Invisalign – Morgan Hill, CA

How Invisalign Works

As a prospective patient, you may know a few things about the Invisalign treatment process, like that you have to wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day. But how exactly do the trays work? Basically, Dr. Jenny Hong will give you a series of aligners, which are custom-made to guide your teeth from where they are now to their ideal positions. Every 7-14 days, you’ll move onto the next tray in the series, which will pick up where the last one left off. It won’t take long to see an improvement in the alignment of your teeth, and the average treatment timeline is just 12-18 months!

Indications for Invisalign

In earlier years, Invisalign was more ideal for minor cases of misalignment. Flash forward to today, and the clear aligners can help with everything from crowded and spaced-out teeth to common bite problems. Here’s how!

Crowded Teeth

If your teeth are overlapping, there are a few concerns, including that it’s harder to remove food particles and plaque with your toothbrush. With Invisalign, we can create a custom series of trays to guide your teeth into their ideal, properly aligned positions.

Gaps Between Teeth

Spaced-out teeth are another common orthodontic issue that comes with drawbacks to the look, health, and function of your smile. Fortunately, the clear aligners can effectively and efficiently close the gaps, giving you the gorgeous grin you’ve always wanted.

Bite Alignment

Overbites, crossbites, and underbites are a few bite problems that can result in everything from premature wear on your teeth to difficulty chewing properly. The good news is that Invisalign can improve the position of your teeth and the alignment of your bite.

The Benefits of Invisalign

Have you ever wondered why more than 12 million patients have chosen Invisalign? Here are a few reasons:

• There aren’t any dietary restrictions – you can eat whatever you want!
• You don’t have to use special oral hygiene tools or products to clean your teeth.
• The average treatment timeline is just 12-18 months.
• There isn’t any metal, which makes the trays quite comfortable.
• There are fewer check-in appointments.

Understanding the Cost of Invisalign

The cost of Invisalign isn’t the same across the board. After all, each treatment plan is completely custom! To provide you with an accurate estimate of the price, we need to first conduct a thorough oral exam and create your custom treatment plan. Rest assured, we will review the financial solutions available at your consultation, including dental insurance, flexible financing, and our membership plan. If you want to learn more about the cost of Invisalign before then, read on!

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Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign

Before creating your treatment plan, we’ll need to learn more about your unique dental needs. That’s why we will conduct a thorough oral exam and determine:

• How severe your misalignment is
• How many trays you’ll need
• If we need to straighten both arches of your teeth or just one
• If rubber bands or any other orthodontic accessories need to be added to your treatment plan

When your first set of aligners arrive, we will also give you detailed instructions on how to stay on-track with your treatment plan to avoid unwanted delays or additional costs.

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

If you’ve seen the commercials for mail-order clear aligner companies, then you know that the majority of their messaging focuses on the low price. What they don’t mention, however, is that they can offer a cheaper product by skipping the upfront exam and relying on DIY impressions. Furthermore, several previous patients have sued because they experienced worsened misalignment, and professional organizations like the American Dental Association have actively voiced their distaste for orthodontic alternatives. In short, mail-order clear aligners may be cheaper, but they certainly aren’t better.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

There are some cases where the answer is yes, so it’s worth double-checking! Your dental plan may include an orthodontic benefit, which can cover upwards of 50% of the cost. If you’re having trouble understanding your coverage, you’re welcome to ask us for help too. Since we welcome several of the nation’s leading providers, including Delta Dental, Aetna, and BlueCross BlueShield, we make utilizing your available benefits easy.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

In addition to welcoming dental insurance and offering our very own dental membership plan, our team at Timeless Smiles of Morgan Hill is proud to welcome flexible financing with CareCredit and Alphaeon Credit. That means that you won’t have to pay for the entire price of Invisalign in one lump sum! Instead, you can take a look at the payment plans they offer, select the one that works best with your monthly budget, and break down the cost into smaller, more manageable chunks. If you want to learn more about either of these trusted third-party financiers, don’t hesitate to give us a call!

Invisalign FAQs

At Timeless Smiles of Morgan Hill, we encourage our patients to ask questions! Whether you’re interested in learning if Invisalign hurts or you’re curious about what happens after orthodontic treatment, you can bring any questions you have to our team at your consultation. Additionally, you can read on to learn the answers to FAQs about Invisalign.

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Does Invisalign Hurt?

It’s very common for patients to be concerned that straightening their teeth will hurt. In fact, some patients let that fear stop them from pursuing their smile goals! It’s unfortunate because clear aligners are custom-made from smooth materials that don’t irritate the soft tissue in your mouth, making them considerably more comfortable than metal braces. Plus, you can alleviate any soreness that does arise by sticking to soft foods and sipping on cool water.

Can I Drink Coffee with Invisalign?

You can’t drink coffee with your aligners in, but you’re more than welcome to indulge once you remove them! Since you can only remove your trays for a few hours each day, consider drinking this caffeinated beverage with your breakfast or lunch. That way, your trays are already out.

How Should I Clean My Invisalign Aligners?

Patients often think that they need special products to clean their aligners, like denture cleaners. That’s not the case! On a daily basis, you only need a soft-bristled toothbrush and some clean, room-temperature water. Some patients also like to use toothpaste but know that the abrasive texture can leave behind microscopic scratches that make your trays less shiny. You can also use the cleaning crystals that came in your welcome kit to give your aligners a deeper clean.

Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Invisalign?

With traditional braces, crunchy foods need to be avoided because they can cause a bracket or wire to come loose. With Invisalign, you can maintain your usual diet because the aligners are removable! Naturally, you should still be mindful of what you eat and how it impacts your oral health. For example, sugary treats can cause tooth decay, and tooth decay can cause your treatment plan to come to a temporary stop. In short, it’s a good idea to fill your plate with lots of nutrient-dense foods, even if clear aligner treatment doesn’t come with any dietary restrictions.

What Happens After Invisalign?

After you’ve worn each aligner in the series and you’re happy with your results, our Morgan Hill dental team will take impressions and pictures of your teeth so you can see your “before” and “after” photos. Then, we will ask you to wear your last aligner until your retainer arrives. This small orthodontic device serves a very important purpose: it helps preserve the alignment of your teeth! That’s why we encourage patients to wear theirs each night while they sleep. It’s one of the best ways to prevent orthodontic relapse (which is when your teeth begin to move back into their previously misaligned positions).