Clear Aligners FAQs
Clear Aligners and Invisalign FAQ's
Does My Insurance Cover Clear Aligners or Invisalign?
The only way to know if your dental insurance covers clear aligners or Invisalign is to contact your dental insurance company and ask. If your dental insurance does not cover the clear aligners themselves, it may pay for a portion of the orthodontic services that are necessary to create the aligners.
Are There Payment Plans Available?
Yes, we want our patients to have access to high-quality, yet affordable orthodontic care. We do not want finances to get in the way of achieving the smile they have always dreamt of. Our patients can totally customize their payment arrangements to meet their specific financial situation.
How Much Will My Clear Aligners or Invisalign Treatment Cost?
Treatment costs vary and depend on the extent of the dental problems that need to be addressed as well as whether there is a malocclusion issue that requires attention; therefore, to determine how much your clear aligners treatment will cost, initial consultation with an examination must be scheduled.
The Clear Aligners and Invisalign Treatment Process
Your Consultation
After confirming that you are eligible to receive treatment, your clear aligners or Invisalign provider will take X-rays, photos and a dental impression, or digital scans of your teeth. These records are used to create your ClinCheck® 3D treatment plan.
Your clear aligner creation occurs in the clear aligners laboratory. Once your custom-tailored aligners are created, they are shipped to your clear aligner provider's or Invisalign provider's office. You will return to the office to pick up a series of your aligners and start your clear aligners treatment.
Changing Your Aligners
On average, your aligners will be changed out every week or two.
The Results
Every 6 to 8 weeks you will return to your clear aligners provider to receive new aligners. In addition, your orthodontist will use the appointments to monitor your progress. Once your treatment plan is complete, you will need to wear a retainer. Wearing the retainer ensures that your teeth remain at their new destinations.
What Are Attachments?
Attachments are enamel-colored dots that are affixed to the teeth. These small, tooth-colored dots consist of dental bonding and are placed in particular locations to provide additional grip for the aligners. The attachments serve as anchor points, keeping the aligners firmly in place to prevent them from slipping. In addition, these attachments click into the aligners to assist in moving the teeth more effectively. Since they are tooth-colored, when the aligners are not in, the attachment bumps are practically invisible.
Since tooth colors differ, attachments can be created in a variety of colors. Your orthodontist will help you choose the color that matches your tooth enamel the best.
Where are the Attachment Bumps Placed?
Teeth of certain shapes or that are sitting at certain angles can be challenging to straighten with the clear aligners system; however, it is in these cases that attachment bumps were created. The attachment bumps are strategically placed by your orthodontist to direct the pressure from the aligner to specific teeth.
What Should I Do if I Lose My Aligners?
Contact your orthodontist right away.
What is the Difference Between Clear Aligners and Braces?
Traditional braces use stainless-steel brackets and wires to correct malocclusion (a bad bite), overcrowding, and crooked teeth. Clear aligners and Invisalign transparent plastic aligners, which are much more comfortable than their traditional counterpart, address all of these issues as well. When compared to traditional braces, the comfort that clear aligners offer makes it almost like a ‘second skin’ for your teeth.
With traditional metal braces, you return to the orthodontist every 4 weeks to have your wires adjusted (tightened). There are no wires to adjust with clear aligners or Invisalign, you simply change out aligners every week or two.
When wearing traditional braces, you will have quite a few food restrictions to follow; whereas, if you choose clear aligners, you can continue to eat all the foods that you love.
How Do I Keep My Clear Aligners Or Invisalign Teeth Straighteners Clean?
The Clear Aligners Cleaning System has crystals that are specially designed for cleaning clear aligners. These crystals come in packets and you simply empty a packet into a cup of lukewarm water. There should be enough water in the cup to cover your aligners once you place them inside. After placing your aligners inside, leave them to soak for about 15 minutes. Remove them from the cup and rinse them well with lukewarm water. After soaking your aligners, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush (that is dedicated to your aligners) to gently brush away any remaining debris and then rinse them in lukewarm water again before placing them back in your mouth. Other cleaning solution options for soaking your aligners include Retainer Brite or some type of denture cleaner.
You may also clean your aligners using plain, lukewarm water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. While brushing with plain water is acceptable on occasion, you do need to use some type of cleaning solution daily.
To discourage bacterial growth, any other time that you are rinsing your aligners, use cool water (as opposed to lukewarm).
What Happens Once I Have Completed My Clear Aligners or Invisalign Treatment?
Whenever an individual completes any kind of orthodontic treatment, whether it be clear aligners or braces, a retainer is required to prevent the teeth from gradually shifting back toward their previous positions.
At DiCiccio Freeman Orthodontics, we are proud to offer clear aligners to our patients. If you are considering treatment with clear aligners, contact our office to schedule your complimentary initial consultation today.