FAQs

To get a better understanding of how Invisalign actually works, it’s important to compare it to traditional braces.

When a patient undergoes treatment with traditional braces, a series of metal brackets are attached to each one of their teeth. A metal wire then attaches those brackets together and the tensile strength of that wire is what “shifts” the teeth into the desired position over long periods of time.

Contrast this with Invisalign, which involves a series of 3D scans and measurements being taken of the patient’s teeth. That information is then used to create a series of clear plastic trays, each in a slightly different shape than the next. Every few weeks, a patient will switch out one set of aligners for the next and that is what will slowly shift the teeth into the desired position.

For the absolute best results, patients will need to wear their Invisalign trays for as long as humanly possible – think 22 hours a day or more. Really, the only time you should be taking them out of your mouth at all is if you’re eating or drinking something that isn’t water, or if you’re brushing and flossing your teeth after a meal or before you go to bed at night.

One of the major factors that so many patients love about Invisalign is that they’re incredibly comfortable by design. Remember that at the beginning of the process, a series of sophisticated scans and images are taken of your teeth – which includes their precise shape and measurements.

Because of that, each aligner tray essentially acts as a “second set of skin” for your teeth. There are no uncomfortable metal brackets and wires to deal with and most people quickly forget they’re wearing them at all.

Another one of the things that people love about Invisalign is that there are literally NO dietary restrictions to speak of. You can eat absolutely anything you want without feeling bad about it, or without worrying about potentially damaging your Invisalign trays and unnecessarily delaying treatment.

Really, all you have to do is remove your aligners before a meal and put them back in again when you’re done. Of course, you’ll want to make sure that you brush and floss your teeth before you do so.

Caring for your Invisalign aligners is also a very straightforward process. Before you go to bed each night, you should brush your aligners the same way you would your teeth (while they’re out of your mouth, of course) to remove any food particles or other obstructions. Then, put them back in and carry on with your day – truly, it doesn’t get much more straightforward than that.

The answer to this question will vary depending on the patient in question because obviously certain types of issues take longer to correct than others. The total length of time you’re expected to go through treatment will absolutely have an impact on the price you’ll pay.

Having said that, most people find that Invisalign works out to be roughly the same cost as traditional braces – all for a system that is arguably more effective and certainly more comfortable. Your dental professional will go over all of this with you in advance so that you know exactly what to expect.

We are providers in-network for many insurance companies including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, United Concordia, and MetLife. We also accept all major credit cards, checks, and cash.