Perhaps your crooked, crowded, and gapped teeth have always bothered you, but you have not taken steps to correct them because the last thing you want is a bunch of brackets and wires in your mouth. For adults who feel like you do, New Haven Dental Group offers Invisalign® in Hamden. Discreet, effective, and comfortable, this remarkable system is the premier way people around the globe are choosing to straighten their teeth.
The reason Invisalign® is so popular is that instead of using brackets and wires to move the teeth, it employs a series of clear, lightweight plastic aligners. A patient simply wears an individual set of aligners for about 2 weeks for 20 – 22 hours each day before moving onto the next. Once you have gone through the entire series, your teeth should be right where they should have been all along. Our team will support you during every stage of your treatment, especially when you visit us every 6 weeks or so for an Invisalign® checkup.
To find out if this treatment would work for you, the best thing to do is schedule a consultation with our Hamden dental team. We will perform a brief exam and discuss your options; if Invisalign is one of them, we can get started on planning your treatment right away. Invisalign is often able to address many common orthodontic issues. Here are a few examples of problems that we frequently use it to correct:
Crooked, crowded teeth can trap food and pose hygiene challenges, increasing your risk of decay, gum disease, and bad breath. They can also interfere with your bite. Invisalign, perhaps along with extractions, may be able to help each of your teeth have the space it needs to function well.
Large gaps between the teeth may be the result of poor bone development, thumb sucking during childhood, and other factors. Not only can this issue be unsightly, but it can also increase your risk of gum problems. Invisalign may be able to move your teeth closer together, creating a more attractive, healthier smile.
A minor overbite is both healthy and normal. However, if your upper teeth rest too far in front of your bottom teeth, you may experience speech difficulties, uneven wear and tear on your teeth, and other problems. Invisalign, usually with the help of special accessories, is often able to correct overbites and improve overall oral function.
If your bottom teeth rest in front of your top teeth, you have an orthodontic problem known as underbite. Without treatment, an underbite can contribute to jaw pain, difficulty eating, and suboptimal facial aesthetics. Fortunately, Invisalign aligners are able to address underbites in many cases.
If some of your bottom teeth rest in front of your top teeth, you have an issue known as a crossbite, which may be caused by poor bone development, the early loss of baby teeth, or other factors. A crossbite can lead to a range of problems, such as speech difficulties, jaw pain, and more. Invisalign is often used to correct crossbites and improve oral health.
An open bite occurs when there is a gap between the upper and lower front teeth, even when the back teeth are touching. Open bites are often the result of non-nutritive habits during childhood, such as prolonged thumb sucking. This issue can cause biting difficulties and other challenges. Many cases of open bite can be addressed with Invisalign clear aligners.
Invisalign is remarkably popular, and it is easy to understand why. Indeed, this treatment offers a range of benefits that you simply cannot get with traditional metal braces. What are some of the specific advantages you can expect to enjoy throughout your orthodontic journey? Our team can answer any questions you have about that during your consultation. In the meantime, here is an overview of some of our favorite Invisalign features:
You can expect to experience great comfort with Invisalign trays, which consist of a smooth plastic material that rests gently against your gums. In contrast, traditional braces often irritate the soft tissues in your mouth due to metal brackets and wires. Plus, with Invisalign, you switch to new aligners more frequently than you would get braces adjusted. This results in less pressure and reduced soreness from orthodontic adjustments.
You can maintain confidence in your smile throughout your orthodontic journey! Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible while worn, allowing you to interact socially and professionally without unwanted attention for your treatment. Others will be able to focus on your natural appearance, helping you feel poised and comfortable in any setting.
Invisalign aligners are easily removable for brushing and flossing, making oral hygiene straightforward and uncomplicated. Unlike traditional braces, there are no brackets and wires to navigate around, so you can use regular techniques for cleaning your mouth. After you finish brushing and flossing, simply clean the aligners before placing them back on your teeth.
You should attend Invisalign follow-up appointments every 6 – 8 weeks, with most visits lasting just 15 – 30 minutes. During these sessions, your provider will review your progress and supplies your next set of aligners. If adjustments are needed, a longer appointment will be scheduled, but most visits are brief enough to cause minimal disruption to your schedule.
You can enjoy complete freedom in your food choices while using Invisalign. Unlike traditional braces, there is no need to worry about adhering to a laundry list of dietary restrictions. Before eating, you just remove your aligners and then consume any meal or snack. After finishing, you should clean your teeth and rinse the aligners before placing them back in your mouth.
For the most part, Invisalign allows you to continue your daily routines without interruption. The removable aligners allow you to take them out for special events or photographs. Invisalign even delivers a shorter average treatment duration than traditional braces, so you may see results sooner and be finished with straightening your teeth almost before you know it.
The cost of Invisalign varies from case to case. It depends primarily on how many aligners you need. Generally speaking, Invisalign tends to cost at least a few thousand dollars. When you visit us for your FREE consultation, we will provide you with a candid price estimate and help you explore your payment options. We are happy to file insurance claims for patients, and we accept financing through CareCredit.
The biggest factor that influences the cost of Invisalign is the number of aligners you need to complete treatment. This can be affected by:
Other things that might affect the cost of your treatment include:
Some companies offer mail-order clear aligners, which may cost around $2,000 or so. They might seem very attractive, especially since Invisalign usually costs significantly more than that.
However, it is important to think about value more than you think about cost. Invisalign is a better value than mail-order options for a number of reasons. For example, Invisalign gives you the in-person support of an expert dental team who wants your treatment to succeed. They can help you navigate questions and concerns and get your treatment back on track if something goes wrong.
Mail-order options are much less personalized, and treatment adjustments are sometimes difficult to get. In fact, in some cases, mail-order aligners have actually worsened patients’ dental alignment, leading to increased expenses and a much longer than expected treatment timeline.
It is always best to invest in high-quality, in-person orthodontic care right from the start of your teeth-straightening journey.
Most dental insurance plans do not cover orthodontia for adults, but some premium ones do. If you have such a plan, our team can help you figure out whether it applies to Invisalign. If it does, it might cover up to 50% of the cost of your treatment (up to the amount of your plan’s lifetime orthodontic maximum). With the help of insurance, some patients are able to reduce their out-of-pocket obligation by up to $1,000 or more.
Beyond insurance, there are a few provisions that might make it easier for you to afford your Invisalign treatment:
Would you like to learn more about Invisalign and its cost? Our team is ready to answer your questions. Contact us today to request your consultation.
When you first start using Invisalign, you will need to make some adjustments to your routine. But do not worry. With a little bit of practice, living with Invisalign should become easy! What steps will you need to take in order to make your treatment a success? Below, you will find some helpful guidelines. If you have any questions, our team will be happy to provide more specific information.
It is important to remember that you should keep Invisalign in your mouth for 20 – 22 hours each day. Remember, the aligners only work when you are wearing them, so meeting your daily wear time is important for your treatment’s ultimate success.
You will wear each set of aligners for 1 – 2 weeks, at which point you will progress to aligners that are slightly different as your teeth move toward their ideal positions.
Try to thoroughly clean your aligners at least once each day. Use cool or lukewarm water (hot water could warp your trays). A mild, clear soap along with a soft toothbrush should also be used. Periodic soaking with Invisalign cleaning crystals is encouraged.
Additionally, you should rinse your aligners a few times each day — usually after meals, when you are preparing to place Invisalign back in your mouth. Your teeth should be clean whenever you are wearing Invisalign, so it is best to brush and floss following each meal and snack.
There are no dietary restrictions with Invisalign, but there are a few important points that you should keep in mind:
If you lose a tray or damage it to the point where you can no longer wear it, call our office for advice. We might tell you to go back to wearing a previous aligner while we order a replacement for the one that is no longer usable. Alternatively, we might give you the go-ahead to move on to your next aligner a few days early. (Do not skip ahead to your next aligner without explicit directions from us. Moving on too early could cause significant discomfort!)
Every several weeks, you will need to visit our team for a brief checkup. These appointments usually last just 15 minutes or so. We will monitor your progress, provide you with more aligners, and answer any questions or concerns that pop up. At some point during your treatment, we might find that your Invisalign plan needs slight revisions. Planning revisions can take a bit of time, but they can be important for ensuring the best possible results.
Invisalign® in Hamden is one of the most convenient and discreet ways to straighten teeth. We hope you visit us to learn more about it. In the meantime, though, you may have some questions weighing on your mind. To help you out, we have put together a list of FAQs about this treatment, along with succinct answers. Give us a call if you would like further explanation on anything you read here — our team is looking forward to speaking with you!
Invisalign® aligners are constructed out of clear, thin plastic. However, they are not invisible. Outside of the mouth, they are quite easy to see. Once they are on the teeth, however, they are very subtle. Although onlookers will be able to tell that something is on your teeth, Invisalign® is unlikely to be the first thing they notice about your smile. If you require attachments, such as buttons or elastics, those may be easier to spot than the main body of your aligners. Patients tend to love Invisalign® because it is much more aesthetically pleasing than the metal brackets and wires of traditional braces.
The average treatment time with Invisalign® is one year (12 months). Your treatment time may be longer or shorter, though — it all depends on the specifics of your case. Some patients with mild dental misalignment need to use Invisalign® for only 6 months or so before they achieve their final results. Other individuals must undergo treatment for 18 months or longer. Although 18 months may seem like a long time, most patients with Invisalign® have a shorter treatment than they would with traditional braces.
Invisalign® aligners are made out of smooth plastic. They are trimmed to rest comfortably against the gums, and they have no metal brackets or wires to irritate your tongue and cheeks. Most patients find that they are easy to wear.
However, keep in mind that orthodontic treatment applies pressure to the teeth, which can naturally cause some tenderness and soreness. You might notice this particularly when you switch to a new aligner. You can mitigate your discomfort by:
Your cosmetic dentist in Hamden can give you pointers on how to clean your aligners. We might recommend that you purchase Invisalign’s brand-name cleaning system, which uses special cleaning crystals and a unique cleaning solution. These products are easy to use and will not damage your aligners.
If you do not have Invisalign® products on-hand, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild, clear soap to clean your aligners. You should also make sure to rinse them several times a day to get rid of any food particles that might have transferred to them from your teeth.
Additionally, you should keep your teeth clean by brushing and flossing after each meal, before you put Invisalign® back in your mouth.
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