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.
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.
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.