Invisalign® Clear Braces – Edison, NJ
The Metal-Free Way to Straighten Crooked Teeth
You never got braces when you were a teenager. Now that you’re an adult, you feel like you missed the boat on being able to straighten your smile. You feel like you’ll simply have to deal with having misaligned teeth. After all, you don’t want to look like a nerdy high school student by wearing metal braces. The good news is, you don’t have to! With Invisalign in Edison, you can achieve a perfectly straight set of pearly whites without having to wear a mouthful of metal. Contact Signature Smiles at Edison to learn more about this revolutionary treatment!
Why Choose Signature Smiles at Edison for Invisalign?
- Experienced and Accommodating Team Members
- Dentist with Orthodontic Training
- Affordable Financing Plans Offered
How Invisalign Works
The Invisalign process begins with a consultation with Dr. Hiren Shah. Once he determines that you’re a good candidate for this treatment, he takes digital impressions of your mouth, which are used to create your personalized clear aligners. You’ll wear these comfortable plastic trays over your teeth for at least 20-22 hours a day. Essentially, you should only remove them to eat, drink, or clean your teeth. You’ll wear each set for a couple of weeks before moving onto the next set. Each pair is designed to shift a tiny portion of your smile into place until the entire thing is perfectly aligned.
Throughout the course of your treatment, which usually takes between 8 and 18 months, you’ll have to visit us every few weeks. However, these appointments are typically short. We’ll briefly evaluate your progress and provide you with your next several pairs of aligners.
Benefits of Invisalign
As the name suggests, Invisalign treatment is practically invisible, so you don’t have to sacrifice your professional image in order to straighten your smile. While that is one of the reasons more than 17 million patients have chosen this innovative orthodontic treatment, it’s far from the only one. Below, you’ll find a few additional advantages, so read on if you are considering clear aligners for yourself!
There Aren’t Any Dietary Restrictions
Let’s start with a benefit of Invisalign that often gets overlooked: you don’t need to completely change your diet. In fact, since the aligners are removable, you’re free to enjoy all of your favorite foods throughout your orthodontic treatment. Just make sure that you take your aligners off beforehand and that you clean both your teeth and your trays before putting them back on.
The Average Treatment Time Is Faster
Another considerable perk: the average treatment timeline with Invisalign is only 12-18 months. Conversely, traditional braces usually take 2-3 years. The key to avoiding lengthy and frustrating delays is following the guidelines we provide, starting with wearing your aligners for a minimum of 20 hours a day and extending to prioritizing your progress visits.
The Aligners Are Metal-Free
Oftentimes, patients assume the only benefit of having metal-free braces is that they are more aesthetically pleasing. That’s not the case! The reality is that not having bulky brackets and protruding wires makes the teeth-straightening process considerably more comfortable. To put it simply, you don’t have to deal with considerable soft tissue irritation or mouth sores with Invisalign.
There Are Fewer Check-In Visits
Since aligners don’t need to be adjusted like braces do, you’ll spend considerably less time in the treatment chair. In fact, most patients only come to our Edison dental office every 6-8 weeks. Plus, if your teeth are moving as anticipated, there’s a good chance that you’ll be in and out of the treatment chair in less than 30 minutes!
The Aligners Are Quite Versatile
In addition to being able to correct overcrowding and spacing issues, Invisalign can address common bite problems, including overbites, underbites, and crossbites. So, if you think that traditional braces are your only option, think again! With clear, custom-made aligners, Dr. Hiren H. Shah can deliver the same gorgeous results without the hassle that comes with metal brackets and wires.
Interested in learning more about the benefits of Invisalign? If so, take the next step: give us a call so we can schedule a consultation at our office. Once that appointment is on the calendar, you’ll be a big step closer to having the smile you’ve always wanted!
Who Can Invisalign Help?
Invisalign can be an excellent way to address many mild to moderate dental misalignments. While this treatment is more comfortable and convenient than traditional braces for many patients, it requires them to be disciplined about following their dentist’s instructions so they can keep their realignment process on track. Here’s a quick look a few of the alignment issues Invisalign can resolve, but please contact the team at Signature Smiles if you’d like to know more.
Crowded Teeth
Many people have teeth that are too close together, and this problem can become worse with age due to dental drift. This can make teeth harder to clean and easier to injure, which sets them up for infection and early loss. Invisalign can gradually shift the teeth to make them evenly spread out across the gumline so they can stay healthier and bite more efficiently.
Gaps Between Teeth
Sizeable gaps between teeth can leave them and the gums more vulnerable to injury, and they can shelter large deposits of food debris that breed harmful oral bacteria and lead to painful oral infections. While this can be due to genetic factors, it may also result from prolonged non-nutritive habits such as thumb-sucking during childhood. Invisalign can shift the teeth closer together to protect your smile from injuries.
Overbite
Overbite refers to when the top teeth are positioned too far in front of the bottom ones, and this can lead to jaw pain, speech difficulties, uneven dental wear, and trouble opening and closing the mouth, and it can also leave the prominent front teeth more vulnerable to injury. Invisalign can address this issue by shifting the bite alignment into a more secure and stable position.
Underbite
An underbite involves the bottom teeth being positioned in front of the top ones, and it can be the result of genetic factors, oral injuries, tumors, and non-nutritive habits during childhood such as thumb-sucking. It can cause a range of issues if left unaddressed such as mouth breathing, difficulty speaking and chewing, and an increased risk of sleep apnea. While the issue is usually addressed more easily in younger patients, it’s still important to treat it in adults. Invisalign can address an underbite, but doing so will probably involve the use of additional appliances such as rubber bands.
Crossbite
A crossbite is when some of the upper teeth sit behind the lower teeth when the mouth is closed, and it can be due to genetic factors, poor oral habits, and the early loss of baby teeth. While Invisalign can treat this issue, it may require the use of elastics or other accessories to help shift the jaw into better alignment. An unaddressed crossbite can lead to a range of issues such as gum disease, tooth decay, jaw pain, speaking trouble, grinding, headaches, and facial asymmetry.
Open Bite
An open bite happens when the top and bottom teeth do not overlap or touch when the mouth is closed, and it typically happens due to poor bone development or prolonged non-nutritive habits during childhood. An open bite can make it difficult to speak clearly and put excessive wear on the enamel of the back teeth. Invisalign can address this issue by drawing the top and bottom teeth closer together so they can fit properly when the mouth is closed and enjoy a reduced risk of dental injuries.
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
As with any dental treatment, you’ll want to know how much you can expect to pay for Invisalign before you’re ready to commit to it. While there is no set price for Invisalign in Edison, we will be able to give you a personalized estimate once we’ve had a chance to evaluate your oral health during your consultation. We’ll also review all your options for making the smile of your dreams as affordable as possible, whether that’s through your dental insurance coverage, our in-house membership plan, or flexible financing through CareCredit. Read on to learn more about the cost of Invisalign in Edison.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Invisalign
Because every patient has different needs, there is no “fixed” cost of Invisalign. During your consultation, we’ll create your custom estimate based on several factors, such as:
- The extent and severity of your orthodontic troubles
- If you need any treatments before moving forward, such as gum disease therapy or fillings
- The number of aligners you’ll need throughout the course of your treatment
- Your age
Additionally, how well you adhere to your treatment plan will also influence the final cost. For example, if you lose or break your aligners often, you’ll need to pay for replacement aligners. If you don’t wear your aligners often enough, you may extend the length and cost of your treatment.
Invisalign VS Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?
Companies like the Smile Direct Club offer a unique mail-in aligner service that touts the “benefit” of not needing to set foot inside a dentist’s office for your treatment. While this may seem temptingly convenient and will often initially cost you less money than an official Invisalign treatment, you could easily pay a higher price in the long run. With little to no supervision from a trained professional, there are many chances for things to go wrong. What’s more, your teeth could potentially even be moved into the wrong positions, requiring you to see an orthodontist in the end anyways! Professional organizations like the ADA have filed official complaints against Smile Direct Club and have publicly deemed them as unsafe.
When you visit us for Invisalign, you can rest easy knowing that our experienced team will be with you every step of the way to ensure your treatment goes as smoothly as possible. We’ll be here for you if you have any questions about your progress, and our team will work with you to keep the cost of Invisalign as low as possible. The peace-of-mind knowing you’re receiving a trusted treatment from a professional is well-worth the investment!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
Some dental insurance policies offer coverage for orthodontic services. However, not all of them do, and even among those plans that do cover orthodontics, they don’t always cover Invisalign. We’ll be happy to review your dental insurance to ensure your benefits are being maximized.
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
To help make your new smile as affordable as possible, we offer two great ways to save money on your orthodontic care:
- Our in-house membership plan: No dental insurance? For one flat fee a year, you can enroll in our in-house membership plan, which covers all your preventive care and provides a discount on all services performed at our practice.
- Flexible CareCredit financing: CareCredit is a third-party financing company that offers a variety of low- to no-interest financing plans. Qualifying patients can choose one of these plans to break up the cost of their Invisalign into smaller payments that fit into their monthly budget.
Invisalign FAQs
Now you know more about how Invisalign in Edison works, the benefits this treatment comes with, and the cost. However, it’s completely normal to still have some questions on your mind before committing to treatment. To make finding the answers as easy as possible, we have responded to a few of the most frequently asked questions below. If you can’t find what you are looking for or would prefer to speak with our team directly, don’t hesitate to contact our office!
Is Invisalign Treatment Painful?
To be completely transparent, every orthodontic treatment comes with some soreness and discomfort. After all, that means your braces are working to shift your teeth into a more aesthetically pleasing position! With that being said, Invisalign is considered to be one of the most comfortable options, especially compared to traditional braces. Not only are there no metal brackets and wires, but the clear aligners are custom-made for you, making them much less likely to cause discomfort.
What If I Lose One of My Invisalign Aligners?
Having clear aligners is a major plus, until you try looking for them once you’ve noticed they’ve gone missing. Priority number one is to remain calm and retrace your steps. If you’ve turned over your place and still can’t locate them, then contact our office right away. From there, our dentist in Edison, Dr. Shah, can determine the next best steps. If you just started a phase, he may recommend using your previous aligners until a replacement can be made. On the other hand, you may be able to move to the next set if you were almost done with those trays.
How Long Does Invisalign Treatment Take on Average?
One of the benefits of Invisalign is that their aligners deliver results in an average of 12 months (while traditional alternatives take 18+ months). However, it is important to remember that your timeline could be significantly shorter or longer depending on your unique dental needs. For example, if you want to address minor misalignment, you can see results in as little as six months. On the other hand, if you want to correct a major overbite, then you can expect to wear your aligners for over a year. The best way to find out your exact timeline is to schedule an appointment!
My Invisalign Aligners Are Turning Yellow and Staining. What Can I Do About This?
If your aligners have begun to take on a yellow tinge, making your teeth look discolored and unhealthy, there are a few things you can do:
- Brush after every meal and before you put your aligners back in your mouth
- Clean your aligners daily with Invisalign-friendly cleaning products
- Always remove your aligners when you eat or drink (with the exception of water)
- Avoid poor dental habits, like smoking or drinking lots of coffee
Will Invisalign Affect How I Speak?
To properly enunciate words, your tongue makes a series of distinct motions against the back of your teeth. Therefore, with your aligners on, there may be a bit of a learning curve. However, many patients don’t experience any difficulty, and those that do can typically expect their lisp to go away within a few days.