Invisalign in Gaithersburg
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What To Expect From The Invisalign Treatment Process
Orthodontic consultation
To begin the process at Lifetime Smile, you’ll need to get a consultation with Dr. Bhasin. She will perform a comprehensive orthodontic exam and determine if Invisalign is right for you. Most patients are good candidates for treatment with Invisalign aligners.
Aligner fitting and treatment plan
Once you’ve been approved for Invisalign, Dr. Bhasin will scan your teeth and use this information to develop a treatment plan with Invisalign. Once she finalizes your plan, Invisalign will begin building your aligner treatment system.
Pick up your first sets of aligners
In a couple of weeks, you’ll pick up your first few sets of aligners. Each set is usually worn for 20-22 hours per day for 2 weeks. Then, you switch to a new one. Dr. Bhasin will give you a full set of instructions on how to wear your aligners and care for your teeth.
Come back for checkups Us Right Away
You’ll come back for regular appointments at our office about every 6 weeks. Most checkups take less than 30 minutes. During your appointment, Dr. Bhasin will check your progress and give you your next several sets of aligners. This process will continue until your treatment is complete, which usually takes about a year.
More about invisalign
Understanding How Invisalign Works
Invisalign works by exerting pressure on your teeth. This pressure forces your teeth to move over time. Each set of aligners is designed to move your teeth to a specific position. Once your teeth move, heal, and get used to their new position, you will switch to a new set of aligners.
Similarly to adjusting braces, switching to a new set of aligners starts the process over again. Your teeth will move in response to the pressure, then heal and adjust to the new position. Aligners are usually swapped every 2 weeks, and most patients need between 18-30 sets of aligners during treatment, depending on their unique situation.
Dental Issues That Invisalign Can Fix
Invisalign can fix most minor-to-moderate orthodontic issues. It can treat crooked teeth, uneven teeth, gaps between the teeth, and most other problems with the positioning of your teeth. It’s also a good choice for correcting bad bites (malocclusions) like underbites, overbites, and crossbites. With Invisalign, you can get a healthy bite, straight teeth, and a picture-perfect smile.
Weekend Appointments
If a dental emergency strikes over the weekend, there’s no need to wait until Monday for care. By offering limited weekend hours and appointments by request, you can receive prompt emergency dental care and get relief from your pain and discomfort. Give us a call for more information.
Common Emergency Procedures
To restore the health and functionality of your mouth, your dentist will address the emergency situation and recommend a variety of treatments. For example, broken, damaged, or decayed teeth can be fixed with dental crowns. If an underlying infection is causing you to experience a severe or chronic toothache, root canal therapy may be the best option for you.
Another common restorative procedure is tooth splinting, which stabilizes a loose or knocked-out tooth to allow for proper healing. Tooth extractions are a rare but occasionally necessary procedure to remove severely damaged teeth that cannot be fixed otherwise.
Have Questions About Invisalign? Find Answers Here
Am I A Good Candidate For Invisalign?
If you have a healthy mouth and minor-to-moderate issues with your bite and your teeth, you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. Most patients qualify, so contact Lifetime Smile for a consultation now and see if it’s right for you.
However, Invisalign may not be the best choice for patients with very severe orthodontic problems. Traditional braces are a more versatile solution for correcting these issues, and may be recommended if you’re not a good candidate for Invisalign.
What Are the Benefits of Invisalign?
More Hygienic - Metal braces involve bonding brackets and wires to your teeth, sometimes for years at a time. This can make it very difficult to properly brush and floss your teeth. At the end of treatment, many braces wearers are left with discoloration and cavities. Thanks to removable Invisalign aligners, you won’t have any obscured surfaces when you brush, floss, or go for a dental cleaning. You can take your aligners out before eating and you can thoroughly clean all of the surfaces of your aligners.
Increased Convenience - As long as you take your aligners out before eating and drinking anything other than water, you can eat a restriction-free diet. This is a big difference from traditional braces, which require you to avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods for as long as you are wearing your braces. This can mean giving up your favorite foods for a few years. With Invisalign, you never need to give up popcorn, nuts, candy, or any other of your favorite foods.
Better Aesthetics - The aligners are made of transparent thermoplastic, which makes them invisible when you wear them over your teeth. Metal braces are silver in color, hunky, and noticeable. This can cause insecurity in patients with orthodontic problems because it draws even more attention to their smile imperfections. With Invisalign, you can correct your tooth alignment in secrecy. This is great for adults who feel awkward about undergoing orthodontic treatment later in life.
Less Time - With Invisalign treatment, not only is the length of your orthodontic treatment faster than braces on average, but you also spend less time attending routine appointments. You don’t need to constantly get your braces tightened and monitored. With Invisalign, you only need to attend appointments every 6 weeks to check on your progress and get more aligners. This means fewer appointments overall.
Improved Comfort - Since your aligners are made of plastic, they cushion your teeth and don’t cause significant discomfort. Metal places harsh pressure on the teeth, causing a lot of soreness. Invisalign, on the other hand, exerts gentle pressure to gradually move the teeth. There also aren’t any sharp pieces of metal that can cut the inside of your mouth if they become damaged.
What Is Invisalign Made Of?
Invisalign is made of a patented thermoplastic material called Smart Track which is a medical-grade polyurethane resin. These aligners are biocompatible and cushion your teeth will gently shifting them over time. Invisalign has spent decades researching and developing this material which is considered the most effective and reliable clear aligner system on the market.
How Do I Take Care of My Invisalign?
You need to take your aligners out when eating, drinking, or consuming something hot. Rinse your aligners when taking them out and when you’re about to put them back in. Brush and floss your teeth after eating and drinking before wearing your aligners again. This prevents bacteria and stain buildup on the aligners.
Clean the aligners with a soft bristle toothbrush and a nonabrasive cleaner twice a day. Options for cleaning products include Invisalign cleaning crystals or denture cleaner. Using this solution, scrub the surfaces of your aligners.
Don’t run your aligners under hot water which can morph their shape. We recommend soaking the aligners for about 15 minutes once a day in a cleaning solution for deeper cleaning. Finally, when not wearing your aligners, place them in their storage case so they don’t get lost or damaged.
How Much Does Invisalign Cost?
The cost of Invisalign treatment depends on how many aligners you will need, the length of your treatment, and the severity of your tooth alignment. The average cost of Invisalign treatment is $3000-$5000.
However, very minor orthodontic problems will require much fewer aligners which will be much cheaper. The more severe your orthodontic problems, the more expensive they will be. Your insurance may also cover some of the cost if they cover Invisalign just like other orthodontic treatments.
However, it depends if your insurance plan considers Invisalign to be a cosmetic treatment. Contact your insurance provider to find out if they will cover Invisalign. If you don’t have insurance, we offer financing options through third parties like CareCredit. Dr. Bhasin can also give you an accurate quote for your treatment during your consultation.