Invisalign Clear Aligners - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Correcting Your Smile with Clear Solutions
Believe it or not, orthodontic treatment doesn’t always have to mean wearing metal braces. Although highly effective in treating extensive bite issues, they don’t create a pleasing appearance. This is why Dr. Quintanal offers a more discreet way to correct your smile – Invisalign Clear Aligners! Using clear, fitted aligners to move teeth, you can avoid the stares of others and embrace an uncompromised daily appearance. Find out if you are eligible to receive Invisalign in Fort Lauderdale by calling our orthodontic office to schedule a consultation.
Why Choose Oceanside Orthodontics for Invisalign Clear Aligners?
- Flexible Appointment Times & Saturdays Available
- Premier Personalization for Each Patient
- Care Delivered by the Same Doctor Every Time
How Invisalign Works
Invisalign uses custom-made clear plastic trays based on your smile. Using iTero technology to capture digital impressions of your teeth, your clear aligners can be crafted in less time.
This multi-set system requires that you wear the trays 20-22 hours each day so that your teeth will receive the continuous pressure required to keep them moving in the right direction. After a few weeks, you will be instructed to remove your current set of aligners and swap them out for the next set. This will ensure that the next phase of treatment begins, causing your teeth to further shift until proper alignment is achieved.
Who Can Invisalign Help?
Fortunately, Invisalign isn’t just for a select few; the clear aligners can help patients who are struggling with crooked teeth, noticeable gaps, and even bite problems. So, if you are interested in straightening your teeth and aligning your bite, but you don’t want to wear metal brackets and wires, contact our Fort Lauderdale dental team to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ovy. In the meantime, you can read on to learn a few of the many orthodontic issues Invisalign can address.
Crowded Teeth
If your teeth are crooked, then you’re at an increased risk of developing tooth decay. Not only that, but food particles, plaque, and other debris can get caught between your teeth, negatively impacting the health of your gums. Fortunately, that’s where Invisalign comes in! With clear, custom-made aligners, we can gently and gradually move your teeth into their properly aligned positions, which will benefit both the look and health of your smile.
Gaps Between Teeth
Unfortunately, gapped teeth can also take a toll on the appearance, health, and function of your smile. Don’t worry though – Invisalign is usually an option for patients with mild to moderate cases of malocclusion. If Dr. Ovy determines that you’re a good candidate for clear aligners, he will create a custom treatment plan that’s designed to move your teeth into proper alignment. Since there aren’t any metal components, the entire process will be discreet too!
Overbite
If your upper teeth sit in front of your lower ones, that’s normal. If they jut out far beyond them, however, then you likely have an overbite. This is a common orthodontic problem that can lead to serious consequences, from trouble enunciating clearly to premature wear on your enamel and chronic jaw pain. Luckily, Invisalign can correct misaligned bites as well (usually with the help of orthodontic accessories, like rubber bands).
Underbite
What if your lower teeth sit in front of your upper ones? This bite problem is referred to as an underbite and, like the others on this list, it can take a toll on your self-esteem, your chewing patterns, and more. So, don’t wait – get an appointment with us on the calendar to review your treatment options sooner rather than later! You might be surprised to find out that clear aligners are an option, which means you won’t have to deal with dietary restrictions, metal brackets, or lengthy treatment timelines.
Crossbite
If you have a crossbite, then you already know how difficult it can be to smile confidently, chew properly, and enunciate clearly. Plus, many patients who are struggling with this bite problem experience other issues, like premature wear and chronic jaw pain. For all of these reasons, we encourage patients to schedule a consultation with us to see if they are good candidates for Invisalign. If the answer is yes, then we can bring their teeth and bite into proper alignment with clear, comfortable aligners.
Open Bite
If there is space between your upper and lower teeth that prevents you from biting down all the way, then you may have an open bite. As you may have guessed, there are several consequences that come with leaving it untreated, including premature wear and tear on certain teeth. Fortunately, Invisalign clear aligners can usually be used in tandem with other orthodontic accessories, like buttons and rubber bands, to create a healthier bite.
The Benefits of Invisalign
Once you discover the many benefits of Invisalign, it’s hard to consider any other option. Some of the most common benefits patients experience include:
- A More Subtle Approach: Instead of turning to metal brackets and wires, Invisalign uses clear aligners that are virtually undetectable to onlookers.
- Improved Comfort: There are no protruding or bulky brackets and wires with Invisalign. The smooth plastic and snug fit allow the trays to lay flat against teeth so that there is little to no irritation to soft oral tissues.
- Greater Flexibility: With Invisalign, trays must be removed before eating or drinking. This makes it less challenging to eat the foods you love because you don’t have to worry about picking food out of your braces.
- Easy to Clean: There are no special products or instruments required when cleaning Invisalign aligners. All you need is a soft-bristled toothbrush, clear soap, and lukewarm water.
Living with Invisalign Aligners
Since clear aligners don’t come with the same rules as traditional braces, the journey to a straight smile is pretty hassle-free. That said, there are a few things you need to incorporate into your daily routine to avoid falling off-track with your treatment plan. Here are a few examples!
Wearing Your Trays
Wearing your Invisalign aligners for 20+ hours a day isn’t a suggestion; it’s crucial if you want to stay on-track with your treatment plan. The key to meeting your wear time each day is only removing your aligners when it’s absolutely necessary. Many patients also find it helpful to use the stopwatch on their phone as a guide. That way, they can easily see how close or far they are from the mark.
Cleaning Your Aligners
Keeping your aligners clean is important for a few reasons, starting with the fact that yellow, stained trays will draw unwanted attention to your smile. Plus, if the surface is covered with food particles, plaque, and other debris, then your risk of developing cavities skyrockets. So, make sure that you rinse your aligners with clean, cool water each time you remove them, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean them after each meal, and soak them in a dentist-recommended clear aligner cleaner for 15 minutes each day.
Eating & Drinking
Since Invisalign aligners are removable, there aren’t a lot of rules when it comes to eating and drinking. In fact, there’s basically only one: take your trays off first (with the exception of water). Outside of that, just make sure to use clean, cool water to rinse them before putting them in their designated case. Wrapping your aligners in a napkin or leaving them on your plate may be tempting, but it’s an easy way for them to accidentally get thrown away or misplaced!
Losing or Damaging a Tray
Speaking of losing a tray… Call us right away if you can’t find yours. We also recommend giving us a call if one of your aligners is broken. Even a small crack can negatively impact your teeth-straightening journey, and we want to have them repaired or replaced ASAP.
Tip: Always put your aligners in their designated case! If you can, get a brightly-colored one so it’s easy to find too.
Routine Check-Ins
One of the many reasons patients love Invisalign is that there aren’t monthly adjustment appointments. Instead, you’ll come to our office every 6-8 weeks so we can monitor the movement of your teeth. If something unexpected happens, like one of your teeth isn’t tracking, we can make a few tweaks to your treatment plan then and there. Typically, these visits are 20 minutes or less too, so you’ll be in and out of our office before you know it!
What Is Invisalign Teen?
Teenagers who are self-conscious about their appearance can find hope with the help of Invisalign Teen. Similar to traditional Invisalign aligners, this unique system is designed specifically with younger patients in mind.
Because teenagers have a lot going on in their busy lives (i.e., school, sports, events, and socializing), bearing the responsibility of remembering to change out their trays can be challenging. This is why Invisalign Teen uses color-changing dots (indicators) that are located toward the back of each aligner. As the color fades over time, you and your teen can determine if they are staying on track with treatment and when to swap them out for new ones.
Also, teenagers are likely to require more replacement aligners, especially since they can get lost or broken easily at school.
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
Some patients assume that there’s a flat fee for Invisalign, but that’s not the case. The cost of this discreet orthodontic treatment is dependent on several factors specific to the patient, including the complexity of their case. So, if you’re interested in getting an estimate of the price, the best thing to do is schedule a consultation with our Fort Lauderdale dental team so we can conduct an exam. In the meantime, you can read on to learn more!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
When you arrive at our office for your consultation, Dr. Ovy will ask you a few questions to get to know you and learn about your dental history. Then, he will conduct an oral exam to determine:
- The orthodontic problems that are present and how severe they are
- If single-arch treatment is possible
- If orthodontic accessories, like rubber bands, need to be added to your treatment plan
- The type of retainers needed
Invisalign vs. Mail-In Aligners: Which Costs More?
Almost always, mail-in aligners are cheaper. Before you let that make your decision, it’s important to note that this approach to orthodontic treatment relies on DIY impressions, bypasses the initial consultation completely, isn’t supervised by a licensed dental professional, and doesn’t have support from the American Dental Association and other professional organizations. In other words, it’s cheaper in more ways than one, and it’s not worth your valuable money.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
Did you know that some dental insurance providers include a once-in-a-lifetime orthodontic benefit that can be used toward Invisalign? So, it’s worth taking the time to get familiar with your coverage, especially if you haven’t read through the fine print on your plan in some time. If you need any help, you’re more than welcome to ask us too! We’re in-network with many popular providers, which means that we can help you understand your benefits and maximize them to the fullest.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, you might automatically assume that there’s no way that Invisalign will fit into your budget. However, our team at Oceanside Orthodontics has another financial solution: flexible financing. We offer low and 0% in-house interest financing as well as flexible down-payment plans to help make this orthodontic treatment fit into nearly every budget. So, if you want to learn more about the cost of Invisalign and how you can make it as affordable as possible, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us so we can help.
Invisalign FAQs
How Do You Use the Invisalign Cleaning Crystals?
On a daily basis, you really only need two things to clean your aligners: clean, cool water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. If you want to give your trays a deeper clean, however, then you can use the Invisalign cleaning crystals that came in your welcome kit. All you need to do is fill a small container with lukewarm water and add a packet of crystals in. Then, place your aligners in the mixture before gently shaking the container. Let them sit for 15 minutes or so before rinsing them off and putting them back on.
Tip: Soak your aligners in the mixture while you cut down on the amount of time they are out of your mouth!
Can You Drink Coffee with Invisalign?
Yes, you can drink coffee with Invisalign! There’s really only one rule when it comes to this caffeinated beverage: you need to take your aligners out first. This is important because drinking hot coffee or even an iced latte with your trays in can cause them to stain or warp. Plus, there’s always the added risk of tooth decay from the lingering residue being trapped in place by your aligners.
Why Do I Need to Wear My Aligners for 20+ Hours a Day?
Although each treatment plan is unique, there are some things that are expected across the board, including the 20-22 hour-a-day wear time. If you consistently miss the mark, then there’s a good chance that you’ll fall off-track with your treatment plan completely. This can lead to everything from unwanted delays to added costs, which is why it’s so important that you wear your aligners for a minimum of 20 hours a day.
Tip: If you aren’t sure whether or not you’re wearing your aligners enough, try using the stopwatch on your phone to track your wear time!
What Should I Do If I Lose an Aligner?
If you lose an aligner, start with the basics: retracing your steps. There’s a good chance that they’ve ended up somewhere “random,” like the space between your nightstand and bed or in the trashcan, so make sure to look everywhere in the process. If you don’t have any luck, then call us ASAP so we can determine if you should move onto your next set of aligners or if you should wear your previous ones until a replacement arrives.
How Long Does Invisalign Take?
The average Invisalign timeline is 12-18 months, so there’s a good chance that it will only take a year or so to work through your series of aligners. It’s important to mention, however, that there are a lot of factors that go into the length of your treatment – from the complexity of your case to how well you follow the treatment guidelines. So, it’s possible for your teeth-straightening journey to fall outside of that timeframe as well.