Posted on November 5, 2020
It is a part of the human condition that we want to look our best, both for ourselves and other people. In this respect, we try to eat the right foods, get enough sleep, and present ourselves as put together. In our heart of hearts, we all know that first impressions can make or break relationships in our lives and we’d like to remedy that to our advantage.
Lots of features of a person cannot be changed, but many can be to our advantage. We can lose or gain weight, develop a more authentic personality, learn new skills, and straighten our teeth. While a smile may not seem important at first thought, if you dwell on it you may realize that it is something we see in every person. Having a great smile with straight, clean teeth creates a positive impression that most people enjoy.
In this short article we’ll go over how to get your teeth straightened as an adult using the Invisalign treatment instead of braces. Modern orthodontics has had a lot of improvements over the years, and a trained orthodontist will be well aware of how to use Invisalign to improve your teeth. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain, so you might as well learn!
Straightening your teeth used to mean wearing unattractive and intrusive braces, and this was often for multiple years. The length of time it can take to straighten teeth might still be longer than you want, but at least now you can do it with Invisalign treatments that are harder to spot cosmetically than traditional braces. With no metal brackets or parts, they also don’t cut up your gums or mouth nearly as much. Orthodontics truly has made quite a number of legitimate improvements since it began, and many people are reaping the benefits.
In case you’re not aware of what they are, the Invisalign treatment is a form of braces that uses clear tray aligners instead of metal. They’re made of a proprietary blend of plastic and are manufactured in Invisalign facilities based on personal molds of your mouth. The aligners are solid pieces of plastic that are strong enough to put pressure on specific parts of your teeth to slowly move them into a better position, just like braces. Other than not being made of metal and soldered to your mouth, they act exactly like braces.
Every couple of weeks, you will have to replace your current Invisalign tray with another (usually called an “aligner”) so that your teeth can shift properly. You will certainly feel it, and perhaps even welcome the change once you start to see cosmetic results. While this may seem annoying, it is not any less annoying than having to go to the orthodontist to get your braces, expander, or other orthodontic equipment adjusted. They are both cosmetic and convenient, in one package.
The cost of any specific orthodontics will always depend on the individual and how their mouth compares to what is needed. In general, metal bracket braces usually cost anywhere from $2,000 – $6,000 while Invisalign treatment can be anywhere from $3,000 – $7,000. If you have extremely crooked teeth or a mouth with an extended overbite, this will probably require more time to slowly move the teeth into an ideal position, whether you use Invisalign or regular braces.
Because they appear to the outside observer like part of your teeth, they still allow you to flash that wonderful smile without having to be self conscious about your mouth. Although you have to wear them for 20+ hours a day to be effective, they are not glued to your teeth or mouth. You can remove them for eating, flossing, and other essential activities which is something you cannot do with metal braces. This makes them extraordinarily convenient.
Your dental or health insurance may even cover Invisalign braces, sometimes up to $3,000 or more. Check on the specifics of your plan to see if this or other orthodontic treatments are covered. Sometimes you may be able to get these benefits if you offer to set up a healthcare savings account, go on a payment plan, or pursue other financing options.