Most people think of braces as the shiny silver metal bands and metal or ceramic brackets that turn you into the so-called “metal mouth” that can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. Food gets trapped and is hard to remove. The metal brackets and bands are visible and can dig into the lips and gums causing pain. There’s a much better way, and it’s been around for close to 30 years.

Have you ever heard of Invisalign? Instead of bands and brackets, custom-designed 3D-printed clear plates fit over your teeth to straighten your teeth over time. This clear teeth-straightening system is hard to see. You can take them out to eat and put them back in after. These clear teeth straightening devices have become immensely popular since their invention in the 1990s. 

Who is the best candidate for Invisalign? How do these clear plastic plates work? Learn more about Invisalign and the questions people ask most often.

Doesn’t Everyone Qualify? 

People may not realize that some patients are not a good fit for Invisalign. The system was designed for people with a mild to moderate overbite or underbite or crossbite. Severe jaw correction may be necessary for some people. That’s one reason why Invisalign wouldn’t be the best match.

If you have a severe overbite or underbite, they may not work. Younger teens and children are not suitable as Invisalign requires dedication to wearing clear plastic plates at least 22 hours per day, including through the night. Plus, the jawbone needs to have finished growing.

The goal of Invisalign is to wear them at all times of the day and night for at least a year. The only time they’re supposed to be removed is when you eat and when you brush and floss your teeth. If you can’t abide by those rules, Invisalign isn’t a good idea. 

How Does Invisalign Work?

If you still want to use Invisalign and are a suitable candidate, you’ll go to the dentist and have your teeth digitally scanned. A 3-D model of your teeth is needed to analyze how to straighten them and correct your bite. 

This scan provides the blueprint needed to get started. You’ll get an aligner to wear every day for at least 22 hours a day. After a week or two, you’ll switch to the next plate.  This process continues for a year.

Each clear plastic plate fits over your teeth and uses constant pressure to force them to shift the teeth to their desired position. As they shift, the next plate becomes necessary, and you’ll switch to it. This does mean you must visit your Nashville dentist every month or so. Generally, follow-up appointments are scheduled every four to six weeks.

Are There Benefits to Invisalign?

Because you can take them in and out to brush and floss, people with Invisalign tend to have healthier gums. While you can brush and floss with metal braces, flossing involves a different process, which makes it a little more challenging. Plus, you have to be careful that you don’t pop a bracket off. You don’t have to worry about that with Invisalign.

You’re not going to be restricted from certain foods when using clear plastic teeth straighteners. You don’t have to avoid gum or harder foods like chicken wings or ribs. 

With ceramic or metal brackets, certain beverages are prohibited because of the risk of staining. You don’t have to worry about that with Invisalign, though it’s still advised that people avoid sugary beverages, whether they are straightening their teeth or not as sugar damages tooth enamel.

Invisalign aligners are comfortable. You’re not going to experience brackets that dig into the inside of the cheek or lips. You can put wax over a bracket to ease pain, but wax often falls off unexpectedly, which isn’t helpful at night.

The scans and preparation for Invisalign are less invasive than traditional scans needed for braces. You won’t have molds of your teeth made in most cases, and you don’t have to have plastic devices placed in your mouth to move your cheeks away from your teeth as brackets or wires are being placed or repaired. 

Is Invisalign Expensive?

It’s impossible to give a price point for Invisalign without a professional assessment and examination. The total cost depends on how many teeth aligners are going to be necessary throughout treatment.

Your dentist will give you a quote. After that, you’ll learn what insurance will cover, and you’re responsible for the remaining balance. Many financial plans are available to help you afford Invisalign. 

Invisalign’s hypothetical estimates range from $50 a month (36 months) to $200 a month (24 months). Forbes reports the average cost ranges from $3,000 to $5,000 before your dental insurance covers its portion. The only way to get an exact estimate is by talking to an Invisalign dentist.

As you remove Invisalign to brush and floss teeth, you might find yourself saving money by preventing cavities and gum disease. Traditional braces trap food and can be hard to get some particles from under the wires. Trapped foods can lead to cavities that you have to pay to have fixed.

Does Invisalign Have a Proven Track Record?

Align, the company behind Invisalign, went public in 2001 after 1 million sales but was incorporated several years earlier. It was founded in 1997 in California with the goal of using modern technology to straighten teeth. For 26 years, people have been using the groundbreaking clear plastic devices to straighten their teeth. 

With almost three decades of use by millions of people, has Invisalign been worth it? The satisfaction rate for Invisalign is 96%. That’s not bad at all. Satisfaction rates for people with traditional braces were 78%. This was often due to the problems encountered with gum and tooth health due to difficulty cleaning the teeth.

People with traditional braces were more likely to experience gum irritation. They also reported needing to brush their teeth more often, which added to the frustration.

More than 14 million adults and teens have used Invisalign to straighten their teeth. The system is effective and advances each year. Through the use of SmartForce attachments, Invisalign users can get help with different issues they face. It’s also common for Invisalign teeth straightening to take less time than traditional braces.

Find the Best Nashville Dentist to Get Straighter Teeth

You can have straight teeth and the smile you’ve always wanted. Talk to Jody Jones DDS to learn more about Invisalign and our other options for gaining straight teeth and the smile of your dreams.

Nashville’s Dr. Jody Jones will examine your teeth, talk to you about your options, and let you know if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. Don’t panic if you’re not, which isn’t common, as Dr. Jones and his team are here to help you find the right path forward. Other options can help alter the appearance of teeth, correct gaps, and give you the smile you want if Invisalign can’t help.