Let’s be honest… Invisalign clear aligners are not a perfect “no braces” alternative. However, aligners have some clear advantages over conventional braces. They are clear and aesthetic, they are healthier for the gums and teeth, they are removable, and they work better than braces for some bite and teeth alignment problems.
It is important to realise that there are also some disadvantages. This makes it extremely important for us to understand every patient’s expectations and treatment requirements, to be able to deliver the very best results.
Want to find out more about Invisalign clear aligners?
There are many Invisalign products available that can affect the cost of the treatment, each with their advantages and disadvantages. These include: the Comprehensive Package, Moderate Package, Lite Package, Express Package, Invisalign Go and Vivera Retainers (previously known as Invisalign Full, Invisalign Teen, Invisalign Lite, Invisalign 7).
Invisalign Info+
How do Invisalign clear aligners work?
The Invisalign treatment is a very accurate teeth straightening process that has been used in over 10 million patients worldwide. It uses small clear and invisible trays to move teeth very gently and progressively into a desired position. The aligners are changed on average every 10-14 days. Some teeth may move faster than 7 days and some may take closer to 14 days to settle into an aligner. By moving through the sequential aligners, we are able to predictably move each of your teeth towards a goal – the end result is that if your orthodontist uses Invisalign, the results will be as good as if braces were used to provide that beautiful smile.
Treatment by a specialist orthodontist
Although dentists can provide Invisalign treatment, a specialist orthodontist has had a tremendous amount of extra training, expertise and knowledge, allowing him/her to plan every tooth movement that is to occur with precision and predictability. This means they can get you the smile you deserve! A significant amount of time is spent planning Invisalign cases and every patient’s needs are considered, ensuring safe and predictable results for every patient, avoiding many risks and complications that can occur along the way…that way, tooth movement will happen in the fastest possible time.
Specialist Orthodontist = same costs + faster treatment + best results + less problems…a no-brainer!
This means:
- Being treated by an EXPERT specialist orthodontist – knowledgeable and experienced
- Safer treatment
- Fast treatment
- Predictable treatment
- Quality results
- Minimising problems that can occur
- Knowing how to correct and fix things if they don’t “track” or go to plan
Advantages of Invisalign aligners
The advantages of Invisalign aligners are many and include:
- Invisible and highly aesthetic, making it suitable for children and adults wanting a non-braces alternative
- Comfortable to wear
- Easy to clean your teeth
- Easy to eat, as you can remove the aligners
- Cleaner and more hygienic for the teeth and gums
- Better for the gum health, especially for patients with a history of gum disease
- The Invisalign aligners are removable
- Works better than braces for some bite and teeth alignment issues
- Pre-planned, accurate and controlled movement of teeth
- Readily and easily closes gaps
Disadvantages of Invisalign aligners
The very best thing about aligners can also be a disadvantage. They are removable and need to be worn a minimum of 16 hours per day for them to work. The aligners are exceptionally accurate but also delicate, so lots of care is needed when wearing them. In summary:
- Aligners are removable
- They need to be worn a minimum of 20 hours per day
- They can be lost or damaged
- There is a special way to care for them
What does Invisalign aligners cost in Auckland?
The average case with us is around the $9,800 mark…However, this is a tricky question to answer as no two people’s teeth are identical. Also, there are many different types of Invisalign treatment: Invisalign Full, Invisalign Teen, Invisalign Lite, Invisalign 7, Invisalign Go and Invisalign Vivera retainers.
So, you can now appreciate that there is a huge range of costs for a patient: costs can start at $400 dollars for retainers only, while for very difficult cases, costs can be in excess of $12,800 (e.g. for a case that requires bite and jaw corrections, and lengthy treatment). This is why it is really important to see a specialist orthodontist who is experienced in Invisalign, who will advise you if treatment with Invisalign is right for you and which Invisalign treatment would be the most appropriate option.
Call Shakespeare Orthodontics for a FREE, no-obligation “initial consultation” with an expert Invisalign specialist orthodontist.
Wear the aligners!
Wear the aligners! Other than your orthodontist doing the behind-the-scenes treatment planning, designing, and customisation of your Invisalign aligners, the success of treatment comes down to you wearing the Invisalign aligners at least ~20 hours per day MINIMUM. Most treatment complications arise when patients fail to wear their aligners consistently or for long enough. In such cases, treatment tends to take longer and can be uncomfortable, especially when attempting to move erratically between aligners.
Follow the instructions
Try and follow all instructions given carefully. The instructions will include wear-time, using chewing tabs, wearing elastics, caring for your aligners, and being able to monitor your treatment progress. Our specialist orthodontists will ensure that they are there every step of the way. At any stage, if you have questions or queries, or are worried about anything to do with your treatment, please contact us. If we cannot address your concerns by email or over the phone, we will sort you out with an urgent appointment to come in for a check…often, the very same day!
It is through amazing advancements in computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technology that we are able to provide and use Invisalign to carry out, what we could only do with braces previously. The aligners are printed to high accuracy to match the desired position of the teeth. After using a few aligners, we can move any tooth or group of teeth, in any which way we need. Having said this, some movements are easier and some are harder with the aligners.
Don't throw them out!
Never break, lose or throw out previous aligners. We require these often to step a tooth or group of teeth back, in order to be able to move forward, especially if teeth are not tracking with the movement predicted. For these reasons, keep all your aligners until the very end.
Because of the predictive nature of the technology used, we sometimes require “refinement” aligners. For these extra aligners to be made, we need to take updated scans and photos of your teeth along the way to communicate back to Invisalign.
