorough oral exam and create your custom treatment plan. Rest assured, we will review the financial solutions available at your consultation, including dental insurance, flexible financing, and our membership plan. If you want to learn more about the cost of Invisalign before then, read on!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
Before creating your treatment plan, we’ll need to learn more about your unique dental needs. That’s why we will conduct a thorough oral exam and determine:
- How severe your misalignment is
- How many trays you’ll need
- If we need to straighten both arches of your teeth or just one
- If rubber bands or any other orthodontic accessories need to be added to your treatment plan
When your first set of aligners arrive, we will also give you detailed instructions on how to stay on-track with your treatment plan to avoid unwanted delays or additional costs.
Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?
If you’ve seen the commercials for mail-order clear aligner companies, then you know that the majority of their messaging focuses on the low price. What they don’t mention, however, is that they can offer a cheaper product by skipping the upfront exam and relying on DIY impressions. Furthermore, several previous patients have sued because they experienced worsened misalignment, and professional organizations like the American Dental Association have actively voiced their distaste for orthodontic alternatives. In short, mail-order clear aligners may be cheaper, but they certainly aren’t better.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
There are some cases where the answer is yes, so it’s worth double-checking! Your dental plan may include an orthodontic benefit, which can cover upwards of 50% of the cost. If you’re having trouble understanding your coverage, you’re welcome to ask us for help too. Since we welcome several of the nation’s leading providers, including Delta Dental, Aetna, and BlueCross BlueShield, we make utilizing your available benefits easy.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
In addition to welcoming dental insurance and offering our very own dental membership plan, our team at Timeless Smiles of Morgan Hill is proud to welcome flexible financing with CareCredit and Alphaeon Credit. That means that you won’t have to pay for the entire price of Invisalign in one lump sum! Instead, you can take a look at the payment plans they offer, select the one that works best with your monthly budget, and break down the cost into smaller, more manageable chunks. If you want to learn more about either of these trusted third-party financiers, don’t hesitate to give us a call!
Invisalign FAQs
At Timeless Smiles of Morgan Hill, we encourage our patients to ask questions! Whether you’re interested in learning if Invisalign hurts or you’re curious about what happens after orthodontic treatment, you can bring any questions you have to our team at your consultation. Additionally, you can read on to learn the answers to FAQs about Invisalign.
Does Invisalign Hurt?
It’s very common for patients to be concerned that straightening their teeth will hurt. In fact, some patients let that fear stop them from pursuing their smile goals! It’s unfortunate because clear aligners are custom-made from smooth materials that don’t irritate the soft tissue in your mouth, making them considerably more comfortable than metal braces. Plus, you can alleviate any soreness that does arise by sticking to soft foods and sipping on cool water.
Can I Drink Coffee with Invisalign?
You can’t drink coffee with your aligners in, but you’re more than welcome to indulge once you remove them! Since you can only remove your trays for a few hours each day, consider drinking this caffeinated beverage with your breakfast or lunch. That way, your trays are already out.
How Should I Clean My Invisalign Aligners?
Patients often think that they need special products to clean their aligners, like denture cleaners. That’s not the case! On a daily basis, you only need a soft-bristled toothbrush and some clean, room-temperature water. Some patients also like to use toothpaste but know that the abrasive texture can leave behind microscopic scratches that make your trays less shiny. You can also use the cleaning crystals that came in your welcome kit to give your aligners a deeper clean.
Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Invisalign?
With traditional braces, crunchy foods need to be avoided because they can cause a bracket or wire to come loose. With Invisalign, you can maintain your usual diet because the aligners are removable! Naturally, you should still be mindful of what you eat and how it impacts your oral health. For example, sugary treats can cause tooth decay, and tooth decay can cause your treatment plan to come to a temporary stop. In short, it’s a good idea to fill your plate with lots of nutrient-dense foods, even if clear aligner treatment doesn’t come with any dietary restrictions.
What Happens After Invisalign?
After you’ve worn each aligner in the series and you’re happy with your results, our Morgan Hill dental team will take impressions and pictures of your teeth so you can see your “before” and “after” photos. Then, we will ask you to wear your last aligner until your retainer arrives. This small orthodontic device serves a very important purpose: it helps preserve the alignment of your teeth! That’s why we encourage patients to wear theirs each night while they sleep. It’s one of the best ways to prevent orthodontic relapse (which is when your teeth begin to move back into their previously misaligned positions).