The short answer is yes—for mild to moderate orthodontic issues, Invisalign clear aligners are a proven and effective alternative to traditional braces when worn as directed.
For almost 30 years, orthodontists have been prescribing Invisalign clear plastic aligners to treat a variety of teeth problems, including tooth gaps, misalignments, and other orthodontic issues.
However, you may have heard some criticisms about Invisalign removable aligners or the Invisalign treatment process. Here, we discuss the effectiveness of Invisalign treatment, including its pros and cons, so you can decide whether it is the best option for you or your child.
Call Ironwood Pediatric Dentistry today at (480) 531-8230 or reach out online to schedule your free initial consultation with a qualified dental professional.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a modern orthodontic treatment that uses a series of clear, removable SmartTrack™ material plastic aligners to gradually straighten teeth into their desired alignment.
Using the same principle as braces, Invisalign treatment applies gradual pressure to misaligned teeth to reposition them over time. However, instead of brackets, wires, and rubber bands, Invisalign uses multiple sets of removable clear plastic aligners as prescribed by your orthodontist.
Although Invisalign is not the only brand of plastic aligners, they all use a similar principle of controlled force to straighten teeth into their desired positions.
What Dental Issues Can Invisalign Fix?
Invisalign can be used to treat the following dental issues.
Teeth Overcrowding
Overcrowding happens when there isn’t enough space in the jaw to fit all your child’s teeth. This can lead to teeth growing at odd angles or overlapping.
Gaps Between Teeth
Gaps between teeth, also known as diastemas, can be caused by various factors, including family genetics, small teeth relative to jaw size, or behaviors such as thumb-sucking.
Malocclusion
Malocclusion is the medical term for misalignment of your teeth when your jaws are closed. Types of malocclusion include overbite (the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth), underbite (the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth), and crossbite (the upper and lower teeth don’t align correctly when the mouth is closed).
Bite Issues
Bite issues refer to the gaps in the spacing between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed. Common bite issues include open bite (the upper and lower front teeth don’t meet), deep bite (excessive overlap of the upper and lower front teeth), and edge-to-edge bite (the upper and lower front teeth meet edge-to-edge without the proper overlap).
How Does Invisalign Treatment Work?
Invisalign’s personalized approach to treatment begins with an initial free consultation at our Scottsdale office. During this consultation, we will thoroughly scan your child’s mouth and teeth using the iTero Element® scanner.
Next, we use Invisalign’s ClinCheck® software to turn the electronic data from the scan into a three-dimensional model of your child’s mouth and jaws.
Based on this highly detailed model, we use software to prepare a customized treatment plan.
During treatment, your child will wear aligners to gradually shift the teeth to new positions. Each aligner should be worn for about 20 to 22 hours a day, only removing it to eat, brush, and floss.
We will also have you return to our offices regularly to check on your progress, give you your next set of aligner trays, ensure your aligners fit perfectly, and answer any questions.
What are the Advantages of Using Invisalign Treatment?
Invisalign treatment is popular with patients as an alternative to braces for three main reasons:
Low Visibility
Although they are not entirely invisible, Invisalign aligners are inconspicuous when worn compared to metal wires and brackets. Invisalign aligners are an attractive option for children who would otherwise feel self-conscious and socially awkward wearing regular braces.
Removability
Once applied, braces can only be safely removed by an orthodontist. This can make it harder to keep teeth clean by brushing and flossing, and lead to teeth staining and uneven coloration.
Once braces are removed, a professional cleaning and tooth-whitening procedure may be necessary to restore teeth to a uniform shade.
Because Invisalign aligners are easily removable, patients can more easily keep their teeth clean and use over-the-counter tooth whitening products. Also, unlike traditional braces, there are no “off-limits” foods or beverages. Teeth can remain clean as long as the aligners are removed before eating and teeth are brushed with a soft toothbrush before putting them back in your mouth.
Comfort
Traditional metal braces can be uncomfortable even when their wires and brackets are working perfectly. When something goes wrong, like a broken arch wire or bracket, they can even become painful until you go to the orthodontist to fix them.
What Affects How Well Invisalign Works?
Invisalign aligners can be a good option for mild to moderate cases, but they may not be as effective as metal brackets for treating complex orthodontic issues.
Also, Invisalign aligners require diligent, consistent use to deliver the most effective results. They also require proper care to avoid possible cosmetic or functional problems.
Wear Invisalign Aligners for the Recommended Time
Invisalign aligners must be worn for 20 to 22 hours per day to achieve the desired tooth movement. Consistent wear is essential to making the necessary adjustments for each set of aligner trays.
The Invisalign treatment plan depends on your child’s teeth being ready for new aligners at each scheduled switch. If your child does not wear the aligners for the prescribed amount of time, progress may halt, leading to potential delays, adjustments to the treatment plan, and increased costs.
See The Dentist for Regular Check-Ups
Wearing orthodontics does not mean that your child can neglect their oral health in other ways. During treatment, it is important to maintain regular checkups with your dentist while wearing clear aligners and to follow the dentist’s instructions.
Properly Care for Aligners
Another potential problem with using Invisalign aligners is that if teeth are not kept clean or aligners are not removed when eating or drinking a beverage other than water, they can become stained or even damaged.
- Staining can occur when drinking dark-colored beverages, such as dark fruit juices or coffee, while wearing clear aligners.
- Because aligners are made of plastic, cleaning them with hot water can cause them to warp if the water is too hot.
- Aligners can rub food particles against your teeth and gums, which can contribute to tooth decay and periodontal problems such as gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Invisible Aligners May Not Be the Right Treatment for All Orthodontic Issues
Invisalign custom-made aligners deliver optimal results for mild to moderate alignment issues, such as closing gaps between teeth and straightening teeth. They may be less effective for major orthodontic treatment needs.
For example, if you have dental bridgework, the orthodontist may recommend against using Invisalign in favor of teeth-straightening options like traditional braces.
How Much Does Invisalign Cost?
The cost of Invisalign treatment is similar to that of traditional braces. Your cost can range from $3,000 to $9,000, depending on treatment time and whether an additional Invisalign treatment option, such as Vivera retainers, is included.
Although not all dental insurance plans may pay for the full cost of Invisalign treatment, in many cases, your dental insurance coverage will include Invisalign as an alternative to braces.
Does Invisalign Treatment Really Work?
For many patients, Invisalign aligners are a proven, effective, and cost-competitive alternative to braces when worn as intended and properly cared for.
In addition to being a practical orthodontic treatment option, some inherent advantages to wearing braces, notably their comparative low visibility, removability, and better comfort, make Invisalign treatment safe and practical to use. Often, your child can see significant improvements in just a few months.
Ready to Explore Invisalign Treatment for Your Child?
At Ironwood Pediatric Dentistry, our experienced team of pediatric dentists and orthodontists is authorized Invisalign dentists who are trained to use Invisalign diagnostic equipment to create customized teeth-straightening and smile-recovery plans.
Call us today at (480) 531-8230 or reach out online to schedule your free initial consultation with a qualified dental professional.
If you have questions about the cost of Invisalign clear aligners, including dental insurance options or other payment options such as financing with no initial payment and a monthly payment plan, we can also help.