Invisalign® - New Lenox
Enjoy Straighter Teeth Without Metal Braces
At Atrium Family Dental of New Lenox, Dr. Albert, Dr. Snow, and Dr. Stylski all understand the importance of maintaining a polished appearance in the professional world. Many older patients dream of achieving a straighter smile that’s free of noticeable crookedness and gaps, but they can’t commit to wearing noticeable metal braces for months or years on end. Thankfully, there’s an alternative: Invisalign clear braces in New Lenox! Like the name implies, this treatment is nicely subtle and image-friendly. If you’re interested in learning whether or not it’s right for your unique smile, schedule a consultation today.
Why Choose Atrium Family Dental of New Lenox For Invisalign?
- Certified Invisalign Provider & Team of Experienced Dentists
- Some Evening & Weekend Appointments Available
- CareCredit Financing & Our In-House Dental Plan for Affordable Treatment
How Invisalign Works
Invisalign® technology utilizes a series of removable, clear, and comfortable set of aligners that no one will be able to tell you are wearing. Made with a state-of-the-art 3D computer imaging technology, Invisalign® is an effective and easier solution than traditional orthodontic treatment. Invisalign doesn’t use brackets or wires to gradually straighten teeth like traditional metal braces. Instead, this modern system relies on a series of customized, clear aligners. Each aligner will represent a different stage of the patient’s teeth as they’re guided towards the proper places, and they’ll be worn for around two weeks at a time. The clear plastic nature of the aligners is also highly comfortable in the mouth and likely won’t even be noticed by most people you pass in a day unless they look closely.
Patients who commit to Invisalign treatment will need to visit our dentists at Atrium Family Dental of New Lenox every six weeks on average so that we can check their progress. We will also provide the next set of aligners during this time. This service is best suited to smiles with mild to moderate orthodontic issues, such as the following:
- Overcrowding
- Gaps between teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Misaligned bite
If the problems are too severe, traditional braces may be recommended instead.
What Is Invisalign Teen?
Invisalign Teen is very similar to traditional Invisalign treatment, but it does have a few distinct tweaks that are better suited to younger patients. Your son or daughter will have access to a greater number of replacement aligners if their current one is badly damaged or lost, and the aligners themselves contain a blue dot that will change to clear or white over time to show that it’s being worn correctly. This also helps teenagers remember when it’s time to switch to the next one in the set!
How Does Invisalign Teen Work?
Invisalign Teen works in a similar manner to traditional braces, but they pressure with plastic trays to help teeth move into the desired position instead of bulky wires and brackets. Invisalign Teen can help with a variety of orthodontic issues, including crowding, spacing problems, overbite, and underbite.
Is Invisalign Teen Right for My Teenager?
Recent research has concluded that 95% of teenagers worry about their appearance when wearing metal braces. However, with Invisalign® Teen, nobody will even be able to notice that your son or daughter is undergoing orthodontic treatment. They can play sports and instruments, present in class, and hang out with their friends feeling completely confident in their smile.
Atrium Family Dental of New Lenox is a popular Invisalign® Teen provider in New Lenox, Illinois and we will be able to help you decide whether or not Invisalign® Teen is right for you. Give us a call or book an appointment for an Invisalign® consultation today.
Who Can Invisalign Help?
As we mentioned previously, severe cases of malocclusion can only be treated with traditional braces. That said, many patients with crowded teeth, overbites, and other common orthodontic problems are candidates for clear aligners. If you want to learn more on the topic heading into your consultation, then keep reading!
Crowded Teeth
If there isn’t enough room in your mouth for your teeth to sit in their perfectly aligned positions, then they will begin to crowd together. In addition to taking away from the appearance of your smile, this orthodontic problem can negatively impact your oral health by increasing your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental problems. Fortunately, Invisalign is an option for many patients, so it’s worth scheduling an appointment to find out if you’re a candidate!
Gaps Between Teeth
Do you have a noticeable gap between your two front teeth? Are there noticeable spaces throughout your smile? If so, it’s time to find out if Invisalign is right for you! If it is, then our New Lenox dental team will create a custom series of clear aligners designed to move your teeth from where they are now to their ideal positions. Since the trays are clear and removable, you’ll have an unobstructed view of the entire teeth-straightening process too!
Overbite
Although you want your upper teeth to sit in front of your lower teeth, you don’t want them to jut out far beyond them. This is referred to as an overbite, and it can lead to several problems, including trouble enunciating clearly and chronic jaw pain. Again, Invisalign has proven to be effective at addressing mild to moderate cases, which allows patients to enjoy straighter teeth and an aligned bite without the metal!
Underbite
What if the opposite is true (your lower teeth sit in front of your upper teeth)? This orthodontic problem is called an underbite, and, like the others on this list, it can negatively impact the look, health, and function of your smile. If you’re a candidate for Invisalign, then we can use clear aligners as well as other orthodontic accessories, like rubber bands and buttons, to bring your teeth and bite into proper alignment.
Crossbite
A crossbite is when some of your lower teeth sit in front of your upper teeth and some of your upper teeth sit in front of your lower teeth. Premature wear and tear on certain teeth is definitely a concern with this orthodontic problem, as is chronic jaw pain, trouble chewing properly, and difficulty enunciating clearly. For those reasons, we recommend coming in for a consultation at our office to see if you’re a candidate for Invisalign sooner rather than later.
Open Bite
Is there a space in the front or back of your mouth when you bite down? If so, you might have an open bite. This orthodontic problem is often the result of thumb-sucking or genetics, and it can often be addressed with Invisalign. One of the best parts of this teeth-straightening solution is that it’s completely metal-free, ensuring that no unwanted attention is drawn to your smile in the process.
The Benefits of Invisalign
For adults, teens, and everyone in between who have always wanted straighter teeth, Invisalign® is the perfect solution. Not only are the aligners invisible, but they’re completely removable too, allowing you to eat and drink whatever you want. The aligners are also extremely comfortable, with no metal that causes uncomfortable mouth abrasions and less time needed in the dentist’s chair for adjustments. Read on as we go over just a few of the most popular benefits Invisalign offers.
Clear Braces Are Practically Invisible
Some people avoid getting braces because they don’t want to have a mouth filled with highly visible metal. If your top priority is to maintain a natural appearance throughout orthodontic treatment, look no further than Invisalign. The aligners are extremely discreet to the point that patients may forget they’re wearing them in the first place.
Invisalign Is Convenient & Removable
Invisalign aligners can be removed from the mouth at any time, although patients will need to plan to wear them for at least 22 hours each day to maximize the success of their treatment plan. You will be able to eat all of your favorite foods and even chew gum, as well as brush and floss at home without having to navigate tricky wires and brackets. If you’d like to look your very best for a photo or a special event, it’s even fine to take out the aligner as long as you remember to put it back in before too much time has passed.
A More Comfortable Straightening Experience
Orthodontic wires and brackets may poke or irritate the gum tissue over time. Thankfully, Invisalign aligners are crafted from a smooth, high-quality plastic that feels very comfortable when worn.
Enjoy Faster Results
While every patient’s needs are different, most people can expect to complete Invisalign treatment in 12-18 months. This is a significant improvement over traditional braces, which often have to be worn upwards of two years.
Living with Invisalign Aligners
Interested in learning what life with Invisalign is like? Maybe you want to do as much research as possible beforehand, so the transition is as smooth and seamless as possible. This next section is dedicated to covering what you need to know about wearing your trays, attending your routine check-in visits, and more.
Wearing Your Trays
There’s one important rule you need to follow in order to stay on track with your Invisalign treatment: you need to wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day. The best way to make sure you meet the wear time every day is by using the Invisalign app or the timer on your phone.
Cleaning Your Aligners
Let’s start with what you shouldn’t do: use bleach or any other household cleaners. In fact, even toothpaste and mouthwash can be too abrasive. Instead, rinse your aligners thoroughly with cool water and then use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove food particles, plaque, and other debris. You can also soak your trays in a mixture of lukewarm water and the cleaning crystals that came in your welcome kit.
Eating & Drinking
Unlike other orthodontic treatments, you don’t need to completely eliminate any foods or drinks from your diet with Invisalign. You do need to be mindful of what you eat, however. After all, over-indulging on popcorn, peanut brittle, tortilla chips, and other crunchy foods can cause your attachments to fall off. Similarly, consuming added sugar in excess can result in a cavity developing, which can result in inconvenient delays to your treatment plan. In short, do your best to stick to smile-friendly foods as much as possible, like cooked vegetables and fresh fruit.
Losing or Damaging a Tray
Losing or damaging a tray frequently causes patients to panic. However, it’s often even more difficult to find them or assess how severely they are broken in a heightened state. For that reason, we recommend taking a few deep breaths. Whether your tray has a small hairline crack or it has broken into several pieces, we recommend calling us so we can determine if a replacement needs to be made. If you’ve lost your aligners, on the other hand, then do your best to retrace your steps and, if they really are lost, call us ASAP so we can guide you through what to do next.
Routine Check-Ins
Although your check-in appointments aren’t as frequent with Invisalign, they still serve an important purpose. When you arrive, we’ll take you back to the treatment room, ask you a few questions about your treatment, and take new scans of your teeth. This allows us to see how your teeth are moving in comparison to your treatment plan. If they aren’t tracking properly, then we will ask you to make some slight adjustments, like increasing how often you use the chewies. Of course, if everything looks good, then we will give you your next set of aligners and send you on your way until your next appointment!
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
Because everyone’s teeth are unique, there is no one-size-fits-all cost for Invisalign treatment. Instead, the overall cost of Invisalign in New Lenox is influenced by a number of factors that our team at Atrium Family Dental of New Lenox will discuss with you during your initial consultation. We want you to achieve a healthier, straighter smile, but we also want to help keep your costs as low as possible, which is why we’ll be happy to maximize your dental insurance benefits as well as provide alternative ways to pay if you are uninsured or need help to pay any remaining balance.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Invisalign
No two patients are alike, so it is necessary that you come in to see our Invisalign dentist in New Lenox for a consultation. While examining your smile, we will consider the following factors to determine how much you can expect to pay for your Invisalign treatment:
- Whether you need aligners for just the top or bottom arch or both
- How severe your case is, as it will be much easier to close a small gap than to realign an overbite or crossbite
- How long you will be required to undergo treatment, as the more aligners you need, the costlier your treatment will be
Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?
A do-it-yourself (DIY) clear aligner system might sound like a better idea, especially since it costs much less than Invisalign ($2,000 as opposed to $3,000-$8,000); however, some potential pitfalls can come with cheaper solutions like Smile Direct Club, such as:
- You are required to take your own impressions, which can mean less accurate results and ill-fitting aligners
- You will have no oversight by a licensed orthodontist, which can be problematic should you experience issues throughout your treatment
- You will be responsible for moving through your treatment by yourself, so if a problem does develop, you may not realize it until too much damage is done
While Invisalign in New Lenox does cost more, it is well worth the investment. Not only will you be guaranteed professionally crafted aligners, but they will fit comfortably and offer predictable results. Also, our team will be with you every step of the way ensuring no problems occur throughout treatment.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
The good news is that if your dental insurance already covers traditional orthodontic treatment, your plan likely covers clear braces treatment like Invisalign as well. Be sure to check with your insurance provider, however, before electing to move forward with any orthodontic treatment. We’ll be happy to go over the details of your insurance plan with you and ensure your benefits are being maximized. You should also know that if you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you can use those funds to help pay for your Invisalign treatment.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
If you’re uninsured, Atrium Family Dental of New Lenox is pleased to provide the Smile Saver Club, which is an in-house membership plan that allows individuals the opportunity to pay a low monthly payment for access to an array of benefits and discounts on various services. Also, whether you are insured or not, you can apply for flexible financing through CareCredit. This third-party company provides low and zero interest payment plans, allowing you to better budget for your Invisalign treatment by making monthly installments.
Invisalign FAQs
Do you want to know more about how Invisalign treatment can straighten teeth in New Lenox? At Atrium Family Dental of New Lenox, we believe in giving our patients all the information they need to make informed decisions about their dental health. That is why our team has compiled some of the most common questions and answers about Invisalign in this handy FAQ section below. If you still have more questions after reading, please do not hesitate to give us a call!
Can I Benefit from Invisalign If I Had Metal Braces in the Past?
It is not uncommon for teeth to shift over long periods of time, even with prior orthodontic treatment. However, Invisalign treatment can safely and effectively shift teeth back into the desired position regardless! So, even if you had metal braces years ago in high school but are currently unhappy with the alignment of your teeth, you can likely benefit from Invisalign in New Lenox. The best part? This time around, you can straighten your smile without having to repeat the experience of having uncomfortable and unsightly metal brackets and wires in your mouth.
Are Invisalign Aligners Chemically Safe for My Mouth?
Invisalign treatment is a perfectly safe way to realign your smile and will not cause any serious bodily harm. Invisalign aligners are crafted from medical-grade polyurethane plastic, a material that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for long-term use in the body. The revolutionary clear braces do not contain any harmful chemical compounds such as Bisphenol A (BPA), parabens, latex, phthalates, glutaraldehyde or epoxy, according to the manufacturer.
How Long Does Invisalign Treatment Take?
Ultimately, the length of your custom Invisalign treatment will depend in large part on your unique teeth and smile goals. However, generally speaking, Invisalign treatment is typically able to straighten a person’s smile in just 12 to 18 months. This is significantly shorter than traditional metal braces, which must often be worn for up to two years or more!
You can help ensure the speediness of your own Invisalign treatment plan by wearing your aligners as directed by your dentist – typically 20 to 22 hours a day – and practicing excellent oral hygiene at home.
How Do I Clean My Invisalign Aligners?
Preventing plaque and bacteria from building up on your Invisalign aligners is important to both protect your teeth and complete your treatment on schedule. When cleaning your aligners, be sure to:
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste
- Hold the aligners in your hand and brush gently but thoroughly
- Rinse the aligners in lukewarm – never hot – water.
Does Invisalign Hurt?
Invisalign in New Lenox is said to cause less discomfort than traditional braces because there aren't any brackets or wires irritating the inside of your lips and cheeks. However, no orthodontic treatment is completely pain-free. Your aligners will apply continual pressure to your teeth to move them gradually. This can cause tenderness for a few days. Discomfort is normal after first getting your aligners and switching to the next set in your series. It is actually a sign that your treatment is working. Don't worry, it won't last forever. It will happen less frequently as you progress through your treatment. You can manage your discomfort with an over-the-counter pain reliever and eating soft foods.
What Foods Can I Eat During My Invisalign Treatment?
You don't have to skip your favorite treats or meals with Invisalign because the aligners are removable. Take them out when eating or drinking anything except water. Keep your aligners in their storage case whenever you're not wearing them to avoid misplacing them. Although you can eat anything you want, don't forget to brush and floss before putting your aligners back in your mouth. Make sure you are wearing them for at least 22 hours per day.
Will Wearing Invisalign Aligners Change How I Talk?
Your aligners will feel foreign in your mouth for a few days. You can expect an adjustment period, including changes to the way you talk. You won't have to worry about your aligners slipping or falling out when speaking. Initially, your words may sound slurred, but it's only temporary. As they say, practice makes perfect. Reading out loud or singing is a great way to adjust to wearing your aligners quickly. In no time at all, you'll be speaking clearly and confidently.
Is Invisalign Cheaper Than Metal Braces?
Believe it or not, Invisalign and metal braces can cost about the same, but many factors affect the amount you'll pay. There's no flat fee for either treatment because every mouth is unique. Various things will affect the cost, like the complexity of the tooth movements needed. Your cosmetic dentist in New Lenox will examine your mouth and create a personalized treatment plan. A member of our office will review your estimate and payment options. If your dental insurance offers orthodontic coverage, you can use your benefits to lower the amount you will pay out-of-pocket. Our office offers various financial solutions to keep a straight smile affordable, like monthly payments through a third-party financing company.