Invisalign Clear Aligners – Encinitas, CA
Custom. Comfortable. Clear.
Has the thought of wearing metal brackets and wires stopped you from getting braces in the past? If so, then you’ll be happy to know that there is an effective, safe, and discreet alternative: Invisalign. With this cutting-edge orthodontic treatment, we can gently and comfortably move your teeth from where they are now into their ideal positions, improving your confidence, oral health, and bite in the process. If you’d like to see if you’re a candidate, then don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with us. If you want to learn more about this cosmetic dental treatment before making an appointment, read on!
Why Choose McElroy Smiles by Design of Encinitas for Invisalign?
- Cutting-Edge Dental Technology
- Additional Financing Available Through CareCredit
- Convenient Appointment Times
How Invisalign Works
To move your teeth from where they are now to their properly aligned positions, our Encinitas dental team will create a series of custom-made clear aligners. Once they arrive at our office, we’ll show you how to take care of them and give you detailed instructions on how often to wear them. The general guideline is 20-22 hours a day, which is important because your aligners only work while you’re wearing them. Every 7-14 days, you’ll move onto the next set in the series until you’re finished!
Indications for Invisalign
If you’re interested in learning if you’re a candidate for Invisalign, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with us so we can learn all about your specific dental needs. Until then, here are three of the most common indications for clear aligners:
Crowded Teeth
Overcrowding is a very common orthodontic issue, and it’s one that can negatively impact the look, health, and function of your smile. Don’t worry – Invisalign can be used to address mild to moderate cases in an average of just 12-18 months!
Gaps Between Teeth
Whether you have one noticeable gap or small gaps throughout your smile, you’ll be happy to know that you may be a candidate for Invisalign. With a custom-made series of aligners, we can gently guide your teeth into their properly aligned positions, closing the gaps in the process.
Bite Alignment
Overbites, crossbites, and other bite problems can negatively impact your chewing habits, your speaking patterns, and even the size and shape of your teeth. The good news is that clear aligners can help patients improve both the alignment of their teeth and their bite with the addition of orthodontic accessories, like rubber bands!
The Benefits of Invisalign
Curious why more than 12 million patients have chosen to straighten their teeth with Invisalign? If so, here are a few noteworthy reasons:
- The clear aligners are custom-made for comfort.
- There aren’t any dietary restrictions.
- The average treatment timeline is 12-18 months.
- There are fewer check-in visits.
- You don’t need any special oral hygiene tools.
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
Just like no two smiles are the same, no two treatment plans are the same! So, if you’re interested in learning the price of Invisalign, the best thing to do is schedule a consultation with one of our exceptional Encinitas dentists so we can determine important information pertaining to the cost, including the number of aligners needed to straighten your teeth. In the meantime, read on to learn more on the topic, including if mail-in alternatives are cheaper.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
When you come in for your consultation, we will learn more about your dental history (including if you’ve had braces before) and determine if you’re a candidate for Invisalign. If you are, then we will need to consider:
- How complex your case of misalignment is
- If single-arch treatment is possible
- The type of retainer you need
- How many aligners are required
- If any orthodontic accessories need to be added to your treatment plan
Keep in mind that these are just a few of the factors that have the potential to impact the cost. Another key one is how well you follow the treatment guidelines. If you consistently don’t, then there’s a good chance that an entirely new treatment plan will need to be made, which will likely come with additional costs.
Invisalign vs. Mail-In Aligners: Which Costs More?
If you’ve seen the commercials and ads on social media for mail-in aligners, then you know that the majority of the messaging focuses on the lower upfront cost. While that’s true (mail-in aligners are cheaper than Invisalign), context is missing. To start, mail-in alternatives completely bypass the initial consultation, rely on DIY impressions, and aren’t supervised by licensed dental professionals. As a result, complications like worsened alignment are quite common. So, even if they are cheaper, they aren’t worth your money.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
Patients often assume that their dental insurance provider will only cover essential preventive and restorative care. That’s not necessarily true! In fact, several plans include a once-in-a-lifetime benefit that can be used to cover a portion of the cost of Invisalign. Plus, our team at McElroy Smiles by Design of Encinitas is proud to welcome several popular providers, including MetLife, Aetna, and Delta Dental, which makes the process of utilizing your available benefits much easier.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
In addition to welcoming dental insurance, we offer our patients three other financial solutions:
- Dental Membership Plan – When you join our plan, you get access to significant discounts on a wide range of services. Plus, there aren’t any waiting periods, annual maximums, or other red tape.
- CareCredit Flexible Financing – If you are interested in Invisalign but paying for the entire cost at once would put a strain on your wallet, then ask us about flexible financing. That way, you can break down the price into smaller monthly chunks.
- Special Offers – Periodically, we offer our patients special offers to help them save. You can learn the details of our latest ones by giving us a call!
Invisalign FAQs
How Long Does Invisalign Take?
You might have heard that the average Invisalign treatment timeline is 12-18 months. That’s true! However, it’s important to remember that there are several factors that will impact the length of your teeth-straightening journey – both upfront and during. A few examples include the complexity of your case, how long you wear each set of aligners, and if you meet the 20-22 hour-a-day wear time consistently. The good news is that we can provide you with an estimate of your treatment timeline at your consultation so you have a better idea of the time you’ll need to invest in Invisalign.
Can I Drink Coffee with Invisalign?
You won’t have to give up your morning or afternoon cup of coffee with Invisalign. You might, however, need to make a few adjustments to your routine. For example, if you’re used to sipping on this caffeinated beverage through the morning, you will need to start drinking it alongside your breakfast. That’s because – to avoid warping and staining – you have to remove your trays before drinking coffee.
Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Invisalign?
While no foods are completely off-limits, there are several that we recommend avoiding. Sour gummy candies are a great example because they are loaded with added sugar, and the sticky consistency can easily tug on your attachments. Peanut brittle is another example of a treat that’s packed with sugar and can harm your teeth, which is why we recommend avoiding it or, at the very minimum, exercising caution when eating it. Simply put, you should continue to be mindful of how your diet impacts your oral health during your teeth-straightening journey.
What Should I Do If I Lose an Invisalign Aligner?
If you lose an aligner, the best thing to do is try and figure out the last place you had them. From there, carefully retrace your steps. There’s a good chance that they are somewhere “random,” like in the pocket of the pants you were wearing earlier, so make sure to look in unexpected places. If you truly can’t find them anywhere, then give us a call and share what happened. That way, we can take a look at your treatment plan and determine what the next best steps are.
What Happens After Invisalign?
Once you’ve worked through your entire series of trays and you’re happy with the results, we will take impressions of your teeth so your retainer can be made. When it arrives at our office, you’ll come in for your final appointment, which is when we will make sure it fits, tell you when to wear it, and share how to take care of it so that it lasts. Remember, this orthodontic appliance plays a crucial role in preventing orthodontic relapse (a phenomenon where teeth begin to move back into their previously misaligned positions), so make wearing it a priority!
