Invisalign Clear Braces – North Naples, FL

Crowded Teeth

Even if you were one of the lucky few who had perfectly straight teeth most of your life, it’s still possible for them to shift out of their ideal places as you age. Unfortunately, an overcrowded or overlapped grin can be as detrimental to your appearance as it is to your oral health. People with aesthetic dental problems are more likely to feel anxious, depressed, or unwilling to socially engage with others because they’re worried about how they’ll be perceived. On top of that, it’s hard to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth when not all the surfaces are easily accessible, leaving you at an increased risk of developing tooth decay or gum disease.

With Invisalign, you’ll start to notice results in just a few weeks, which can boost your confidence and your dental condition.

Gaps Between Teeth

Having wide spaces in your smile can also detract from your oral status. Whether it’s due to natural bone development or teeth that are too small, they tend to trap food and allow bacteria to thrive. Plus, hard, hot, crunchy, and spicy foods can irritate your gums because more surface area is left exposed. Closing the gaps with Invisalign can reduce the risk of cavities and gum inflammation and upgrade your grin.

Overbite

Also known as an overjet, this occurs when your top teeth jut out too far over your lower ones. This can cause speech impediments like lisp, jaw pain, and stiff or limited motion in your mouth. Plus, it can wear down your enamel unevenly, leaving your pearly whites prone to injury like chips, cracks, or breaks. Invisalign can be used to shift your teeth so that when you close your mouth, they meet where they’re supposed to.

Underbite

People with this condition have lower teeth that meet or extend beyond the top ones when they bite down. This is often the result of childhood thumb-sucking but can also be caused by genetics or oral trauma. It can lead to problems that interfere with daily life, like sleep apnea, challenges speaking and chewing, and mouth breathing because it restricts the airway in the upper nasal passages. That means repositioning your jaw with Invisalign can lead to quality rest at night so that you can be your best self during the day.

Crossbite

If some of your upper teeth fit inside the lower ones, or vice versa, then you might have a crossbite. This malocclusion (bite misalignment) can impact your ability to chew and cause your teeth to wear down unevenly. They’re much more likely to be damaged as a result. When combined with elastics and other accessories, Invisalign can be used to shift your jaw into its proper position to prevent speech issues, headaches, bruxism, and tooth decay.  

Open Bite

When you close your mouth, if your upper and lower teeth don’t touch, you may have an open bite. This is often due to poor bone development as a child or oral habits like prolonged pacifier-sucking. Regardless of the cause, it can lead to poor enunciation and excessive pressure against the back teeth, which increases the likelihood that they’ll be harmed. Invisalign can bring your top and bottom arches together properly to promote better dental health.

‘Invisible’ Aligners

One of the main reasons many teenagers and adults prefer Invisalign over standard braces is that the plastic trays are much more discreet. Shiny metal brackets in your mouth can draw plenty of unwanted attention, leaving you feeling overly anxious about how others might judge your appearance. Thankfully, the transparent plastic allows your natural teeth and gums to show through so you look and feel like yourself.

That’s great news if you have an upcoming event like a graduation, wedding, or family reunion because you’ll be able to flash a beautiful smile for every photo without fear.

Improved Oral Hygiene

Thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily is essential to prevent dental problems like cavities and gum disease. However, many patients have struggled to keep their grins clean with braces because the brackets and wires get in the way. It can be challenging to maneuver a toothbrush or flosser around the metal to scrub all the surfaces, leaving you more vulnerable to oral issues.

Invisalign is removable, so you can more easily maintain your usual brushing and flossing routine. You should also wash your trays with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild dish soap to remove plaque or buildup of bacteria.  

Smooth Material

The sharp edges and corners of brittle brackets and wires are notorious for rubbing raw spots against the tender tissues inside your mouth. As a result, it’s not uncommon for patients with braces to develop sores that make basic tasks, like eating and speaking, uncomfortable.

With Invisalign, you don’t have to about lacerations or chronic pain. Although you may feel aches when you first start wearing a new set of trays, the smooth plastic covering your teeth won’t rub you raw.

Enhance Self-Confidence

Did you know that people with dental problems are less likely to want to engage with others socially? Anxiety about how they might perceive the state of your smile can leave you feeling so self-conscious that you try to remain tight-lipped or choose to stay home.

With Invisalign, you can see improvements in as few as two weeks, which can be seen through clear covers. Not only are you less likely to worry about people judging your orthodontics, but you’ll be showing off an ever-straighter grin throughout your treatment, which can improve your self-confidence.

Non-Invasive Method

Because Invisalign is removable, it’s considered less invasive than traditional braces because fewer of your daily activities are directly impacted. For example, you can keep up with your usual daily dental hygiene routine much more easily to protect your teeth. Plus, there are no dietary restrictions to contend with because your orthodontics aren’t in your mouth during meals.  

Faster Follow-Ups

Patients with braces have longer, more intensive follow-up appointments because the wires and brackets have to be adjusted to ensure your teeth continue to shift as intended. Invisalign relies on a series of pre-designed trays instead. That means your follow-up appointments are much quicker. Typically, you can expect them to take about 15 to 30 minutes to examine your condition, provide your new aligners, and check that you’re still on track with your treatment timeline.

Wearing Your Trays

As you already know, wearing your aligners for 20+ hours a day is crucial. The good news is that meeting this goal daily is relatively easy once you find a schedule that works for you! We recommend dedicating a certain amount of time to each meal, like 40 minutes, as well as 15 minutes for oral hygiene throughout the day. Using the stopwatch on your phone will help a lot when you’re first solidifying your schedule, but it will be second nature before you know it.

Cleaning Your Aligners

Fortunately, keeping your aligners clean is easy, and it won’t take up too much of your time. The first step is to use clean, cool water to rinse them every time you take them off. The second step is to use a damp, soft-bristled toothbrush to remove food particles, plaque, and other debris from their surface each morning and evening (or after each meal, if you can). You can also use the cleaning crystals on an as-needed basis to clean your aligners more thoroughly.

Eating & Drinking

As you likely already know, Invisalign doesn’t require you to change your diet. In fact, the only habit you’ll need to adopt is taking your trays out beforehand. Remember, dark-colored beverages, like coffee, can quickly stain your aligners, even if you use a straw. So, don’t get in the habit of keeping them on while enjoying this caffeinated beverage. Instead, drink it alongside your breakfast or lunch since your trays will already be out!

Losing a Tray

With each minute you aren’t wearing your aligners, there’s a greater risk of treatment plan delays. That’s why acting quickly is so important! First, try to remember the last place you had your trays. Then, carefully retrace your steps, looking in “random” places like the waste bin. If you can’t find them, then call our North Naples dental team ASAP. Then, we can determine if you can move onto the next set in the series or if you need to wear your previous ones while a replacement is made.

Routine Check-Ins

Your periodic check-in visits at our office are crucial for several reasons, including the fact that they allow us to see how your teeth are moving in accordance with your treatment plan. We also use these periodic appointments to answer any questions you have about the treatment process, give you helpful tips and recommendations, and provide you with your next batch of aligners. So, it’s safe to say that they are important; don’t skip them!

Factors that Affect the Cost of Invisalign

When meeting with Dr. Makram, your Invisalign dentist in North Naples, he will evaluate your smile to determine the following factors that will play a role in your overall cost:

• The severity of your crooked teeth, overcrowded teeth, spacial issues, or bite misalignment
• The number of clear aligners you need to achieve results (top row, bottom row, or both)
• The timeline for successful treatment (i.e., closing a minor gap will take less time than shifting an overbite)

Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?

Smile Direct Club might seem like a beneficial and easy DIY solution, but you shouldn’t pick up the phone to order just yet. Yes, the $2,000 price tag looks more appealing than the thousands that can come with Invisalign. However, there are likely a few things you’re unaware of that might do more harm than good if you choose a DIY solution like Smile Direct Club.

• You will need to take your own impressions. This may look easy, but if you’re not skilled in how to do it properly, it can lead to ill-fitting aligners that actually mess up your teeth instead of straightening them.
• Should you run into a problem while wearing your Smile Direct Club aligners, you will not have an orthodontist or dentist to see you face-to-face. This will require that you pay to see a local professional who can help.
• You may not be a good fit for clear aligners, but unless you are seen by a licensed dentist beforehand, you could potentially damage your smile.
• You are responsible for sharing the progress of your treatment; however, you only see what lies on the surface. You may not know there is a problem until it’s too late.

Choosing Invisalign in North Naples instead of a DIY system may cost more, but you can feel confident that your results will last much longer, and your treatment will be overseen by a trusted professional.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Every dental insurance policy is different, so you’ll need to review your plan to determine if it covers orthodontics. Many require patients to purchase a separate plan, but it can have exclusions (i.e., only dependents ages 19 and under can receive orthodontic coverage). If you do have available coverage through your insurance, they may agree to pay up to 50% of the total price. It may also be possible to use your FSA to pay for some of the costs. Our team at Dr. Makram’s office will be happy to help you with this financial process to make it as stress-free as possible.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

If you are uninsured or need assistance paying the remaining balance after filing with your insurance, we are pleased to partner with both CareCredit and LendingClub. As flexible financing solutions, you can enroll in a low or zero interest payment plan that allows you to break up the cost of your treatment so you can stay within your budget.

Does Wearing Invisalign Aligners Hurt?

Invisalign aligners are smooth and fit snugly against your teeth; however, when starting treatment or switching to a new set in the series, you can expect there to be some slight discomfort. Your teeth are moving, which means you may feel some unpleasantness, but you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to achieve relief. This should only last a short time and will quickly dissipate as long as you continue to wear your trays the expected amount of time.

Are Invisalign Results Permanent?

Once you are finished with Invisalign treatment, you can expect your teeth to remain in their new location as long as you commit to wearing your retainer. It is necessary to have one because teeth can easily shift out of alignment but as long as you abide by the recommendations of your cosmetic dentist in North Naples, you can expect your teeth to become permanently seated in place and stay for a lifetime.

What Should I Do If I Lose My Invisalign Trays?

It is always recommended that you keep a protective case nearby. This will serve as a placeholder for your trays while eating or drinking. It is easy to place your aligners in a napkin only to have them accidentally thrown away. Should you discover you have lost one or both of your trays, make sure to keep your previous set. You can return to wearing them until you can get in to see our team. Once we evaluate your teeth, we will determine if you need new aligners or if you can move forward to the next set in the series.

Can I Be Treated with Invisalign If I’ve Worn Braces in the Past?

It is possible to be treated with Invisalign even if you wore metal braces as a teenager or young adult. However, the decision is up to Dr. Makram and whether your situation is capable of undergoing successful treatment with Invisalign. Some bite alignment problems or severe gaps may require metal braces, but this may not always be the case. During your consultation with our team, we will thoroughly examine whether Invisalign is right for you.