Straightening Your Smile Without Changing Your Image
Are you unhappy with the appearance of your smile and feel embarrassed by the alignment of your teeth? Living with crooked, gapped, and crowded teeth can have a heavy impact on your self-confidence and make you hyper-aware of your appearance every time someone starts a conversation with you. If you’ve been avoiding orthodontic treatment because you thought the only way to improve your smile was by getting metal braces, you’ll be pleased to know that is no longer the case! With Invisalign in Irving, Dr. Rafiq can straighten smiles without using metal brackets and wires that can be uncomfortable and unappealing. To learn whether clear braces are right for you, schedule a consultation at Daily Smiles MacArthur Dental and Orthodontics today!
Why Choose Daily Smiles MacArthur Dental and Orthodontics for Invisalign Clear Aligners?
Qualified Dentist with Years of Experience
Professional Impressions Taken Using Digital Technology
Your PPO Dental Insurance in Welcome
How Invisalign Works
Invisalign clear braces in Irving use the same orthodontic principles as conventional braces, just with different hardware. You will receive a series of clear aligners that are custom crafted to fit over your teeth comfortably and securely. Each set is worn for one or two weeks at a time and places a focused amount of pressure on different areas of your mouth to correct the alignment of your teeth. The average Invisalign treatment takes place over the course of eight to 14 months, which is significantly less time than traditional metal braces. Once your treatment is complete, Dr. Rafiq will let you know how long you’ll need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth from drifting back out of place.
Indications for Invisalign
Invisalign treatment doesn’t just straighten your smile to look prettier, it also can correct several other orthodontic issues. If you suffer from some of the following indications, Invisalign could be a great solution for you.
Crowded Teeth
Having crowded and clustered teeth doesn’t just make your smile appear clunky. This issue can also make it difficult to effectively clear food particles and plaque from your pearly whites. As a result, you’re more likely to experience many common oral health issues, like tooth decay and gum disease. If you have a tooth that’s rotated or protruding from the others, you also have a heightened risk of an oral health emergency because it can take the brunt of the impact if there’s trauma to your mouth. Invisalign can shift your teeth into their ideal positions, making it easier to brush and floss them.
Gaps Between Teeth
Some patients have gaps between their teeth that make them feel unattractive or cause them to become self-conscious of their smile. Not to mention, having gaping spaces in your mouth can provide harmful oral substances like food particles with a good hiding place. Invisalign aligners can close gaps and make it easier to prevent cavity formation.
Bite Alignment
From chronic jaw pain to feelings of inadequacy in social gatherings, a misaligned bite can wreak havoc on your oral, mental, and overall well-being. Bite issues like overbite, underbite, and crossbite can cause a host of problems, including chronic jaw pain and excessive wear of the teeth, which causes sensitivity and a higher risk of damage. Thankfully, traditional braces aren’t the only orthodontic treatment that can address bite issues. Invisalign (usually paired with elastics) can help realign both your teeth and your jaws to form a more comfortable, even smile.
The Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign clear aligners in Irving offer several advantages compared to conventional braces. Some of these benefits include the following:
Removable aligners should be taken out before you eat or drink anything other than water, so you do not have to modify your diet as you would with fixed braces.
You can continue to brush and floss your teeth easily thanks to removable aligners.
As long as you wear them for 20 to 22 hours each day, you can take out the aligners for important events as well.
Clear plastic aligners are practically invisible when worn.
Shorter visits to the dentist are required throughout the treatment.
In the end, you enjoy all the benefits of properly aligned, healthy teeth -- like increased self-confidence, improved oral health, and more.
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
Invisalign treatment is customized to fit the needs of each patient and can vary greatly depending on the severity of the orthodontic issues that you face. That’s why, to find out the cost of your treatment, our team will need to first examine your mouth and outline some important, cost-determining factors, like how many aligners you’ll need to wear throughout the process. Once we do, we’ll be able to provide you with a detailed cost breakdown and discuss any financing options with you. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask our team during your consultation.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
Every patient’s needs are different, which is why the price of Invisalign can vary. Here are three important factors that can affect the cost of your treatment:
Treating One or Two Arches. Sometimes, patients only need to straighten one arch of their teeth, which requires fewer aligners and a shorter treatment period.
Complexity of Orthodontic Problems. More complex orthodontic issues, like bite misalignment, can take more aligners to correct.
Length of the Treatment. Longer treatments typically require more aligners, which will result in a higher cost.
Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?
Today, other orthodontic treatment options are available, like Smile Direct Club, which can make it hard to determine which solution to use. Even though mail-in aligner treatment options like this typically have a lower cost compared to Invisalign, it’s important to consider the quality of care you’re receiving. These DIY-esque options may help you save, but there’s little to no oversight by a dental professional throughout it, which could lead to failed treatment or complications that cost even more to fix. So, although Smile Direct Club may be cheaper, it’s not necessarily the better option.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
If you’re concerned about the cost of Invisalign treatment, you’ll be pleased to know that Dr. Rafiq accepts all PPOs, Medicaid, and CHIP. Some dental insurance plans include benefits that cover orthodontic treatments, although it’s a good idea to double-check with your specific provider beforehand. If you need help learning about whether Invisalign is covered through your insurance, our team of dental professionals will be more than happy to help you find out. We also process and file all necessary claims and paperwork to make sure your insurance benefits are maximized.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
Our team at Daily Smiles MacArthur Dental and Orthodontics is dedicated to making high-quality dental care accessible, which is why we offer affordable payment options for patients getting a treatment that isn’t covered by their dental insurance (or they don’t have dental insurance). Through CareCredit, we’re able to offer flexible monthly payment plans at little-to-no interest that fit a wide variety of budgets. To learn more, please reach out to our team.
Invisalign FAQs
Do you still have questions about getting Invisalign in Irving? Our goal is to make sure that you feel confident and comfortable in your decision to straighten your smile, which is why we’ve answered some common questions that we receive from our patients below.
Are Invisalign Aligners Uncomfortable to Wear?
Traditional braces are made from metal, which can stab and cut the inside of your cheeks and lips, causing uncomfortable irritation and wounds. With Invisalign aligners, you won’t have to worry about any of this, because they’re crafted from a smooth, clear plastic.
Even though treatment is virtually discomfort-free, some patients do report feeling slight tenderness when they switch over to the next series of aligners in their treatment. Fortunately, this can easily be remedied with over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen. You can also switch your trays at night so you can sleep through the majority of the adjustment period.
How Often Will I Need to Come in for Checkups During My Invisalign Treatment?
Depending on your treatment plan, we typically have patients visit us every six to eight weeks throughout the process for a quick, 15 to 30-minute progress check. This is to make sure that your mouth remains healthy over the course of the process and to make sure that you remain on track with your timeline. During your appointment, we’ll also provide you with the next sets of aligners in your series.
How Do I Clean My Invisalign Aligners?
Cleaning Invisalign aligners is a relatively easy process, all you need to do is follow these tips:
Rinse your aligners before placing them in your mouth each time.
Brush and floss your teeth after you eat.
Soak your aligners in a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar for 15 minutes to sanitize them.
Brush your trays using a soft-bristled brush and clear antibacterial soap to regularly remove plaque and food debris.
Regularly cleaning your aligners is important and can help you avoid developing oral health problems over the course of your treatment. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team of professionals.
