Invisalign aligners are smooth, custom-made plastic trays that you wear over your teeth to move your teeth into the right place gently. You can pop them out at mealtime and keep enjoying all your favorite foods. Then, you’ll get another set of aligners every two weeks until your treatment plan is complete. Best of all, no one will know you’re wearing orthodontics until they notice the difference in your smile.

About Invisalign Clear Aligners

Invisalign - Clear Aligner System
Clear Invisalign Aligners – At Precision Dental NYC

Whether you’re an adult or an adolescent, crooked teeth can hamper your social status. Crowded or misaligned teeth make you want to hide your smile in public. In years past, your only option for teeth straightening was metal braces, and many people, including adults, opted for them just so they could fix their smile. Those days are long gone, and orthodontic treatment has come a long way since then.

Enter Invisalign. This dental device allows you to straighten teeth without braces at all. It works invisibly so you can be doing your teeth straightening, and no one else has to know. It’s not a miracle cure since it still takes commitment and time to work, but it does work. Come to Precision Dental NYC in Queens for an evaluation with our dentists Alexander Bokser, DDS, and Irene Bokser, DDS.

Different, and Better, Than Other Options

Invisalign aligning trays move your teeth into position differently than braces. Traditional braces use brackets and wires to pull your teeth into alignment. Metal braces still work because they’re strong enough to withstand the tremendous pressure needed to move your teeth. Even clear braces work the same way.

But aligner trays fit over your teeth, pushing them into position a little bit at a time. You wear each tray for about two weeks. Then you pop in a new one that moves your teeth a little more. You may feel a little Invisalign pain every time you put in a new tray, but it’s certainly no worse than wearing braces.

Comparing Invisalign Aligners with Braces

And the Invisalign method compares well to braces:

When Should You Consider Invisalign Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners treat a range of teeth straightening issues, ranging from minor tooth movements to more complex cases. Whatever the issue, the result is a new, more even smile that you will want everyone to see.

Here are some of the straightening issues that can be treated with Invisalign:

  • Overcrowded teeth occur when there is a lack of room within your jaw for all of your teeth to fit normally.
  • Widely spaced teeth occur when you have extra space within your jaw.
  • Crossbites occur when the upper and lower jaws are both misaligned. It usually causes one or more upper teeth to bite on the inside of the lower teeth and can happen on both the front and/or the sides of the mouth.
  • Deep bites occur when the upper teeth overlap significantly with the lower teeth.
  • Underbites occur when the lower teeth protrude past the front teeth, usually caused by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or both.

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Different Types of Invisible Braces

Invisible braces are any sort of dental appliance system that is translucent and difficult to notice in the mouth. Here are several examples of invisible braces:

Ceramic or Clear Braces

Ceramic or clear braces can include thin and barely noticeable tooth-colored brackets, which are occasionally used in conjunction with tooth-colored wires. Because the tooth-colored ceramic material blends in with your teeth, the brackets are less visible than metal brackets, but they are not completely invisible. You may still see the brackets attached to your teeth if you look closely.

Ceramic or clear braces are composite materials that are not as strong as metal brackets and are also somewhat larger, sometimes requiring elastics to attach to the archwires. Clear or ceramic braces with self-ligating brackets that do not require any rubber bands. Ceramic brackets cannot be removed until the treatment is finished and must be cared for in the same way as metal brackets are.

This type of invisible brace costs more than traditional metal brackets. Some people use both types of brackets, utilizing ceramic brackets on visible teeth and traditional metal brackets on teeth that aren’t in their smile line.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are hidden from view because they are attached to the inside surfaces of teeth. These braces use custom-designed brackets that are firmly fixed in place for the duration of treatment. The cost is often higher since the brackets are custom-made. Though they require meticulous cleaning, these braces are quite discreet and can be a wonderful option in the right circumstances.

Clear Invisalign Aligners

Clear Invisalign aligners are removable and practically unnoticeable. However, they may cause a slight halo effect around your teeth when worn. They are quite comfortable to wear and have no sharp edges that might dig into the cheeks and gums because they are custom-fitted. There are no brackets or wires to break, and the clear aligners can be removed for eating, brushing, and flossing.

What’s Involved with Getting Invisalign Aligners?

The are a few steps involved in receiving your Invisalign aligners, including:

  • Your dentist will examine your teeth and jaws, as well as your overall dental health, and will analyze how your teeth bite together to find abnormalities that need to be addressed.
  • If they decide that Invisalign is the best option for you, you will need to undergo a series of diagnostic tests, including facial photographs and x-rays.
  • Your dentist will use a small portable intraoral scanner to create a 3-D digital model of your teeth. All of the data will then be entered into Invisalign’s software program, allowing your dentist to begin planning your treatment. Digital images of your teeth allow you to see how your teeth will move during treatment and the predicted results once you’ve finished wearing Invisalign aligners.
  • Your dentist will go through the plan with you, evaluating the images with you to see if you want to make any adjustments to the overall plan to ensure you are happy with the outcomes.
  • When you are satisfied with your treatment plan, your computer-generated aligners will be created, and your Invisalign dentist will show you how to insert and remove them, as well as how to care for them.

What to Expect When You Begin Wearing Your Aligners?

It is typical to have some slight discomfort after starting to wear your aligners. The discomfort should go away in a few days, and you may always control it with over-the-counter pain relievers. If you are experiencing any pain, contact your dentist so that they can make changes to your treatment plan. It may also take time to become used to speaking effectively with your aligners, so set aside some time to practice.

When you remove your aligners for mealtimes, you will need to brush your teeth afterward, and you must clean your aligners. It’s worth carrying a small travel dental kit with you that includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss in case you need to freshen up.

Dental Appointments

You will need to see your Invisalign dentist on a regular basis to ensure that your teeth are moving correctly and to receive additional sets of aligners as needed. These visits are reasonably short and simple to fit into a hectic schedule because no adjustments are required.

It’s also critical to maintain your regular dental checkups and to see your hygienist on a regular basis for professional dental cleanings. Taking care of your teeth and gums during treatment will ensure a healthy, beautifully straight smile on completion.

What to Expect after Invisalign?

Your treatment is not over when you finish wearing your final set of aligners. You will always need to wear retainers after any orthodontic treatment. The beautiful thing about Invisalign is that the retainers are as discreet and easy to wear as the aligners.

Why Teen Invisalign Wearers Like the Trays?

Teen Invisalign wearers are under the same stipulations as adults: they have to wear the aligner trays for 20 to 22 hours a day, every day. That’s the biggest obstacle for adolescents, but if they can manage that responsibility, the system works just as effectively as metal braces.

Like adults, teens don’t want to be noticed wearing braces. But they do want straighter teeth. With clear aligners for teens, they get the best of both worlds: invisible but effective treatment. Since their smile isn’t affected, their social standing isn’t either. That may provide enough self-esteem for a confidence boost.

How Long Will It Take to Straighten My Teeth?

Your treatment plan will be unique to you, as will the length of time required. It all relies on the complexity of the problems that need to be addressed.

For example, if your teeth are relatively straight and you don’t have any serious issues with how they bite or occlude together, treatment will be completed more quickly. You will require fewer sets of aligners, and the overall cost will be lower. Treatment is more cosmetically focused, which means that it mainly focuses on moving the teeth that are visible when you smile or talk in order to create a nicer smile. You could be enjoying your straighter smile in a matter of just a few months.

Treatment will take longer if you have more complicated orthodontic issues, including significant bite abnormalities. Most patients finish treatment within a year, although it may take longer.

Does Your Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Unlike some purely cosmetic dental procedures, your insurance company may cover at least part of your Invisalign cost. Fixing crooked teeth can be a dental health issue, depending on the severity. You need to ask our best-rated Astoria dentists about your specific Invisalign cost.

Normally, your Invisalign cost is the same as it would be for metal braces. But whenever possible, the team at Precision Dental NYC tries to offer affordable dentistry treatments for you. Between offering payment plans and dealing with your insurance company for you, there’s always a way forward. Some factors to consider that also affect the price are:

  • How many trays do you need to reach your alignment goals?
  • How long will you have to wear Invisalign trays?
  • Will you need to wear a retainer after your teeth have aligned?
  • How many times during your treatment will you have to visit your Invisalign dentist?

If you’re ready to proceed with the discreet teeth straightening process, contact your dentist in Astoria, NY. Only an Invisalign dentist can determine whether you’re a good candidate for the aligner trays and what your Invisalign cost will be.

★★★★★

The best dentist office in Astoria. This dentistry center is very clean and the staff is extremely helpful and professional. The facilities are cutting-edge, and I would recommend Dr. Irene Bokser and Dr. Alexander Bokser to anyone!

Mikhail

This page was modified on by Dr. Alexander Bokser, DDS (Dentist) of Precision Dental NYC

Dr. Alexander Bokser | Dr. Irene Bokser

Dr. Alexander Bokser is a dentist in Astoria, NY and Bayside, NY. He received his degree from New York University College of Dentistry, licensed by the New York State Board of Regents and the North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners.

He is currently teaching dentistry at Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Dr. Bokser has received numerous awards in dentistry and community service. He is a member of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and North Queens Dental Study Club.
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The information on this website is to provide general dental information. In no way does any of the information provided reflect definitive dental advice. It is important to consult the best in class dentist in Astoria regarding ANY dental questions or issues. A thorough evaluation should ALWAYS be performed for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Be sure to call our dentist in Astoria, Queens to schedule a consultation.

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