Several people are having teeth issues, and the most common teeth problems may include crooked teeth or crowded teeth, right? The most common solution for orthodontic problems is getting braces. However, nowadays, adults are finding a different solution for straightened teeth, this is where Invisalign comes to play its role.
Now, let’s get started with the discussion about Invisalign:
What is Invisalign?
To improve your smile, Invisalign is the invisible orthodontics solution that helps to align your teeth accurately. Invisalign is transparent hard plastic, and when you wear, it becomes virtually invisible. Once you start wearing Invisalign, you have to replace it with a new one over a specified time or within one to two weeks. Invisalign is mostly prefer by adults because of its invisible property.
Invisalign uses clear tray aligners and is made of Invisalign’s own blend of plastic. They are more convenient and comfortable to use than traditional metal braces. Before you use Invisalign, you need to consult with doctors, so they can meet your specifications.
If you want to see positive results, then you need to wear Invisalign for at least 20-22 hours/day. In addition to this, you can easily remove them while eating, brushing, or on a special occasion.
Benefits of Invisalign
Several benefits are associated with Invisalign, and some of them are listed below:
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Offers Comfort
As compared to traditional braces, Invisalign is more comfortable to wear because of its smooth plastic. Invisalign doesn’t contain any sharp edges, and they are tailor-made to fit your mouth. It is smooth that you don’t need to worry about getting any cut or irritation in your mouth.
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No Food Restriction
It is difficult to eat something you love with traditional braces, but Invisalign helps you to eat anything you want. With traditional braces, you have to restrict some food items, but Invisalign allows you to eat without any restriction.
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Invisible Property
Invisalign’s invisible property makes it special than traditional braces. Most of the adults want to wear braces that are invisible to avoid embarrassment. So, here is the solution to this problem, i.e. Invisalign. Invisible property is because of the clear trays. It is becoming popular among adults because they can smile confidently without hesitating.
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Saves Time
In this busy life, most people avoid unnecessary visits to the dentist’s office. So, Invisalign reduces dental office visits because Invisalign needs to be maintain after every 6 weeks on average. Other options for teeth straightening may require much more time and appointments. So, to avoid more appointments, you can go with the Invisalign option.
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Convenient and Safe
If your child loves sports, then Invisalign is preferred over other metal braces. While playing, you can easily remove Invisalign, if something cannot be done with braces. The flexibility of Invisalign makes fewer restrictions on activities.
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Reduce Maintenance Complexity
Invisalign reduces maintenance complexity. Invisalign gets dark over time when you regularly wear them. But, you can clean them with a toothbrush by dipping them into water and bleach. When you scrub them for a while, it eliminates darkness and stains.
Apart from the above benefits of Invisalign, there are some disadvantages of Invisalign that are written below:
- Invisalign braces are expensive than traditional braces
- You have to wear them at least 22-hours per day
- Wearing a new Invisalign aligner tray can be uncomfortable
- Can be broken or lost
Pay Attention to Invisalign Cost
Various factors are responsible for Invisalign cost, let’s discuss them one after the other:
- Requirements of your oral health and how much work needs to be done on your oral health
- The time dentist will invest in you
- How much insurance plan will cover
- The location where you live and average prices in your region
If you are looking for Invisalign braces, then the most common Invisalign cost maybe $3,500 to $8,000. Whereas the cost of traditional braces can be $2000-$6000. But keep one thing in mind, Invisalign cost will vary as per your teeth condition. If you have the worse condition of your teeth, then maybe you have to spend more money.
Get to Know About Invisalign Alternatives
As we have discussed Invisalign, now, you may know what features and demerits are associated with Invisalign. Well, most people are afraid of getting Invisalign because of its high price. Furthermore, there are some Invisalign alternatives available, and you can have a look:
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Lingual Braces
If you are not interested in Invisalign, then you can consult with your doctor to have lingual braces. Lingual braces are installed backside of your teeth and will be invisible when you smile. Lingual braces use clear, metal, or ceramic brackets, but they are cost-effective than Invisalign. In the US, ClearCorrect is the competitor of Invisalign. ClearCorrect also uses plastic and invisible aligners.
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Smile Direct Club
Smile direct club invent a new idea of remote teeth aligning. Most probably, clients send their 3-D mouth scan, and doctors create a treatment plan. Smile direct club offers less expensive teeth aligners than Invisalign alternatives. This is the cheapest and convenient option for those who hate visiting the dental office.
Read more: Teeth Whitening For Kids – Cautions and Considerations
Comparison between Invisalign, and Other Clear Aligner Providers
Plenty of dental companies provide invisible braces. The following chart shows the difference:
| Benefits | Invisalign | ClearCorrect | SmileDirect | Traditional braces |
| Cost | Expensive | Cheaper than Invisalign | Costly | Cheaper than others |
| Office visit | Consultation requires, check-ups during treatment & final result. | Consultation requires, check-ups during treatment & final result. | Not require in-person consultation. | Consultation requires, daily visit to get braces tightened & final removals. |
| Aftercare | Retainer requires maintaining results. | Retainer requires maintaining results. | Retainer requires maintaining results. | Retainer requires maintaining results. |
| Treatment duration | Need to wear 22 hours/day. Treatment time varies by case. | Need to wear 22 hours/day. Treatment time varies by case. | On average, needs 6 months of treatment plan. | Need to wear 24/7. Treatment time varies by case. |
