Invisalign® Clear Braces – Fort Worth, TX

Improved Comfort

With traditional braces, there are pointy brackets and wires that can irritate the soft tissues of the mouth, resulting in tenderness and soreness. Invisalign uses smooth, clear plastic to straighten your teeth, so they won’t cause any discomfort to the surrounding tissue – just some minor soreness when you switch to a new set of aligners.

Discreet Trays

When you have traditional braces, it’s something that everyone around you can see. This is something that deters a lot of older teeth and adults from getting orthodontic treatment. On the other hand, Invisalign allows you to receive the smile of your dreams without compromising your appearance.

Better Dental Hygiene

With traditional braces, it’s easy to get food stuck in your teeth, and it can be challenging to thoroughly clean your smile. With Invisalign, all you have to do is remove your aligners. Then, you can clean your teeth as normal without navigating metal brackets and wires.

Quick Follow-Ups

People with traditional braces need to go to the dental office frequently to have adjustments made and their braces tightened. Since Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners, it isn’t necessary to have anything tightened. However, you will still need to attend some quick checkup visits to ensure that everything is moving as planned. If there are any issues or your teeth aren’t moving as expected, your treatment plan can be updated.

Boosted Confidence

When you are happy about the appearance of your smile, you will be more confident when showing this off. Having more confidence can improve your life socially and professionally, giving you a better overall quality of life. You won’t feel the need to hide your smile from the camera anymore!

Non-Invasive Treatment

Thanks to technological advancements, Invisalign doesn’t use invasive measures to prepare your teeth. With our state-of-the-art dental techniques and technology, preparing for your treatment will be a breeze.

Wearing Your Trays

All your Invisalign trays are designed before you insert your first set. You’ll need to wear your trays for 22 hours every day, and then in one to two weeks, you’ll switch to the next set in your series. This method accounts for the ongoing movement of your teeth and ensures that they don’t revert to their previous positions. This can delay your overall treatment timeline because you may need to repeat a previous set of trays to get back on track.   

Cleaning Your Aligners

If your Invisalign isn’t cleaned regularly, it can become cloudy or stained, which defeats the purpose of “invisible” orthodontics. Thankfully, keeping them clear is relatively simple. You can soak them for 15 to 30 minutes daily in a special solution, like Invisalign cleaning crystals, to eradicate bacteria and break up any residue.

You can also brush them with a soft-bristled brush and mild dish soap that won’t abrade the material. Remember, hot temperatures can warp the material and should be avoided.

Eating & Drinking

Because Invisalign is removable, there are no dietary restrictions. You don’t need to worry about damaging your trays when you take them out of your mouth for meals. If you’re eating or drinking anything besides water, you should store them in their carrier case to keep them safe. Then, be sure to rinse your mouth out or brush and floss before reinserting them. This helps ensure that you’re placing them back into a clean space.   

Losing or Damaging a Tray

Clear plastic can be difficult to locate if you lose an aligner, so try always to keep them in their case when they’re not in your mouth. Although it’s not an emergency if one goes missing, it can interrupt your treatment, so you should let your dentist know as soon as possible. Then, you may need to wear a previous set of trays or switch to the next set until your provider can replace the one(s) that went missing.

Routine Check-Ins

Invisalign check-ins tend to be relatively quick because your dentist does not need to manually adjust the pressure exerted by your orthodontics as they do with braces. Although you will need to schedule consistent follow-ups every 8 weeks or so, they may only last about 15 minutes each. This allows your dentist to monitor your progress and ensure that everything is in good condition before sending you on your way.

Crowded Teeth

Crowded teeth are harder to clean because of the way they overlap with one another, and this problem can become worse with age. This can lead to issues like cavities, gum disease, jaw pain, or difficulty eating. Invisalign can shift the teeth into more even positions so they sit flush next to one another, resulting in a prettier smile that is easier to clean.

Gaps Between Teeth

A person may have large spaces between their teeth due to having a large jaw, small teeth, prolonged thumb-sucking as a child, or a range of other factors. Invisalign can close these gaps, which can protect the gums from injury and prevent accumulations of food particles that can feed harmful oral bacteria. In some cases, gaps can be addressed with cosmetic bonding.

Overbite

An overbite or an overjet happens when the top teeth are positioned too far in front of the lower teeth when the mouth is closed, which can cause jaw discomfort, speech difficulties, uneven dental wear, and problems opening or closing the mouth. This problem can also leave the top teeth more exposed to injury due to their excessively prominent position.

Underbite

An underbite occurs when the bottom teeth match or go slightly past the top teeth when the mouth is closed, and this can result from genetic factors, oral trauma, tumors, or prolonged thumb- or pacifier-sucking during childhood. This condition can lead to issues like a greater risk of sleep apnea, mouth breathing, and difficulties with speech or eating. Treating an underbite with Invisalign usually involves using appliances like rubber bands to help adjust the positions of the teeth. While it’s easier to fix an underbite if the patient is younger, it is still important to correct the issue in older individuals.

Crossbite

Crossbite describes a condition in which the bottom teeth are positioned slightly in front of the upper arch, and it usually results from genetic factors, poor oral hygiene, or the early loss of baby teeth. While Invisalign can correct this problem, doing so usually involves using elastics or other accessories to help reposition the jaw. An unaddressed crossbite can lead to an increased risk of gum disease and tooth decay, speech issues, jaw discomfort, bruxism, headaches, and facial asymmetry, which can lead to diminished self-confidence.

Open Bite

An open bite involves the top and bottom teeth failing to meet or overlap when the mouth is closed, and it usually results from improper bone development or extended thumb-sucking or pacifier use as a child. This issue can result in speech difficulties as well as excessive wear of the enamel on the back teeth. Invisalign can reposition the teeth so they meet properly when the mouth is shut, leading to a more beautiful smile and a lower risk of dental injuries.

How is Invisalign Teen Different?

Invisalign Teen offers the same powerful results as the adult system, but it’s designed with teenagers in mind. It features unique compliance indicators that fade as they’re worn, making it easy to see if your teen has been keeping track of their treatment time. It also allows more room for growing teeth, making it a flexible option for developing adolescents.

Is Invisalign Right for Your Teen?

Invisalign Teen could be the perfect solution for your child! However, they’ll need to have a consultation with Dr. Roy or Dr. Bristow first. Personal responsibility is a big factor when determining whether Invisalign is a good fit. This is because the aligners need to be worn for 20-22 hours a day to see results and consistency is key.

The Benefits of Invisalign Teen

Once the candidacy hurdle has been cleared, your teenager will be able to take full advantage of Invisalign’s many benefits, including:

• A Discreet Appearance: Clear aligners are nearly invisible, allowing your child to smile confidently during treatment.
• Comfortable Fit: No metal wires or brackets that can irritate their mouth.
• Removable Trays: Your teen can take out the aligners for eating, brushing, and special occasions!
• Shorter Check-Ins: Invisalign Teen aligners are switched out about every two weeks, and the appointments only last for around 15 minutes on average.

At 21st Century Dental, we’ll work with your family to ensure your teenager gets the best results from Invisalign while keeping their comfort and confidence in mind. So, contact us today to schedule a consultation. It’s the first step to a straight, confident smile for your child!

Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign

Here are several distinct factors that can significantly affect the overall cost of Invisalign:

• Treatment length: Your process will involve working through a series of clear aligners to gradually straighten your smile. The longer your treatment is, the more aligners you’ll likely require, which will increase the cost.
• Bite complexity: If you have more severe orthodontic issues, then you may require more extensive and costly treatment.
• Your compliance: The success and timeline of your process will also depend on how well you stick to the 20–22-hour wear time. Forgetting to wear or care for them properly can disrupt the treatment or increase the price.

Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?

One of the quickest and safest ways to straighten your teeth is with Invisalign. There are also other options like Smile Direct Club™ that declare a more convenient process. These DIY orthodontic treatments can cost more time, money, and even damage in the long run. This is due to them lacking oversight from a professional dentist, making it much easier for the treatment to go wrong. On the other hand, our team will monitor your Invisalign progress with regular appointments, ensuring your process goes as smoothly as possible while straightening your smile!

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Many dental insurance companies don’t provide coverage for orthodontic treatment. Even so, we will be more than happy to help you look over the details of your policy. Our knowledgeable staff has years of experience helping patients make the most of their benefits to make their treatment more affordable for them.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

If you don’t have dental insurance, then you may still have other flexible options to consider. We are partnered with several third-party financiers, such as CareCredit and Lending Club. They can offer plans that’ll break down the cost of your treatment into monthly payments, making the overall price more convenient in the long run. They may even have little to no interest, providing a stress-free experience for a straighter smile!

Does Invisalign Hurt?

Good news: Invisalign is not painful, especially compared to traditional braces. Not only does the plastic design make the trays incredibly smooth, but each one is custom-made for you, preventing irritation to your cheeks, gums, and lips. Of course, you may experience some soreness at the beginning of your treatment and after each transition to a new tray. Your teeth are being moved into entirely new positions, after all! Don’t worry – when discomfort arises, you can sip on ice cold water, use a cold compress, or take an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease the sensation.

How Long Does Invisalign Take?

That depends on a few important factors, like the severity of your misalignment. In moderate and severe cases, clear aligner treatment can take 12+ months to complete. In mild cases, you can work through your series of trays in as little as six months!

It’s also worth mentioning here that your compliance with your dentist’s instructions will also play a role in how long your treatment takes. For example, if you don’t wear your aligners for at least 22 hours a day, then there’s a good chance that your teeth won’t track properly, adding more months to your treatment timeline. So, make sure to follow all of the rules and guidelines your dental team provides.

What Happens After Invisalign?

After you’ve worked through your series of trays, our cosmetic dentist in Irving will provide you with a retainer. Fortunately, these small orthodontic appliances are more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing than ever before. So, wearing it won’t be a hassle. While the exact wear time will vary, the large majority of patients are expected to wear it at least every evening while they sleep. This helps prevent orthodontic relapse, a phenomenon where the teeth begin to move back into their previous positions.

Can You Eat with Invisalign?

You can – there aren’t any dietary restrictions with Invisalign! The only “rule” is that you must remove your trays before eating any meals, snacks, or drinks that aren’t water. To keep your teeth happy and healthy, you should also stick to mostly nutrient-dense, well-balanced foods too, like fresh fruit, cooked vegetables, and lean protein.

How Do I Clean My Invisalign?

Naturally, you want to keep your aligners clean and clear. To do so, rinse them each time you take them out of your mouth and clean them before putting them back in. Simply use a toothbrush and water to do so since toothpaste has abrasive ingredients that can leave behind microscopic scratches. If your aligners need a deeper cleaning, then use your Invisalign cleaning crystals.