Is Invisalign Better Than Braces?
So many of our orthodontic patients come into the office already assuming they need braces.
At Stanley Dentistry, we see many patients who don’t want the aesthetic burden of traditional metal braces but still want a straighter smile. For these patients, we typically recommend Invisalign which is a revolutionary invisible and removable alternative to braces.
We believe that achieving your dream smile shouldn’t be an embarrassing and uncomfortable situation. Stanley Dentistry is here to help you get the smile you want in fewer visits and with more convenience and comfort. Now you can smile during your orthodontic treatments, not just after!
Invisalign treatment involves a series of clear aligners that gradually move your teeth over time. The clear aligners are made of a thin but strong plastic that’s specially crafted to fit over your teeth. Once in place, most patients say they feel as seamless and invisible as they look.
Invisalign Teen was made especially for teenagers. Each aligner comes with a small blue button on the last tooth that is colored with Methyline Blue. The blue color fades with each wear. When it is time to advance to the next aligner, the blue color will be very light indicating that the teenager has been wearing the aligners enough to ensure successful treatment.
Invisalign can work wonders but it can’t fix every dental misalignment problem. Severe overcrowding and large gaps press the bounds of what Invisalign can do. In those cases, your doctor may recommend traditional braces instead.
In many cases, dental insurance benefits for orthodontics cover Invisalign. Come in for a consultation and we can help you determine your insurance coverage.
Did you know that Invisalign can begin as early as age 5? With Invisalign First, even primary teeth can benefit from the alignment and expansion process. This leads to a natural development of the arch and ample space for permanent teeth. Plus, cleaning is easy with aligners! Parents may have concerns about children keeping the aligners in their mouth, but young children can be surprisingly compliant. Parents can remove the aligners as needed for cleaning, teaching children about the importance of maintaining good dental hygiene. As children grow older, it is vital to ensure that school and sports activities don't interfere with aligner wear. With proper support from parents and a commitment to compliance, Invisalign can be a great option for children of all ages.
To find out if Invisalign is right for you, call us to schedule your consultation or schedule online today.
We are more than happy to help you fit the cost of your Invisalign into your monthly budget. We offer 0% financing to better serve you.
Invisalign is extremely personalized — no two people have the exact same treatment. This means a gamut of different prices, depending on the length of treatment and severity of the case. During your Invisalign consultation, Dr. Bobbi will take a look at your teeth and give you an estimate of how expensive the treatment will be.
The obvious benefit of Invisalign is aesthetics. A major reason adults ask for Invisalign is that they don’t like the appearance of traditional braces. Invisalign offers patients a nearly-invisible way to straighten their teeth — no metal required.Another pro of Invisalign is ease and comfort. While not pain-free, you can take out your Invisalign trays whenever you want. This, however, means that most Invisalign treatments take longer than traditional braces. Invisalign also will not work in severe cases of misalignment.
Unfortunately, we cannot give Invisalign treatment to patients with dental implants. Even if you’re only straightening one tooth, Invisalign inadvertently moves all of the teeth in that arch. An implant, unlike a real tooth, cannot move once a doctor places it so it would cause the Invisalign treatment to be unsuccessful. We recommend that patients who need both get Invisalign first and then get dental implants.
Patients wear each set of aligners for a period of ten days to two weeks, depending on their unique case. Some patients finish treatment within four months while other, more difficult cases can take up to eighteen months. When you come in for a consultation, we will discuss your options and be able to determine the length of your Invisalign treatment.
To get the best results possible, patients have to wear their Invisalign aligners for 22 hours out of the 24 hour day. Those two extra hours are solely for eating. The most important rule for Invisalign wearers: take out your aligners before you eat anything.Food can damage and stain the aligners or get stuck between your teeth and the aligner, encouraging tooth decay. Coffee, soda, and tea have a similar effect. The only thing you should be consuming when wearing your Invisalign is water. For everything else, take them out before digging in.
Invisalign and braces basically do the same thing. They use constant pressure to gently push the teeth into alignment over an extended period of time. Braces use metal and ceramic to do this while Invisalign uses sturdy plastic.Invisalign is not necessarily better than braces since they can both typically accomplish the same task. In some cases, our doctors may recommend braces over Invisalign because of the severity of the case (if the teeth are too tightly packed, Invisalign won’t work). In other cases, they may recommend Invisalign because it’s easier on the patient.
Although most patients say Invisalign is less painful than traditional braces, there is a little pain that comes along with Invisalign. Patients typically experience some discomfort when they first put in a new aligner, but that’s only temporary. We recommend taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen during that first day to alleviate the pain.
We don’t want to toot our own horn, but we are proud of our reputation. We feel that it is a reflection of the hard work and dedication we have committed to our profession, as well as a representation of the passion we have for providing exceptional care to our patients. At Stanley Dentistry, our goal is to earn our patient’s trust and loyalty.
We’re honored to have been awarded 22 best dentist awards by the Triangle community. From the Western Wake County Maggy Awards to the News and Observers Raleigh’s Best, our patients have been vocal in their support!
The first step on your journey to exceptional dental care is for us to learn more about your specific needs.
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