Invisalign – Nashua, NH
A Clear Path Towards a Straighter Smile
Everyone wants a straight, healthy smile, but not everyone is willing to go through the process of wearing metal braces. At Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we’re proud to offer a clear path towards a straighter smile with Invisalign in Nashua! This state-of-the-art orthodontic treatment is the easiest and most convenient way to fix misaligned teeth, address bite issues, and achieve the healthier smile you deserve. Read on to learn more about Invisalign from our Nashua, NH orthodontist and give us a call today to schedule your consultation!
Why Choose Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics For Invisalign?
- #1 Dental Insurance Welcome & Flexible Financing Available
- #2 Clear, Removable, & Comfortable Aligners
- #3 100% Lifetime Guarantee with Our Affordable Retainers for Life Program
How Invisalign Works
The Invisalign system uses a series of custom-made aligners to gradually shift your teeth into their ideal positions. You’ll wear each set of aligners for 20-22 hours a day for about two weeks before moving on to the next set in the series. The gentle, consistent pressure will precisely shift your teeth as you wear your aligners. Every six to eight weeks, you’ll visit us for a quick checkup so we can monitor your progress and give you the next several sets of aligners in the series. Most patients can expect to achieve the results they’re looking for within just 12 months!
Indications for Invisalign
Very severe orthodontic issues are not a good choice for Invisalign and will likely need to be treated with traditional braces instead. However, Invisalign is an excellent choice for patients with mild to moderate orthodontic problems such as:
Crowded Teeth
Teeth that are too close together are unsightly and create small spaces that trap bacteria, increasing your risk of cavities and gum disease. Invisalign can easily shift your teeth apart to give them the space they need to thrive.
Gaps Between Teeth
On the other hand, teeth that are too spaced out can be embarrassing and are at a higher risk of damage. An Invisalign treatment can eliminate these spaces and bring your teeth closer together for a uniform smile.
Bite Alignment
Bite issues like overbite, underbite, cross bite, and open bite can cause serious jaw and dental complications later in life, not to mention make you feel self-conscious about your appearance! With a custom Invisalign treatment plan, we can address these issues and give you a healthier bite.
Benefits of Invisalign
Thanks to advancements in both technology and the field of orthodontics, there are countless teeth-straightening services available these days. That said, Invisalign continues to be one of the most popular ones. In fact, more than 12 million patients have chosen to straighten their teeth and align their bites with clear aligners! Here are a few reasons why:
The Aligners Are Practically Invisible
Let’s start with one of the most obvious benefits: Invisalign aligners are see-through. Combine that with the fact that they are custom-made from molds of your teeth, and they are practically invisible. In fact, even your coworkers or close friends may have a hard time telling when you’re wearing your trays! So, if you want to straighten your teeth without the metal, it’s definitely worth considering Invisalign.
Hassle-Free Oral Hygiene
In order to clean around the brackets and wires, patients with traditional braces often need to use special oral hygiene tools, like interproximal toothbrushes. That’s not the case with Invisalign. Since the aligners are removable, brushing and flossing your teeth are considerably easier. Plus, cleaning your trays will only require a few minutes of your time each day!
No Brackets or Wires
In addition to being a bit of an eyesore, metal brackets and wires aren’t the most comfortable. That’s why patients with traditional braces often keep dental wax on hand. Fortunately, Invisalign is completely metal-free, and the aligners are custom-made to fit the contours of your mouth. That means less irritation and more comfort!
Shorter Average Treatment Timeline
Treatment timelines with traditional braces are usually 2-3 years, but there are some cases where it can take four years or longer. Conversely, the average treatment timeline with Invisalign is only 12-18 months. The exact length of yours will depend on factors unique to your case, including how many aligners are needed, and we can provide you with an estimate at your consultation.
You Don’t Need to Change Your Diet
Apples, celery, carrots, almonds, popcorn, and tortilla chips are just a few of the many foods you can’t eat with traditional braces. Since Invisalign aligners are removable, there aren’t any dietary restrictions! All we ask is that you keep added sugar to a minimum and that you exercise caution with crunchy, hard, and sticky foods to avoid breaking an attachment.
There Are Fewer Check-In Visits
Finally, there are fewer check-in visits with Invisalign (they are usually every six or eight weeks instead of every four). As a result, your schedule won’t be weighed down with appointments! Instead, you’ll come in about every other month so we can monitor your progress, tweak your treatment plan (if necessary), and give you your next set of aligners in the series.
Living with Invisalign Aligners
Are you curious what your day-to-day life will look like with Invisalign? For example, will your meals look different? Do you need to plan monthly check-in visits? How do you keep your aligners stain and odor-free? Don’t worry – you will find everything you need to know about living with Invisalign in this next section!
Wearing Your Trays
There’s really only one thing you need to keep in mind when it comes to wearing your trays: you need to meet the 20-22 hour-a-day minimum. This is crucial because, if you miss the mark, there’s a good chance that you will fall off-track with your treatment plan. So, do your best to only take off your aligners when it’s absolutely necessary, like before eating. It’s also a good idea to use the stopwatch on your phone as a guide!
Cleaning Your Aligners
The last thing you want is stained and smelly aligners, right? The good news is that there are several easy habits you can implement to help prevent that from happening. The first is rinsing your aligners with clean, cool water when you take them off. The second is gently scrubbing them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a clear, mild dishwashing liquid twice a day. The third is soaking them for 15 minutes each day in a dentist-recommended cleaner.
Eating & Drinking
Unlike traditional braces, which come with several dietary restrictions, you don’t need to change your diet with Invisalign! That said, we do have some recommendations as your dental team. To start, you should keep added sugar to a minimum to reduce your chances of developing a cavity. You should also exercise caution with crunchy, hard, and sticky foods, like almonds, to prevent an attachment from coming off.
Losing or Damaging a Tray
Whether there is a crack in one of your aligners or you have misplaced them entirely, the next step is the same: call our Nashua dental office. That way, we can quickly determine if you can move onto the next aligners in the sequence or if a replacement needs to be made. If it’s the latter, then we will ask you to wear your previous pair to help prevent further treatment plan delays.
Routine Check-Ins
Another difference between traditional braces and Invisalign is that the latter doesn’t require frequent check-in visits. In fact, if your teeth are moving as anticipated and you’re doing a good job keeping track of your trays, you may only need to come in every six or eight weeks! At each appointment, we will take new scans of your teeth, make sure your attachments are securely in place, and provide you with your next set of aligners in the series.
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
When you show up for your initial consultation, we’ll thoroughly examine your oral situation to ensure that we’re coming up with the perfect Invisalign treatment plan to suit your needs! We’ll also provide you with an expected timeline and an estimated total cost of care; this figure considers many factors, including the number of aligners you need, the severity of your case, and the type of retainer you’ll need to wear. Don’t hesitate to contact our team today to set up your consultation; in the meantime, here are some things for you to consider.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
Simply put, no two smiles are alike, meaning that the cost of Invisalign in Nashua will vary from patient to patient. However, there are a few constant factors that affect the cost of care, including:
- The number of aligners needed – This relates to both the duration of your treatment and the severity of your misalignment.
- Whether you are straightening one arch or both – It’s usually more expensive to straighten both rows of teeth, rather than straightening just one or the other.
- Your compliance with treatment – Damaged or misplaced aligners must be replaced, and these costs can quickly add up. Also, not adhering to the 22-hour rule will lengthen your overall treatment timeline.
- Any necessary accessories – If you need elastics or other accessories, these items can factor into the final cost.
Invisalign VS Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?
The bottom line is that some patients are tempted by cheaper straightening solutions, including Smile Direct Club™. But as attractive as the DIY system might be, you should be aware of the few key differences that exist between it and Invisalign, including:
- DIY aligners are typically made from cheaper, lower-cost plastics, whereas Invisalign uses a patented material that’s stronger and designed for maximum comfort.
- Some patients have reported that DIY aligners can sometimes be totally ineffective, or even lead to worsened results!
- When you go with Invisalign, you’re also gaining the support of a professional orthodontic team; you lack this guidance and support system when opting for a DIY system.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
Many dental insurance plans include coverage for orthodontic treatment, and Invisalign is often included! However, you’ll still want to check with your provider to verify the details of your plan; that way, you’re certain that your treatment is covered, and you aren’t faced with any surprises when it’s time to pay your bill. Our team would also be happy to sit down with you and review the specifics of your plan with you so that you can rest assured you’re lowering your costs whenever possible!
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, you aren’t entirely out of luck when it comes to affordably straightening your smile with Invisalign. In addition to accepting most dental insurance providers and Medicaid, our practice is thrilled to work with CareCredit , a third-party financing company that helps qualifying patients afford treatment through little-to-no-interest payment plans. To learn more about how you can make Invisalign more affordable, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today for assistance!
Invisalign FAQs
Are you interested in learning more about Invisalign in Nashua? We’ve got you covered! Below, you will find the answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions about clear aligners. Of course, if you’d prefer to speak directly with our team or simply can’t find the answer you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Does Wearing Invisalign Aligners Hurt?
Since your teeth are being moved into an entirely new position, it’s completely natural for you to experience some soreness throughout your time with Invisalign. With that being said, since the process is so gradual, the discomfort is minimal. Furthermore, it typically subsides within the first few days of transitioning to each new set of aligners, and it can be alleviated with a cold compress or an OTC pain reliever.
How Long Do I Need to Wear My Invisalign Aligners for Each Day?
To stay on track with your treatment timeline, you need to wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day. In short, you should really only be taking them out to eat, drink anything other than water, and complete your oral hygiene routine. Not wearing them for the recommended time will cause you to fall off-track with your treatment, potentially necessitating more time and money spent on Invisalign.
What Foods Can I Eat with Invisalign?
Since Invisalign’s aligners are removable, you don’t have to worry about following an extensive list of dietary restrictions! However, there is one important rule you must follow: not eating with your Invisalign trays in. This can warp their shape, rendering them virtually useless. It’s also a good idea to stick to a well-balanced diet filled with vitamin-rich foods. This will help keep your teeth strong and healthy.
Will Wearing My Aligners Change the Way I Talk?
In many cases, no. However, if you do experience a slight adjustment period, you can rest assured knowing your mouth will adjust quickly. Plus, there are a few ways you can speed up the process! For example, read a book, magazine, or news article out loud. When you come across more difficult words to pronounce, repeat them until they sound natural. This will give your tongue practice, minimizing any changes to your speaking patterns.
Can I Get Invisalign If I’ve Had Metal Braces Before?
Possibly! If you’ve experienced orthodontic relapse since having braces, Invisalign may just be the teeth-straightening treatment you’ve been looking for. The best way to find out is by scheduling a consultation! From there, our talented cosmetic dentist in Nashua can determine if you are a good candidate. Don’t worry – most patients are. So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with our team today!