Are you unhappy with your smile, but dread the idea of metal braces and all the headaches that go with them? That’s not surprising. Two years of wearing unsightly brackets and wires is a daunting prospect. Add to that the discomfort of installation, the wear and tear on your mouth, not to mention outright pain of wearing them, food restrictions and new rules for what and how you can eat, arduous brushing and cleaning routines, and painful doctor visits, and those “railroad track” braces you remember from junior high hardly seem worth the effort. But now there is a modern alternative to all this. Invisalign is a 21st century approach to orthodontic care. It uses clear plastic aligning trays, custom fitted and nearly invisible, to replace those ugly wires. The trays are smooth and comfortable, and work by gently pushing your teeth into the new alignments designed by you and your orthodontist. There are no painful adjustments to be made, either, as you have with wire braces; to adjust the fit, simply switch out the aligner trays.
But how do you know if Invisalign is for you? And how do you get Invisalign? It’s not that difficult: simply answer a few simple questions.
1. Does Invisalign fit your needs?
Can Invisalign make the corrections to your smile that you’re looking for? This is something you and your dentist can discuss. Also the Invisalign webpage has a page here that can quickly tell you more. It is a simple questionnaire that determines what your needs are and whether or not you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. It’s a free assessment, doesn’t ask for your credit card or insurance information, and only takes a few minutes.
Invisalign is comparable to the cost of traditional braces, and is covered by most insurance carriers, the same as regular braces. Moreover, many FSAs (Flexible Spending Account) cover Invisalign as well. Your insurance carrier will be able to give you more information with a simple phone call or consultation of their website. Moreover, certain doctors offer payment plans for those who aren’t covered by insurance; your doctor will be able to tell you more.
Once you have determined whether or not you’re a candidate for Invisalign, your next question is…
2. Who can fit me with Invisalign?
Your regular dentist is probably not going to be able to fit you with Invisalign. Invisalign still requires the expertise of an orthodontist, specifically one that has been trained to fit and work with the Invisalign system. But your dentist can help you find a local orthodontist trained to help you. Moreover, if you’re shopping for your teen, there are specialists in many areas trained and experienced in the needs of teen patients for Invisalign. Again, the Invsalign webpage can help with a listing of all certified doctors searchable by zip code here.
Of course, as a wise shopper, it’s up to you to determine which doctor is best suited to your needs, which ones take your insurance, pricing concerns, which one do you find you have the best rapport with. Scheduling early appointments with consultation and research in mind is a wise investment. You’re going to be stuck together for the duration of the treatment, so it only makes sense to insure that you can work well together with minimal headaches. Asking questions is much of the point of these early consultations, so be prepared to do just that; do your research, write down your questions, and don’t be afraid to ask them. A doctor who isn’t interested in hearing your concerns is not a doctor you want to be working with.
3. Can I start treatment now?
Almost there! If you’ve found a doctor that you can communicate well with, now’s when the fun begins. Your doctor and you will work out a treatment plan and goals. Then molds and impressions of your teeth will be made, so the aligner trays can be fitted. Once the trays have been fitted, your treatment can begin.
Again, don’t be afraid to ask questions before getting started; this is an important part of the process, and your orthodontist will have tools to help answer your questions. He can even use computer modeling to show you how Invisalign will be modifying your teeth and what changes will be made to your smile.
Invisalign can be the answer for adults trying to make corrections to their smile without the pain, aggravation and unsightly appearance of traditional bracket-and-wire braces. Invisalign offers the same results without wires, without annoying brushing and care concerns, without having to change your eating habits or your busy lifestyle. And getting Invisalign is not nearly as aggravating or painful as traditional braces. It’s a simple process to determine whether you and Invisalign are a good fit, find a doctor in your area, and getting the treatments started. Ask you dentist about it today!
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