1. What is invisalign?

Invisalign is kind of a high tech option orthodontic treatment on patients. It has to have a couple of requirements, 2nd molars must be in and usually the patient has to be over the age 15 in most cases around. Basically it’s a set of clear plastic trays, hard plastic that snaps on to the teeth. Impressions are taken of the teeth, sent to a lab, actually a laser goes in millimeter increments into the model and converts it in to digital images on the computer and on the computer they move the teeth into the right position. So each step of the way trays are made based on that computer stimulation to match the teeth into that position, so it really takes about 5 or 7 days, because the tray is meant to be where the teeth will be in 5 or 7 days. So they wear that tightly, for 5-7 days and eventually it loosens the position in 7 days. They wear the same tray for one more week then there is some remodeling and reshaping of the teeth and in two weeks you get the next new tray that’s now fitting differently. So you have that process to go through to a series of aligners that straighten your teeth up. You wear them for 24 hrs a day, take them off for brushing or flossing, you take them off for meals and we tell the patients that you need to wear it for about 20 to 22 hrs a day. An average case is usually completed in about 13 months, simple cases more quicker and certain complex cases take much longer, but basically it’s a high tech version and a very aesthetic version of orthodontic. That’s where people can' t really tell you are wearing them unlike having brackets and wires and elastics of that kind of traditional orthodontics.


2. What are the primary benefits of Invisalign?

Primary benefits will include improved aesthetics or cosmetics by aligning teeth to the right position. Benefit will be better hygiene during treatment. Normally the brackets and wires and stuff will catch plaque and it is more difficult to keep clean and what then happens is the bacteria in the mouth will digest on the food and will erode the tooth away and when people take out their braces they will have white spots on the teeth that will be permanent.This is due to the decalcification effect.So what you have to do is get some plastic or some composite material which are called filling material to fix, or to do something with a veneer. So hygienically invisalign is much better because you don’t have that issue. Also you know just long term it is much better people have crowding rather than with your brackets on and take off, get white spots. The result is they have higher issues with disease, so by aligning your teeth you benefit from all that. And finally this becomes a bite issue, most people say it is the ideal way to fit your teeth together. People have crowding and end up having to use the best biting position,where they find the best bite for them, not necessarily where the best bite should be. With braces there is a lot of issues with tmj temperomandibular disorders, headaches, neck aches,where joint dysfunctions cause teeth pain, cracking and chipping of teeth all that leading to poor function.


3. And how much does the iInvisalign cost?

Depending on the length of time and the difficulty of the case, an invisalign case can run from between 3800 and 5800 dollars.


4. How long does it take to get the treatment?

If you want a time line, the average case can go up to 13 months but depends on the complexity of the cases. There is something called invisalign express which is for more simple cases, very minimal crowning, very minimal spacing,very simple orthodontics and it is 10 trays or less. So, there it’s a lesser fee, it s 1300 dollars for cases that are quicker for the fact that they won' t take that long. So I do offer express treatment for simple cases.