When it comes to teeth straightening, Invisalign is the leading brand in the market for clear aligners. But given its price, you may be wondering, Is Invisalign worth it?
Having your teeth straightened is not just for your dental health or your looks. It is also about your self-esteem and self-confidence. Your smile is a reflection of you and truth be told, appearance plays a huge part in people’s perception of you. In fact, your smile is one of the first things people notice about you.
Straight teeth play a huge role in one’s confidence.
For teens who are in their developmental years, they are in the stage where they feel the most self-conscious about their appearance. Having straight teeth and a healthy smile boosts their self-esteem
For adults, having straight teeth still plays a big role in their life. Confidence matters in getting a step up in your job or pursuing a romantic interest. Having straight teeth and a better smile gives adults the courage to pursue their goals in whatever aspect of life.
Of course, it is what is on the inside that matters the most in the long run and we should not really let other people’s judgments get in the way. But if you feel the need to make a strong first impression, having your teeth straightened through Invisalign will be a worthy and rewarding investment for you.
There is no denying that teeth straightening does not only make you look good – it also makes you feel good. As a result, you can do more things with confidence!
How does Invisalign treatment work?
Invisalign gradually straightens your teeth with the use of removable, clear aligners. Its transparent appearance makes it a popular teeth-straightening solution for those who do not want the obvious appearance of braces.
Throughout the treatment, you will be doing in-office visits to the orthodontist every few weeks to change your aligners. The removable aligners are replaced from time to time as your treatment progresses and your teeth move to the desired position.
Invisalign aligners are meant to be worn for at least 22 hours each day and you must strictly follow this if you want to get your desired results.
Now, you may think you can lie about this to your dentist but Invisalign now comes with a compliance indicator in the form of a blue dot. This dot will fade over time as you wear the aligners. If the blue dot is still visible on the schedule that you are supposed to move on to the next aligner, the dentist will know that you have not worn it long enough and will delay.
You may be wondering, how can these aligners be invisible when there is a blue dot? The blue dot is located in a part that is not visible, way back in your back teeth.
Once you have completed your Invisalign treatment, you will have to wear a retainer for 24 hours for the next three months and then only at night for the rest of your life. The retainers are a necessary step to ensure that your teeth will not move back to their original position.
How long is the treatment time for Invisalign?
The treatment time will vary depending on the severity of your case. Minor adjustments have an average treatment time of 6 months while it may take a year or more for complex cases.
The treatment time, of course, will also be affected by how compliant you are when it comes to wearing your invisible braces and following the instructions of your orthodontist.
Take note that you are supposed to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours each day. If you wear it less than that recommended time, your progress will slow down and your treatment time will extend.
How much does Invisalign cost?
There is no general rate for Invisalign treatment. This is because the total cost will depend on the severity of your case.
To give you an idea, Invisalign can cost anywhere around $2500 to $9000. The more work your teeth needs, the higher Invisalign will cost.
Other payment options
Invisalign accepts payments from your HSA or FSA accounts. They can be used to cover medical treatments, which include orthodontic care.
You can also check your insurance provider if they can cover part of the cost. Most dental insurance providers can cover up to 50% of the total bill.
Another way to help cover the cost is to see if your orthodontist or dental provider has a payment plan that will help lower the price.
As you can see, Invisalign can be an expensive treatment. If you only need to fix minor issues, you should go for cheaper invisible aligners such as Byte, Candid, Smile Direct Club, or Aligner Co. These brands are good enough to deal with minor misalignment at half the cost.
Invisalign FAQs
Is Invisalign as good as traditional metal braces?
This would depend on your dental situation. If you have a severe or complex case, your orthodontist will advise you to go for metal braces. Clear aligners have their limitations and for dental cases that needs a stronger force, metal braces does the job.
Budget-wise, Invisalign can be a more expensive orthodontic treatment compared to traditional metal braces. But the fact that it is discreet and removable makes the price worth it. This makes Invisalign have the upper hand for image-conscious patients.
What orthodontic issues can Invisalign aligners treat?
Invisalign can treat a wider range of orthodontic issues compared to other clear aligner brands. It is popularly known to correct crowded teeth, widely spaced teeth, underbites, crossbites, deep bites, and minor malocclusions.
In some cases, your orthodontist may tell you that you will need attachments as an anchor to move your teeth better. These attachments can mimic the color of your teeth but they have the tendency to make your aligners visible.
However, Invisalign does have its limitations as an orthodontic treatment. Severe or complex cases may need more force and may only be fixed with traditional braces.
What are the disadvantages of Invisalign treatment?
Cost
The most concerning disadvantage is the price. You will need to shell out a lot of money to be able to afford this treatment. Although there are ways to help cover the cost, it is still a lot compared to other treatment options like Smile Direct Club, Candid, Byte, or Aligner Co.
While other brands have set prices, Invisalign does not have set fees. You will have to do some negotiations with your orthodontist about this. Aside from that, the fees may change in case the treatment plan is not going well as expected.
No aftercare
While some brands cover the cost of the first retainer for free, Invisalign does not have this in its package. They do not cover any aftercare either.
Strict compliance and discipline
Invisalign requires strict compliance too. You can’t eat or drink while wearing Invisalign braces so you have to remove the aligner from time to time. This can be a hassle if you are having meals outside of your home.
Once removed, you have to make sure you clean it and that you do not lose it. Then, you have to clean the clear braces and clean your teeth before you put them back again.
Plus, you have to strictly wear it for at least 22 hours. You will have to be prepared for a higher level of discipline than what you are used to if you want your Invisalign treatment to be a success.
No remote treatment option available
Another thing you should consider is that most clear retainer treatment can be done remotely – Invisalign does not allow you to have this option and will require you to do regular office visits. Although this is not so bad because it ensures that you are getting up close and personal orthodontic care from a licensed expert.
Is Invisalign worth it? Yes it is! There is no denying that the Invisalign pros outweigh the cons. There is a reason why Invisalign is still in the lead in the market. This is because there is no denying that Invisalign does deliver good results.
What is the best age to get Invisalign aligners?
Invisalign can treat kids, teenagers, and adults. In fact, they can treat anyone as young as 7 years old. Invisalign can accommodate all age groups because you still get to work closely with an orthodontist throughout the entire treatment process.
However, you also have to consider the amount of discipline and compliance required during the treatment. In fact, most orthodontists would suggest conventional metal braces for children rather than Invisalign.
Invisalign is best for teenagers who understand the responsibility and adults who want a discrete way to fix their teeth misalignment issues.
Take note though that not everybody can get clear aligners. You need to have good oral health in order to be able to get treatment. If you have other dental issues such as tooth decay, you will be asked to deal with those dental issues first before getting Invisalign braces.
Conclusion
Straight and healthy smiles are not only beautiful, but they also make a big impact on your life. A nice smile will also help people warm up to you and boost your attractiveness. Getting an orthodontic treatment to achieve that is something that you should not be ashamed of!
Is Invisalign worth it? If you can afford Invisalign aligners, it is worth your time. High-quality results is often a guarantee with Invisalign orthodontic treatment. A majority of Invisalign users are very satisfied with their results.
If you have dental issues like crooked teeth or tooth gaps, getting Invisalign to resolve them is a worthy investment. In a few months, you will soon be boosting with self-confidence because you have a better smile!