Invisalign – Goodyear, AZ
Shift Teeth Without the Metal Mouth
As a teenager, it may have been easier to get away with the “metal mouth” that’s so well-known from traditional orthodontic treatment. However, as an adult, it’s understandable if you’d prefer to avoid this, especially as a working professional with an image you’d like to maintain. That’s where Invisalign can make a big difference not just in your appearance, but the health of your smile as well. If you’re interested in addressing crooked, gapped, or rotated teeth as well as uneven bites without metal hardware, call Dr. Hong today and ask about Invisalign in our Goodyear, AZ dental office!
Why Choose Joshua Hong DDS for Invisalign?
- Cosmetic Dentist Holds Two Decades of Experience
- Highly Personalized Aligners for Best Outcomes
- Keep Your Diet And Oral Care Habits
How Invisalign Works
This orthodontic treatment uses a series of plastic clear aligners. Each is designed to apply a specific amount of pressure that will gradually shift your teeth into their more ideal positions. You’ll have to wear each set of aligners for a couple of weeks, switching to the next set to maintain their progress. By working through the series of clear trays, you’ll be one step closer to enjoying a perfectly straight smile.
Indications for Invisalign
Although you’ll likely need to use traditional metal braces to address severe orthodontic issues, Invisalign clear aligners can correct mild to moderate problems, including:
Crowded Teeth
Teeth that are overlapping or too close together will form small spaces where food particles and debris can get lodged. If left unchecked, this can increase your risk of oral health issues significantly, such as cavities and gum disease. With Invisalign, you can realign your pearly whites to create a more uniform smile.
Gaps Between Teeth
One or multiple gaps between your teeth may raise your risk of enamel damage. With too much space among them, they can begin to wear down, chip, or crack over time. Clear aligners can gently and effectively close these gaps to both improve your appearance and avoid long-term problems with your teeth.
Bite Alignment
Are you struggling with an overbite, underbite, open bite, or crossbite? Invisalign can help address these and other common bite alignment concerns. Our team will carefully develop a custom-designed treatment plan to best correct your bite.
Benefits of Invisalign
Are you currently in the process of deciding if Invisalign is right for you? If so, you might find it helpful to learn why so many other patients have chosen to straighten their teeth with clear aligners. With this in mind, here are a few of the many advantages of this discreet orthodontic treatment:
Removable Braces for Easy Cleaning
If you had metal braces in the past or you know someone who has them currently, then you know that cleaning between the brackets and around the wires can be difficult. For that reason, patients often need to buy additional oral hygiene tools, like pre-threaded floss. Don’t worry – that’s not the case with Invisalign. In fact, since the aligners are removable, you don’t have to adjust your dental care regimen at all; simply brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash as usual!
A Virtually Invisible Process
While traditional braces are versatile and reliable, they aren’t aesthetically pleasing. In fact, it’s very common for patients with metal brackets and wires to go to great lengths to hide them during their orthodontic treatment – whether that means covering their mouth when they laugh or keeping their lips closed when they smile. The good news is that Invisalign is completely metal-free! Even the accessories that are sometimes needed, like attachments, are discreet enough that no unwanted attention will be drawn to your smile.
No Dietary Restrictions
Do you love snacking on apples and peanut butter? Do you enjoy eating popcorn at the movies? If you answered “yes,” then you’ll be happy to hear that there aren’t any dietary restrictions with Invisalign! Since the aligners are removable, there’s only one thing you need to keep in mind when it comes to eating or drinking anything other than water: you need to take them off and store them properly. Then, rinse them off, brush your teeth, and put them back on shortly after.
Quick Follow-Up Appointments
Your routine check-in visits won’t take much time at all. In fact, they are normally only 15 minutes or so, which makes them easy to schedule on your lunch break or on your way home from work!
Note: If your teeth aren’t moving as anticipated, then it’s possible that your appointment will take a bit longer since we need to figure out how to get you back on-track with your treatment plan.
Shorter Average Treatment Timelines
Oftentimes, patients wear traditional braces for 2-3 years. The average treatment timeline with Invisalign is much shorter, however: about 12-18 months. At your initial consultation, we will take a look at the alignment of your teeth, assess the complexity of your case, and learn about your dental history so we can provide you with a more accurate estimate. That way, you have a general idea of how much time you need to invest in your orthodontic treatment upfront.
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
Even if you want Invisalign, you might hesitate due to the price. That’s only natural — aligner trays can’t help if they exceed your budget. The truth, though, is that the cost of Invisalign in Goodyear varies by patient. You’ll need to consult us at Dr. Hong’s office for an exact treatment estimate. Still, you can trust our team to guide you through the payment process. If you’d like to learn more, just keep reading or visit us today!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
When it comes to Invisalign, the final cost depends on a variety of factors. These include the following:
- Which Arches Require Trays: While Invisalign usually treats both arches, it doesn’t always. As such, treatment price varies based on whether you need trays for two rows of teeth or only one.
- Proposed Treatment Length: The longer your Invisalign journey, the more aligners you’ll need. Needing extra trays, in turn, will add to your cost.
- Treatment Compliance: If you don’t wear the aligners for 22 hours daily, you’ll delay your treatment progress.
- Complexity of Tooth Alignment: If you only need to close a gap between your front teeth, you’ll likely pay less. In contrast, someone with several severely crooked teeth will face greater expenses.
Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which is Pricier?
Technically, Invisalign has a higher upfront price. It costs anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000, while Smile Direct Club™ charges less than $2,000.
Remember, though, that Smile Direct Club™ is a DIY clear aligner kit. It has little-to-no professional oversight, so treatment leaves much room for error. If you mess up the instructions, you could face serious issues that need a dentist's help anyway.
In contrast, Invisalign has oversight from Dr. Hong every step of the way. It thus involves highly accurate impressions and a smoother treatment process. Assuming you want a quality cosmetic service, such features make Invisalign’s cost worth it.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
In truth, dental insurance often does cover orthodontics. That means coverage can extend to Invisalign, with some plans reducing the expense by $1,000 or more!
Of course, not all dental policies are the same. It’s thus a good idea to confirm details with your insurance provider. Our team could even assist with this process, as we have experience maximizing benefits.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
Even if you lack dental insurance, there are other ways to make Invisalign affordable. It’s just a matter of finding the right option and dental practice.
Just look at us in Dr. Hong’s office, for example. We offer flexible financing through CareCredit, which lets you pay for care in monthly, low-interest installments. That way, you can cover the cost of Invisalign over time instead of all at once.
Ultimately, the team at Joshua Hong, DDS, would love to straighten your smile in a budget-friendly way. That being the case, book a visit with us to learn more financial details!
Invisalign FAQs
Maybe you’re thinking of getting Invisalign in Goodyear. If so, that’s great news — its trays will straighten your smile in no time! Still, you likely want to know more about them first. After all, having the relevant details will help you decide if treatment is right for you. To that end, we at Dr. Hong’s practice have listed the answers to some frequently asked Invisalign questions. Feel free to read them and learn what to expect from aligners. If you don’t find the facts you want, though, call our office for help!
What Does Invisalign Look Like?
Since Invisalign trays use a clear plastic material, they’re hardly noticeable when worn. In fact, patients can keep them clean, clear, and discreet with proper care. The result is that Invisalign usually straightens teeth without harming your looks. (A marked contrast to braces, which have eye-catching brackets and wires.)
Granted, exceptions exist. Some patients need attachments, buttons, or elastics alongside aligners. Such items aren’t made of clear plastic, so they’re sometimes more visible than Invisalign trays.
Can Invisalign Fix an Overbite?
Invisalign is able to fix an overbite, so long as it’s a mild or moderate one. The aligners can address other bite problems too.
On the other hand, some overbites may be too severe for Invisalign alone. A dentist might suggest traditional braces in those cases. From there, you could move to Invisalign once your bite misalignment is less serious.
Of course, the best way to know if Invisalign can fix your bite issue is to consult your dentist. They’ll be able to suggest the proper treatment for your needs.
How Do I Clean My Invisalign?
In general, there are two effective ways to clean Invisalign aligners. The first is to use specialty products, while the second involves common items.
If you have money to spare, you could opt for Invisalign’s special cleaning system. The latter relies on crystals that remove loose food debris and plaque. It also includes Steraligner, a solution for clear aligners. Such reliable products have simple instructions, so you can trust their results.
Alternatively, you could stick with your trusty toothbrush. Rinsing and brushing your aligners daily will keep debris from sticking to them. That said, never use hot water for the rinses — it would warp the trays’ plastic. Instead, only use room temperature varieties.
Can You Eat with Invisalign?
Since Invisalign trays are removable, it’s best to take them out before eating. You’ll face long-term problems otherwise.
You see, aligners aren’t designed to handle meals. Eating and drinking will cause them to crack and stain. Plus, chewing while wearing trays will put unneeded pressure on your teeth.
Ultimately, the only item you can consume with Invisalign is water. For anything else, you should remove the aligners beforehand. It’s also crucial that you store them in a safe place.