Invisalign – Tustin, CA

Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign

Your Invisalign treatment’s cost will depend on several factors. These include:

• The Number of Treated Arches – Invisalign usually treats the upper and lower arches, but not always. Naturally, you’ll pay more for fixing both than just one.
• Your Treatment’s Complexity – If your treatment needs complex tooth movements, it’ll have a higher price. For example, fixing a single gap between front teeth costs less than treating several severely crooked teeth.
• Proposed Treatment Length – The longer your Invisalign journey, the more aligners you’ll need. As such, lengthy treatments involve greater costs.
• Treatment Compliance – If you fail to wear aligners for 22 hours daily, you’ll face treatment delays. These lags will then increase Invisalign’s price.

Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which is Pricier?

Put simply, Invisalign has a higher upfront cost; its price ranges from $3,000 to $8,000. On the other hand, Smile Direct Club™ initially charges less than $2,000.

You should know, though, that Smile Direct Club™ is a DIY clear aligner kit. Since it has little oversight, the treatment has a lot of room for error. For example, you might make the impressions poorly or not follow the correct instructions. Should such things happen, you’ll face serious issues that need a dentist's help anyway.

Invisalign, however, doesn’t have such problems. It relies on constant oversight from Dr. Zhang, so it has accurate impressions and a smooth process. If you want peace of mind, such features make Invisalign’s cost worth it.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Only some dental plans cover orthodontic work, and even those that do can leave out Invisalign. If your insurance offers coverage, you could expect it to meet up to 50% of the treatment cost.

Ultimately, it all depends on your dental policy. As such, confirming things with your insurance provider is a good idea. Our team can even help you with that process.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

Even if you lack dental insurance, there’s no reason to fear. Many practices have other ways to make Invisalign affordable. It’s just a matter of finding the right options.

Take our own Zhang Dental Group, for instance. For only a low monthly or yearly fee, we offer patients various membership plans. These allow you to prepay for annual care and get discounts on additional treatments. Concerning Invisalign, then, you could see a price reduction of 25-50%!

In the end, Zhang Dental Group is ready to straighten your smile affordably. If you’d like to know more about the financial details, book a visit with our office!

Does Invisalign Give You a Lisp?

Remember, Invisalign wouldn’t be one of the most popular orthodontic treatments if it changed your speaking patterns during your time with clear aligners. Although many patients are concerned about this, the large majority don’t experience any alterations to their speech at all. Furthermore, the ones that do can take solace in knowing that it will be short-lived. You can even expedite the adjustment period by reading out loud and counting from 60 to 90 several times (this helps you master the sometimes difficult “s” sound).

What if My Invisalign Broke?

Since your aligners only work while you’re wearing them, it’s crucial to act quickly if one of yours breaks. If it’s a hairline crack, then continue to use your trays with the utmost care, applying even pressure when taking them in and out. If it’s a more significant crack, then call our cosmetic dentist in Tustin right away. From there, we will be able to determine the next best steps. Note: do NOT use super glue to address the crack. Household adhesives like these contain toxins that are not safe to ingest.

What Are Invisalign Attachments?

When Invisalign was first introduced some 20+ years ago, it was only suitable for patients with more minor misalignment. Thanks to attachments, that’s no longer the case! In short, the little pieces of tooth-colored resin give your aligners something to grip onto, helping your teeth move into their desired positions. While only your dentist can take them off, you’ll still enjoy all of the benefits of Invisalign (i.e., no dietary restrictions, discreet braces, faster treatment timelines).

How Do I Clean My Invisalign?

On a daily basis, there are a few best practices you should implement to keep your Invisalign clear aligners clean. That starts with rinsing them each time you take them out of your mouth and extends to brushing them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and some water before putting them back in. For a deeper clean, you can soak them in a mixture of the cleaning crystals and lukewarm water for about 15 minutes. Again, do not use household items, like bleach. This can damage your trays and the toxins are not safe to ingest.

How Long Does Invisalign Take?

Invisalign is known for delivering results quicker than traditional braces, but how fast can you work through your series of trays? Well, that depends on your unique dental needs! If your misalignment is minor, it may only take six months. If your misalignment is more severe, then it can take 18+ months. However, the average treatment timeline is around the 12-month mark.

Does Wearing Invisalign Hurt?

Invisalign aligners are very comfortable to wear thanks to their smooth plastic design. When you first put them in your mouth, you might feel some slight soreness and discomfort. That’s a sign that they’re working; the aligners are exerting pressure on your teeth to gradually shift them into place.

The initial discomfort should fade once your mouth gets used to the aligners. When you switch to the next aligner in the series, you might start feeling the pressure again, but it will be completely manageable. You can reduce any discomfort with over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen. Holding a cold compress over the sore area can also help.

What Happens After Invisalign?

Once you’ve finished wearing the last aligners in the series, you’ll return to our office so that we can confirm that your teeth are in the desired position. At this point, you’ll need to start wearing a retainer to make sure that your teeth don’t start to move back to where they were before. It’s important to wear your retainer as directed because it will help make sure that the new smile you’ve already invested significant time and money in lasts for a long time.

The amount of time you need to wear your retainer will depend on your particular circumstances. In most cases, you’ll start by wearing it all day, only taking it out to eat or clean your teeth. Eventually, though, you’ll reach the point where you only need to wear it at night.

Can You Eat with Invisalign?

You should never consume anything except for water while your Invisalign aligners are in your mouth. Trying to chew while wearing the aligners can cause them to crack, and the plastic will stain easily if it’s exposed to dark-colored foods and beverages. Moreover, trying to eat with your aligners puts additional pressure on your teeth, and that can lead to all kinds of dental problems.

As long as you always remove your aligners during mealtimes, you’ll be able to enjoy all of your favorite foods without limits. Remember to always keep your aligners in a secure case and put them back in once you’re done eating.

Can You Get Invisalign After Braces?

Even if you have worn braces in the past, you might still be eligible for Invisalign treatment. Sometimes your teeth can drift out of place and become misaligned again years after you’ve had your braces removed. Invisalign can help reverse these changes so that you can continue to enjoy a properly aligned smile.

It should be noted that Invisalign is intended for mild to moderate orthodontic corrections; more severe issues may require traditional braces. As such, some people start by wearing traditional braces to address bigger issues; once that’s done, they may switch to Invisalign to make the remaining corrections. Of course, whether this is the best option for you depends on your needs. We will thoroughly examine your smile before we make any treatment recommendations.