Invisalign – Plainview, NY

Crowded Teeth

The positioning of your teeth is essential for a beautiful, functional smile. Unfortunately, many people have an imperfect one because their teeth sit too close together. This can make you feel insecure about your mouth when speaking or smiling; however, there are more complications than just what you see on the surface. In fact, patients with this orthodontic problem are at an increased risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease, and the like. Fortunately, Invisalign can address mild to moderate cases with clear, custom, and comfortable aligners.

Gaps Between Teeth

Since gaps can take a toll on your self-esteem and create spaces where food particles can get trapped, it’s important to explore your orthodontic treatment options. If you’re a candidate for Invisalign, then we can use the clear aligners to decrease the amount of space between your teeth. To do this, your aligners are custom-made to fit comfortably within your mouth. Naturally, with each new set you wear, your teeth will begin to shift in a way that moves them the right direction and eventually matches with the aligner you are wearing. This process does take time but is much quicker than the forceful tightening of a metal wire.

Overbite

Like the other bite problems on this list, an overbite can make it difficult to chew pain-free, smile confidently, and speak clearly. Also like the other bite problems on this list, Invisalign may be an option. If you’re a candidate, then we will create a series of clear aligners to apply gentle pressure to your teeth, moving them and your bite into proper alignment. The final result will be boosted confidence, better oral health, and an improved overall quality of life.

Underbite

Do your bottom teeth sit in front of your top teeth? If so, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with us! At Meadowbrook Dentistry, we want our patients to feel confident while improving the alignment of their teeth and bite, which is why our Invisalign clear aligners offer a subtle look that gently shifts teeth without shining a spotlight on treatment.

Crossbite

Do some of your lower teeth sit in front of your top teeth and some of your top teeth sit in front of your lower teeth? If so, you’ll be happy to hear that this bite problem can often be corrected with Invisalign. Since the aligners are see-through, you won’t need to worry about any added attention brought to your teeth. You’ll also spend less time in the dental chair because you won’t need appointments for adjustments. This is perfect if you have a busy schedule. Overall, Invisalign is less restrictive and more convenient to enjoy added freedom while on your journey to a straight smile.

Open Bite

If your top and bottom teeth don’t come together correctly, you might experience uneven wear on your enamel, jaw pain, and difficulty chewing. As a result, moving your teeth into their correct positions is more than an investment in your self-esteem; it’s an investment in your dental health. Fortunately, this doesn’t always require metal brackets and wires. If your case is mild enough that it can be addressed with Invisalign, then your teeth and bite will be aligned with virtually undetectable aligners.

Improved Comfort

If you had metal braces in the past, then you know all too well how uncomfortable the metal brackets and wires can be. Thankfully, Invisalign takes a different approach. Teeth are guided into their properly aligned positions with aligners that are smooth, low-profile, and custom-made to fit your teeth perfectly. As a result, you won’t have to deal with soft tissue irritation!

The Trays Are Barely Noticeable

Of course, one of the biggest reasons patients choose Invisalign is because the aligners are clear. As a result, they are barely noticeable when worn. In fact, it’s very common for even those closest to you – like the coworkers you see every day or your friends who have known you for years – to have a hard time telling when you are and aren’t wearing them!

Hassle-Free Oral Care

A perk that patients often don’t consider (but definitely should) is that having removable aligners makes brushing and flossing a breeze. Furthermore, straight teeth are easier to keep clean, and a clean mouth is a healthy mouth, so your oral health will benefit from clear aligner treatment too!

It’s also worth mentioning here that the aligners are easy to maintain. Simply use your toothbrush and toothpaste to gently scrub them clean every night and rinse them off. That’s it!

Faster Average Treatment Timeline

You don’t want to wait 3+ years to achieve the smile of your dreams, do you? The good news is that Invisalign has a faster average treatment timeline. While traditional braces can take between 24 and 36 months to complete treatment, most patients achieve the final results with clear aligners by 12 to 18 months. To get a more precise estimate of your treatment timeline, schedule a consultation with us!

No Dietary Restrictions

One drawback with traditional braces is that crunchy, hard, and sticky foods need to be avoided – even healthy ones like whole apples, carrots, and celery. Invisalign, on the other hand, doesn’t come with any dietary restrictions! Since the clear trays are removable, you can keep enjoying your favorite foods; just make sure to keep added sugar to a minimum.

Quick Follow-Up Visits

Are you a busy student, parent, or professional? Don’t worry – your schedule won’t be weighed down with back-to-back Invisalign appointments. In fact, the check-in visits are usually every 6-8 weeks instead of every four (which is the case with traditional braces). Plus, they typically take 15 minutes or less!

Factors that Affect the Cost of Invisalign

When you visit us for an Invisalign consultation, we’ll evaluate your case to create a personalized estimate of how much you can expect to pay for your treatment. This estimate will be based on factors like:

• Your oral health: If you need to have oral health issues like cavities or gum disease treated before beginning Invisalign, the cost of these procedures will naturally add to the overall cost of your Invisalign treatment.
• Your age: Invisalign is an excellent choice for teens, adults, and older adults alike! However, it will typically be easier, and therefore less expensive, to straighten a teenager’s smile since their jaws and teeth are not fully developed and set in place.
• The severity of your case: As you may suspect, the more severe the misalignment of your teeth or bite is, the higher the cost of your treatment will be.

Your personal dedication to your treatment plan will also play a role in the cost of your Invisalign treatment. It’s essential that you wear your aligners frequently enough in order to keep your treatment on track. If you don’t, it may cost you more time and money.

Invisalign VS Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?

Have you heard of Smile Direct Club™? This company is one of many that offer mail-in aligners, boasting all the results of an Invisalign treatment without the need to set foot in a dentist’s office. While this may sound temptingly convenient at first, you should know that professional organizations like the American Association of Orthodontists have filed numerous official complaints against Smile Direct Club™. They site the countless Smile Direct Club™ cases where patients have ended up with far worse orthodontic problems than when they started, causing them unnecessary harm and expense. When you invest in a professional Invisalign treatment, you can rest easy knowing your smile is being cared for by an experienced professional who will be with you every step of the way.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Dental insurance coverage for Invisalign in Plainview varies greatly. Not all companies or policies cover orthodontic treatment, and even among those that do, clear aligner treatments like Invisalign are not always covered. Our knowledgeable front desk team will be happy to look into the details of your plan to make sure your benefits are being maximized.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

Don’t have dental insurance? Does your policy not offer coverage for Invisalign? Not to worry! We offer other ways to help make your treatment affordable, including:

• Flexible Financing: We’ve partnered with CareCredit and Proceed Finance to offer flexible financing options. These third-party companies offer a variety of low- to no-interest payment plans, allowing qualifying patients to break up the cost of their Invisalign treatment into smaller chunks that fit into their monthly budget.
• Our In-House Savings Plan: We are proud to offer our very own in-house savings plan, where you can enjoy many of the same benefits that traditional dental insurance offers without any of the hassles. You’ll receive 20% off basic services as well as 20% off major services like Invisalign!

Wearing Your Trays

In order to stay on track with your treatment plan, you need to wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day. The best way to make this goal a reality daily is by only taking them off when absolutely necessary, like before eating a meal or snack. If you’re still having trouble meeting the wear time, then create a schedule with the help of the stopwatch on your phone. Before you know it, wearing your aligners for the large majority of the day will be second nature.

Cleaning Your Aligners

Good news: cleaning your aligners doesn’t require expensive products or a time-consuming routine. Instead, you’ll need to rinse them with clean, cool water each time you take them out and use a soft-bristled toothbrush and clean, cool water to clean them after every meal. Sometimes, patients can use a clear, mild dishwashing liquid as well, but make sure to talk to us before using any other household products, like toothpaste or bleach.

Eating & Drinking

Since Invisalign aligners are removable, eating and drinking are easy. All we ask is that you are mindful of how your diet impacts your oral health and, in turn, your orthodontic treatment. Hard pretzels, for example, might be a delicious snack, but they can easily chip a tooth or break an attachment, so it’s better to avoid them. Similarly, we recommend steering clear of foods and drinks with loads of added sugar since they can lead to tooth decay.

Losing or Damaging a Tray

Reaching for your aligners and realizing that they aren’t where you thought they were can be anxiety-inducing. After all, with each passing minute, you are missing out on valuable time wearing your aligners. That’s why we recommend taking a few deep breaths and trying to remember the last place you had them. Then, retrace your steps. In the process, look in “odd” places they could’ve ended up, like the trash can. If you can’t find them, give us a call – we’ll determine the best way to proceed.

Routine Check-Ins

We will give you several sets of aligners at a time so that you can progress through portions of your treatment plan at home. Every 6-8 weeks, however, you’ll need to return to our office. That way, we can see if your teeth are responding to the trays! If they are, these appointments will likely only be 15 minutes or so. If they aren’t, then we need to determine why your teeth aren’t moving and what adjustments need to be made to your treatment plan.