What exactly is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an improved copy of a technique developed by orthodontists in the early 1900s. Orthodontists used a clear polymer aligner to move the teeth by setting the teeth into a different place in the plaster model and then making a new aligner. (This was in lieu of using conventional braces.) The difficulty was moving the teeth in increments and making the next aligners in increments.

In 1997 what Align Technology, i.e. Invisalign did is come up with a computerized process and technique to do the sequential tooth movement and then manufacture sequential aligners. The financial research investment was huge and their lab fees are very pricey compared to other dental products.

The development was guided by orthodontists who understand the nature of tooth movement. As soon as the orthodontists treated a good sample of cases, the company took the product out to general dentists because of a much larger market

Are there different types of Invisalign treatment?
Yes there is limited Invisalign treatment which is treatment using 10 aligners or less for mild malocclusions. Regular or full treatment is 11 aligners or more. There is a significant lab fee difference between these two types of treatment so this should be expressed in the fee you are charged.

If the teeth are not of good contour, they will be reshaped before the initial Invisalign impressions are taken. Tooth recontouring is a normal part of orthodontics as the teeth often do not fit together properly with out reshaping. Dentistry may be indicated before or after the treatment if the tooth shape is very poor.

Reproximation, enamel reduction or thinning of the width of the teeth is often an essential part of Invisalign treatment.
A very slight amount of the enamel between the teeth is removed with either a high speed drill or disc, or a hand held abrasive strip. This procedure does not require anesthesia and is necessary for the appliance to work properly.

It may occur at various stages throughout the treatment. If it is not done, the treatment will probably fail.

How much does Invisalign Cost?
A general range is around $1950 to $3000 for limited treatment, this is 10 aligners for each arch, and $4,500 to $7,500 for full treatment. Records, xrays, photos and study models required by Invisalign will be about $250 extra. ( If your Invisalign price is considerably below or above these fees, get another opinion because corners are being cut.) 

Does it work?
Yes it does. It will move teeth but due to its nature of not having a complete grip on the tooth  like a brace, it is somewhat limited in the types and amounts of tooth movements that can be achieved. The aligners are clear and of polymer plastic and are removable. They move your teeth in very small increments. Some patients will require bonded attachments which are bumps bonded to the teeth to help the aligners grab hold of the teeth. They will easily be removed at the conclusion of treatment by polishing your teeth.  Each aligner comes in pairs and the number varies depending upon the severity of the problem.  They will be very tight upon first application but will loosen with time. The only time you remove the aligners is to eat or drink and clean your teeth. The aligners should be brushed just like your teeth with toothpaste. You will switch aligners every 2 to 3 weeks depending upon your personal rate of tooth movement and treatment plan.

Invisalign therapy is much more exacting and difficult than some dentists make it. Remember there is a reason for orthodontic specialists who have had at least 2 years of special training to understand the full ramifications of tooth movement. If the appliance is used properly and if the patient does their part, a wonderful result can be obtained.

Orthodontic treatment cannot be completed successfully unless you totally comply with the doctors’ directions. Once the aligners impressions have been made, you cannot have any dental work done that will alter the shape or size of the teeth. If you do this, the recovery will be very expensive or perhaps impossible. Make sure that you have no jaw joint problems or pain at this time of initial Invisalign impressions.

Once the teeth are moved they must be retained.
If not, they will go back to their previous positions. This applies to all orthodontics, but more so to Invisalign therapy because of less bodily movement occurring with the teeth. Retainers are recommended for all orthodontic cases. The usual choice is on the lower to wear a very small fixed wire on the inside of the lower front teeth full time or continuing to wear the invisalign retainer at night. On the upper it is best to continue to wear the upper retainer at night. The longer the retainers are worn, the straighter the teeth will stay. We know that tooth crowding is a natural part of aging. We encourage our patients to fight the aging in their dentition by wearing retainers. This also stops the sinking in of the face and lips and vertical collapse that can occur with aging.

How can Invisalign be a Ripoff?

Reason #1 Lack of knowledge by your dentist or orthodontist!
The treatment is designed by a lab tech in Costa Rica and should be supervised by the dentist or orthodontist. If the dentist or orthodontist does not have the experience or spend the time, and the plan does not match the malocclusion to be treated then the case will not be successful or a compromise result will occur.  Dentists only have to take a 2 day seminar to become trained in Invisalign. Some, due to extra study have a good knowledge of orthodontics and the nature of tooth movement, but many do not. Just because they have participated in a training session doesn’t mean they are going to be good.

Reason #2  Poor patient wear and cooperation!
Please understand you must wear the Invisalign aligners 22 to 24 hours per day for them to be effective. You should only go to the next aligner when your present aligner fits the teeth perfectly and your specified time is up. You also must be aware that loss of an aligner and not reporting it immediately could prevent your treatment from being completed. If you lose an aligner it can be replaced, but you must notify the doctor immediately and you will be charged for the new aligner. If you go to a new aligner before the movement is completed in the previous aligner, eventually you will find your next aligner will not fit and you will not be able to recover for the past mistake. In this technique, there is no cheating!!!!!!!! If you are a very undisciplined person, forget this technique. You will fail and lose your money!

Reason #3. Unrealistic expectations by the patient and dentist.
Some dentists are claiming that Invisalign treatment is faster than a fixed orthodontic appliance. This shows their lack of knowledge about “state of the art” orthodontics and tooth movement. The present computer driven “state of the art” orthodontic appliances are much faster than Invisalign. There are now brace appliance systems that will nearly half the treatment time of any Invisalign case with also more predictable results, but….. you the patient still has to wear braces!!!!!!!

Treatment time is always an estimate as we do not know how the patient’s tissues will respond. The Invisalign tooth movement increments are usually a conservative estimate if the appliance is worn. Poor cooperation in wearing the appliances or auxiliary elastics the required hours per day, poor oral hygiene, lost appliances, missed appointments and other factors can lengthen the treatment time and can also make the desired end result unobtainable. There are severe types of malocclusions that will not respond to Invisalign treatment.

Other Rare Problems
Possible problems which seldom occur are a loss of tooth vitality. It is possible for the nerve of a tooth to die during any orthodontic treatment. Usually this was a tooth which was previously injured or stressed, and it often is totally unknown to the patient. The solution to this problem is often a root canal. This is rarely a problem and will not affect the ultimate treatment. Jaw pain, TMJ or TMD may occur. If there is a TMJ problem before the appliances are inserted, this is often a contradiction to treatment at that time. The TMJ problem should be treated first before any orthodontic treatment is done. Very very rarely a tooth may become ankylosed or joined with the bone surrounding it. These teeth may not move at all or may need surgical assistance to facilitate treatment. Oral surgery is necessary sometimes to correct severe problems and is recommended only if it will help the treatment. Sometimes teeth or a tooth when orthodontically moved undergoes a treatment response which results in root resorption. Present research indicates this is a genetic problem. This doesn’t help us however with the problem. Due to the limited tooth movement that occurs with the Invisalign appliance this is a very rare problem.

What are the Advantages and Real Magic of Invisalign?

Imagine getting your teeth straightened without braces! You don’t have to worry about food getting caught between your braces, you don’t have to worry about getting used to the roughness of the braces on your lips or the soreness after a brace adjustment.

You can enjoy social situations without having braces. You can have a braceless look for business meetings, speeches, presentations, and sales. It can improve your social life as well as your sex life when compared to braces.

You may say, why would I want my teeth straightened? It has been proven that straight teeth allow better hygiene and are healthier. There also is the factor that straight teeth allow better and chewing. Proper position of the anterior teeth also effects speech and diction as well as positively affecting the self esteem of the person.

Studies have also revealed that a better smile is a key to a person’s financial success in business!

If you are a committed person and are interested in better oral health or a better smile, you could be a candidate for Invisalign. How would you like to find out?

As we have described, Invisalign treatment can be very successful and Aligners offer you the opportunity to get your teeth straightened without braces.

 If you choose a dentist or orthodontist with good experience and you yourself are very cooperative it can be a Winner!

At the present time, an Invisalign Special is being offered at the San Diego Discount Dental Center.

It includes x-rays, and your teeth are whitened when the treatment is started. It is an orthodontist supervised treatment at the most reasonable price available.

Please call
(619) 236-9831
for a FREE EXAMINATION and for more information!