Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – If you’re interested in invisalign therapy then it’s probably time you got the facts, and your teeth, straight. Most likely you already know that Invisalign uses clear plastic removable aligners to invisibly straighten your teeth. But did you know that these aligners are the new and improved alternative to traditional metal braces?
As a trusted orthodontist in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, we want our patients to be able to make well-informed decisions concerning their oral health. Keep reading to discover more facts about Invisalign before deciding if this dental treatment is right for you.
What is Invisalign Therapy?
Invisalign is a brand name for a type of teeth straightening that uses clear aligners, customized to each patient’s specific needs. This treatment option is used to treat the approximately 2.6 million patients a year who start correcting their teeth worldwide.
It’s no longer necessary to use wires and metal brackets to correct your teeth. Your ORTHODONTIST will inform you which aligner should be worn first, and for how long you should wear it. Usually, the patient wears each aligner for about two weeks before moving on to the next. The exact number of aligners you will need depends on the severity of misalignment and condition of your teeth, but Invisalign treatment time is usually equivalent to traditional braces.
How Long Do I Have To Wear Them?
Aligners should be worn about 20-22 hours each day. Some parents worry that their teenagers will not commit to wearing the aligners as often as they should, however clinical studies show that teens wear their aligners for about 21 hours a day. This is exactly what orthodontists recommend! When it is time to change, you simply switch to your next aligner, no adjustments need to be made, and there will never be broken wires or brackets to fix.
Also, with Invisalign Teen, each aligner has a blue indicator that will fade over time, allowing your ORTHODONTIST to track your teenager’s compliance. But Invisalign isn’t just for kids, in fact, 1 in 5 of our patients seeking teeth alignment treatment are over the age of eighteen. After the initial appointment, follow-ups are scheduled about every four to six weeks.
How Much Time Will I Spend in the Office?
Invisalign generally requires fewer office visits than traditional metal braces. There are no broken brackets to fix, and no need to tweak and tighten wires. This is due to the fact that the aligners are pre-designed. You should only need to visit the office about once a month so that your ORTHODONTIST can check the progress of your treatment.
How Much Does Invisalign Cost?
Invisalign and Invisalign Teen typically cost the same as traditional braces. Also, be sure to check your dental coverage, many insurance policies cover it, or give us call! Our friendly financial team will explain all costs associated with your treatment. We will work with you and your insurance provider to determine how much of your treatment will be covered.
Your ORTHODONTIST never wants anyone to be discouraged from treatment because of the cost. Her team is happy to create a flexible payment plan that fits your budget.
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