Invisalign® Clear Braces – Lakewood, CO
Straighten Your Smile Without Drawing Attention to It
For whatever reason, you didn’t wear braces in high school. Now that you’re an adult, you’re self-conscious of your crooked teeth but you don’t want to deal with the awkward appearance of braces. If only there were a way to straighten your smile without drawing attention to it! Fortunately, there is – with Invisalign. Rather than uncomfortable metal brackets and wires, Invisalign in Lakewood uses clear, comfortable aligner trays to help you attain a beautifully straight smile. To learn more about this revolutionary treatment and whether it’s right for you, contact Lakewood Complete Dentistry today!
Why Choose Lakewood Complete Dentistry for Invisalign?
- Dentist with Advanced Training in Orthodontics
- Treatment Personalized to Meet Your Unique Needs
- Straighten Your Teeth Without Any Metal
How Invisalign Works
The Invisalign process begins with Dr. Vinnie capturing impressions of your teeth, which are then used to create multiple sets of custom-made plastic aligners. Each set exerts a gentle pressure on a small section of your smile until all of your pearly whites have reached their ideal position. You’ll wear each pair for two or three weeks before switching to the next one. Throughout the course of your treatment, you’ll still need to visit us every six weeks or so. However, these appointments should be much shorter than they would be with braces; all we’ll do is evaluate your progress and give you your next few pairs of aligners.
Indications for Invisalign
Only your cosmetic dentist in Lakewood will be able to definitively tell you whether you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. However, it can often correct the following orthodontic problems:
Crowded Teeth
Teeth that are too close together can be harder to clean, increasing your risk of developing cavities and gum infections. Invisalign gradually spaces your teeth out more evenly, improving both the health and the aesthetics of your smile.
Gaps Between Teeth
Bits of food can get trapped in large gaps between teeth, attracting bacteria that contribute to bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, and more. Invisalign can close these spaces.
Bite Misalignment
Problems like overbite, underbite, and crossbite (where your top and bottom teeth don’t come together properly) can place pressure on your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This increases your likelihood of jaw clenching and teeth grinding, which can wear down or even fracture your teeth. Invisalign can correct mild bite alignment issues.
Benefits of Invisalign
Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy when you straighten your teeth with Invisalign instead of traditional braces:
- Instead of metal brackets that can irritate your mouth, Invisalign is made with smooth plastic designed to be very comfortable.
- Most patients finish Invisalign treatment in 12-18 months. By contrast, conventional braces often take 24-36 months to fully straighten your teeth.
- Unless someone knows exactly what they’re looking for, they shouldn’t be able to notice the aligners when you’re wearing them.
- Because the aligners are removable, they won’t limit the kinds of foods you can eat.
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
Realigning your teeth may be something you’ve wanted to do for a long time, but we understand that questions about the price tag may be holding you back. At Lakewood Complete Dentistry, we want you to know all the facts about the cost of treatment before you make a decision for your smile.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
Every patient has a unique smile, and treatment is customized according to their needs. As a result, the cost varies depending on the following:
- The severity of your teeth’s misalignment. Obviously, the more severe your case is, the longer your treatment will be to correct it, and the more it’ll cost.
- Whether both arches are being treated. Usually, both upper and lower teeth have aligners throughout treatment, but that is not always the case.
- Your compliance with treatment instructions. If you do not follow Dr. Artino’s directions or come for your check-in appointments, your timeline and your potential cost could increase.
Invisalign VS Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?
If your main priority in straightening your teeth is the price, Smile Direct Club™ may save you money overall. However, it is a system that you manage on your own. Although your treatment is initially planned by a licensed dental professional, you perform the impression, and the process has very little or even no oversight. With Invisalign at Lakewood Complete Dentistry, Dr. Artino supervises every step, meaning that your impressions will be accurate and that you can stay on track.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
In some cases, yes. Many insurance plans have orthodontic coverage, but while not all of these plans include Invisalign treatment, some do! Because insurance can be confusing to decipher on your own, our knowledgeable team can happily look through your plan and explain your benefits. We will do our best to help you maximize your benefits to keep your out-of-pocket costs as low as possible.
Options for Making Invisalign More Affordable
We believe that a confident, healthy smile should fit in anyone’s budget. That’s why we make it much easier to afford treatment, whether you have dental insurance or not. To manage your out-of-pocket costs, we are happy to finance treatment with CareCredit to break up the total into easier monthly payments.
Invisalign FAQs
If you’re looking for the easiest, most convenient way to straighten your smile without drawing attention to it, look no further than Invisalign in Lakewood! This unique orthodontic treatment takes a completely different approach to correcting crooked teeth and bite problems than traditional metal braces. For your convenience, we’ve gathered some of the most common questions we get about Invisalign so you can learn more about it. If you don’t see the answers you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to give us a call and we’ll be happy to help!
Does Wearing Invisalign Aligners Hurt?
Since Invisalign aligners don’t have any metal wires and brackets, you can expect a much more comfortable straightening experience when compared to traditional braces. However, any orthodontic issue is bound to cause some discomfort as it shifts your teeth into position, and that includes Invisalign. It’s normal to experience some soreness when first starting a new set of aligners, but it should be minimal and easy to manage. Generally, it will fade away on its own within a few days, but you can help it along by taking over-the-counter pain relievers as directed or applying an ice pack.
What Foods Do I Need to Avoid During My Invisalign Treatment?
Unlike metal braces that require you to adhere to a restricted diet, you don’t have to give up any of your favorite foods or drinks during your Invisalign treatment! Just take your aligners out, enjoy your meal, snack, or beverage, and then give your teeth a quick brush before popping your aligners back into place. Remember, whenever you’re not wearing your aligners, they should be stored in their case so you don’t accidentally leave them behind or throw them away!
How Long Do I Need to Wear My Aligners for Every Day?
It might seem obvious, but your aligners only work if you wear them. They’re specifically designed to place different amounts of pressure in just the right places of your mouth. The constant gentle pressure is what helps move them into place and stay there. If you don’t wear your aligners enough, your teeth may begin to shift out of position, which could increase the length and cost of your treatment! So be sure you’re wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours every single day.
How Are Invisalign Aligners Cleaned?
Thanks to their removable nature, Invisalign aligners make it easy to keep your smile clean throughout your treatment. Instead of awkwardly trying to brush and floss around metal wires and brackets, you can simply take out your Invisalign aligners and clean your teeth just as easily as you always have. It’s important to keep your aligners clean as well so they don’t become discolored. Make sure to rinse them off every morning and night and brush them gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush. There are also plenty of Invisalign cleaning systems and solutions that can help keep your smile fresh and sparkling.
Can I Get Invisalign If I’ve Had Metal Braces Before?
Just because you had metal braces earlier in life doesn’t automatically mean that your teeth are still straight now, especially if you neglected to wear your retainer. Thankfully, Invisalign is a great choice for anyone facing mild to moderate orthodontic issues. There’s a good chance that it can help you regain your beautifully straight smile! However, you’ll need to come in for a consultation to ensure that Invisalign is the most effective way to help you get the results you’re looking for.
It’s never been easier to get a straighter smile! Give us a call today to schedule your consultation and discover if Invisalign is right for you.