Invisalign West Loop Chicago
Show Off a Straighter Smile
There are many teens and adults out there who are unhappy with the alignment of their teeth, but not everyone is committed to spending a year or two with a mouthful of metal brackets and wires. Fortunately, at Washington Dental Care West Loop, we offer Invisalign to help you achieve a straighter smile without a mouthful of metal. To learn more about getting Invisalign in West Loop Chicago, give us a call to schedule a consultation!
Why Choose Washington Dental Care West Loop for Invisalign?
- Digital Impression Technology
- Saturday Appointments Available
- Friendly, Professional Dental Team
How Does Invisalign Work?
Instead of using metal brackets and wires to move your teeth, Invisalign treatment uses a series of clear aligners to slowly shift your teeth into their new places. You will wear each set for about two weeks before moving on to the next one. Over time, your teeth will gradually move to their aligned locations. Unlike traditional braces, you don’t need to have anything tightened throughout your treatment, but you will still need to come to the office to ensure that the treatment is going as planned.
Indications for Invisalign
Invisalign can correct a variety of different alignment issues. Here are some of the most common ones:
Crowded Teeth
For teeth that have become crowded and overlapping, Invisalign is an excellent solution. Clear aligners apply gentle pressure to different parts of the teeth to shift them to a more aligned position. This helps to prevent problems, like cavities and gum disease, that are common in people who have overcrowded teeth.
Gaps Between Teeth
When teeth are too far apart, gaps can become apparent. They also put you at much higher risk for oral health issues and tooth damage because food debris and plaque become easily trapped and more difficult to remove. Invisalign can move your teeth to be the perfect distance apart.
Bite Alignment
If your bite is misaligned, you can develop issues, like temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) and bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding). Invisalign is effective when it comes to correcting overbites, underbites, crossbites, and more!
The Benefits of Invisalign
If it’s determined that you make a good candidate for Invisalign, you might feel relieved that your journey to a straighter smile will be basically invisible. However, this is just one of the many benefits of clear aligners! Here are some of the other perks of this orthodontic treatment:
No Soft Tissue Irritation
When patients hear “metal-free,” they often think “no dark-colored brackets and wires.” That’s certainly true, but there’s another important perk: no soft tissue irritation! Of course, occasional discomfort from the movement of your teeth is completely normal. Even this sensation will be short-lived and easily managed with the right habits in place, like starting a new set of aligners before bed so you can sleep through the initial soreness.
Metal-Free Aligners
As we’ve mentioned already, Invisalign is great for image-conscious teens and adults because the aligners are virtually undetectable. In fact, it’s unlikely that anyone will be able to tell that you’re wearing them, even if they see you every day. The key to keeping your orthodontic treatment discreet is taking great care of your aligners. So, make sure that you commit to good habits, like rinsing them with clean, cool water when you take them off.
Freedom to Eat What You Want
While traditional braces come with dietary restrictions, Invisalign does not. Basically, as long as you remove your aligners beforehand and take the time to brush and floss before putting them back in, you can eat pretty much anything you want!
Tip: When you take your aligners out to eat, put them in their designated case. Leaving them on your plate or the kitchen counter can lead to them accidentally getting lost, which you want to avoid.
Better Dental Hygiene
Like most patients, you might not be particularly enthused about having to brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash. The good news is that Invisalign doesn’t come with any cumbersome oral hygiene routines or require you to buy special dental care products since the aligners are removable. That means less change, less stress, and less chance of oral health problems!
Shorter Average Treatment Timelines
It’s important that we first mention that there are several factors that impact the length of your orthodontic treatment – from the complexity of your case to how consistently you wear your aligners. With that said, the average treatment timeline with Invisalign is only 12-18 months. So, if you want a straight smile in time for an event that’s rapidly approaching, like your wedding, clear aligners may be the best choice for you!
Quick Follow-Up Visits
Quick follow-up appointments are a huge perk for busy parents, students, and professionals. Typically, they are 20 minutes or less if your teeth are moving as anticipated. Plus, the progress appointments are typically every six or eight weeks instead of every four, which frees up your schedule too.
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
Do you want to get an estimate of the price before committing to treatment? Good news: all you need to do is schedule a consultation with us! That way, our West Loop Chicago dentist can conduct an exam, determine the cost, and discuss your financial options with you. As always, our friendly team members are here to help with everything from scheduling your initial appointment to learning more about your financial options, but you can also read on to learn more!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
There are actually several factors that contribute to the cost of your Invisalign treatment, including:
- The complexity of your misalignment and bite issues
- Whether you need to straighten one arch of teeth or both
- If rubber bands or any other orthodontic accessories are needed
- Your age
- How often you wear your aligners
- If you lose or break any of your aligners
Don’t worry – we will review each of these points and several others during your initial consultation to help prevent unwanted surprises when it comes to the cost.
Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?
Mail-order aligner companies almost always cost less because they don’t conduct a thorough exam, they rely on DIY impressions, and there usually aren’t check-in visits along the way. Although this may not seem like a big deal, these are just a few of the many reasons patients have experienced worsened misalignment and even have had teeth fall out. Simply put, even if it requires a higher investment, it’s always worth trusting your smile to a reliable orthodontic treatment, like Invisalign; they’ve helped more than 12 million patients over the last two decades!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
Coverage for orthodontic treatment really boils down to the fine print on your dental plan. While some patients don’t have any coverage, others can expect their provider to cover upwards of 50% of the total cost of Invisalign. At Washington Dental Care West Loop, we are proud to accept many dental insurance plans, including Tricare. So, if you have any questions about your benefits and how to use them to the fullest, don’t hesitate to reach out to a friendly member of our team – we’re here to help!
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
Fortunately, we offer several financial solutions in addition to dental insurance. The first is our in-house savings plan, which includes a complimentary Invisalign consultation. The second is our periodic special offers, which are designed to lower your out-of-pocket expenses considerably. The third is third-party financiers, including CareCredit and Alphaeon, which allow you to pay for treatment in manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. If you would like more details about any of these options, reach out to us!
Invisalign FAQs
Does Invisalign Hurt?
If the only thing that’s preventing you from moving forward with clear aligner treatment is that you’re worried it will hurt, you’ll be happy to know that’s not the case. Not only are there no brackets or wires, but each tray is custom-made just for you, ensuring there isn’t any soft tissue irritation. With that said, you can expect some soreness from time to time. The silver lining is: your teeth are moving! Plus, there are a few simple steps you can take to alleviate any discomfort that arises, like avoiding crunchy foods and sipping on cool water.
How Often Do I Need to Wear My Aligners?
Patients are instructed to wear their aligners for 20-22 hours a day. This is important because if you don’t wear your trays, your teeth won’t move. If your teeth don’t move, you’ll fall off-track with your original treatment plan. To prevent that from happening, we recommend tracking your wear time, especially at the beginning. You can do so easily with the Invisalign app or the timer on your phone.
Tip: To make meeting the 20-22 hour a day goal something you can accomplish every day, only take them out when absolutely necessary.
Can I Drink Coffee During My Invisalign Treatment?
You can as long as you do one thing: take your aligners out first. If you don’t, then the residue from your coffee will get trapped against your teeth, increasing your risk of enamel erosion. Of course, there’s a good chance that your once-clear aligners will begin to turn yellow or brown too. In short, this “rule” benefits your teeth and your trays, so don’t break it!
How Can I Keep My Aligners Clean?
You really only need a soft-bristled toothbrush and clean, cool water to keep your aligners clean and clear. After all, patients usually only wear their trays for 7-14 days at a time. Of course, if something happens where you need to wear yours for a tad longer (like your teeth aren’t tracking properly), then you can also use the cleaning crystals that came in your welcome kit. All you need to do is fill a clean container with lukewarm water, add the cleaning crystals to the water, place your aligners in the mixture, and gently shake the container to dissolve the crystals. Allow your trays to soak for 15 minutes or so, and that’s it!
What Should I Do If I Lose an Aligner?
It’s always best to start from the last place you had your aligners. From there, carefully retrace your steps, and don’t just look in the obvious places! Make sure to check between your couch cushions, look in the center console of your car, and look in the pockets of the pants you were wearing earlier. If you truly cannot find them, then call our Chicago dentist ASAP so we can determine the best way to proceed.
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