Invisalign – Lake Nona Region

Wearing Your Trays

Your customized aligners are designed in advance to fit snuggly over your teeth to gently shift them to their new positions over a designated period. To be effective, you must wear the clear plastic trays for 20 to 22 hours daily. Then, every one to two weeks, your Lake Nona Dental Group provider will give you a new set to account for the ongoing movement.

Your teeth could revert to their previous placements if you don’t wear your trays for the allotted time each day. As a standard rule-of-thumb, you should only take them out of your mouth for meals and to wash them.

Cleaning Your Aligners

Many adults and teens choose Invisalign because the transparent plastic is more discreet than metallic brackets. However, your trays can become stained if not cared for correctly, defeating the purpose of “invisible” orthodontics. Furthermore, they can trap bacteria against your teeth and gums all day, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

You should remove your trays twice daily and gently brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild dish or hand soap that won’t be abrasive against the smooth material. You can also soak them in cleaning crystals for 15 to 30 minutes daily to eradicate up to 99% of unwanted germs.

Eating & Drinking

Another advantage of choosing this treatment over traditional braces is that there are no dietary restrictions to worry about. The clear plastic trays should be removed during meals so they don’t become stained or damaged, meaning you can enjoy all your favorite foods.

Unfortunately, it’s easy to misplace, throw away, or damage your Invisalign when you take them out for meals. It’s a good idea to keep the carrier case with you so you have somewhere safe to tuck them away until you’ve finished eating.

Losing or Damaging a Tray

If you’ve lost or broken a tray, you don’t need to panic, but you should call us to let us know. Each set of trays is designed in advance. If an aligner goes missing or can’t be worn, the delay can delay your treatment timeline by one or more weeks.

Contact us, and our team can tell you whether you should wear a previous set until your aligners can be replaced or if switching to the next pair of trays earlier than anticipated is the best course of action.  

Routine Check-Ins

You’ll need to visit our team regularly to stay on track with your treatment and ensure your teeth move as intended. Thankfully, these appointments can be as brief as 15 minutes because there’s no need to adjust wire tension like with braces. Instead, we’ll give you the next series of aligners and examine your mouth to verify that no areas of concern need to be addressed.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Invisalign

Many factors can affect the cost of Invisalign in the Lake Nona Region, including:

• The number of aligners you need to straighten your teeth. The extent and type of your dental misalignment will determine the number of aligners you need.
• Whether you’re straightening one arch or both. As you can imagine, straightening both the lower and upper teeth will cost more than straightening just one or another.
• Treatment compliance. If you lose an Invisalign aligner, you might have to pay for a replacement.
• Whether you need any additional accessories. You may need elastics or other accessories for successful treatment, which can hike up your total cost.

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

Do-it-yourself orthodontic treatments like SmileDirectClub™ have become increasingly popular in recent years, promising to be a convenient and affordable way to fix misaligned teeth. It usually costs around $2,000, while Invisalign can range between $3,000 and $8,000. Although it’s tempting to opt for the cheaper option (especially if you’re on a budget), you have to remember that you get what you pay for.

SmileDirectClub™ provides little to no supervision from a licensed dental professional. Because of that, many things can go wrong throughout the process, leading to issues that will need professional attention and cost you thousands of dollars. In fact, there are multiple cases where DIY clear aligners worsened dental misalignment.

On the other hand, you can enjoy personalized support and guidance from our team at Lake Nona Dental Group throughout your Invisalign journey. We’ll routinely monitor your progress to ensure your teeth are moving according to your treatment plan. Additionally, Invisalign clear aligners are made from patented materials designed for comfort and efficient tooth movements. Many patients find this option worth the cost as they’re guaranteed a smoother and more successful treatment overall.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

The good news is that some dental insurance plans offer coverage for orthodontic treatment. However, Invisalign is often left out of those policies. Of course, every plan is unique, which is why you should confirm the details of your coverage with your insurance provider before committing to anything. During your consultation, we’ll go over your benefits and explain how you can use them to your greatest advantage.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

We understand that not everyone has dental insurance. That’s why we offer additional financing options to make it easier for you to manage the total cost of Invisalign in the Lake Nona Region. Here’s what’s available at our practice:

• Third-Party Financing – CareCredit and LendingClub allow you to split the total cost of your treatment into smaller, budget-friendly monthly installments.
• In-House Membership Plan – This option allows you to receive the preventive care you need as well as discounts on several treatments, including Invisalign.

Do you want to learn more about Invisalign in the Lake Nona Region? Contact us and schedule a consultation today to find out how it can fit into your budget!

Does Invisalign Hurt?

Invisalign is not a painful treatment thanks to its smooth plastic design, making it one of the most comfortable orthodontic treatment solutions. When first receiving Invisalign, you may notice a slight adjustment period where mild soreness is present, but this goes away quickly after you wear it over the next day or so. Since Invisalign literally shifts teeth into straighter positions using multiple aligners, you’ll need to move on to the next pair every two weeks or so. The slight pressure you are experiencing is a sign that the treatment is working exactly as intended. Over-the-counter medications can provide relief during your adjustment period as well as cold compresses or having a glass of iced water while wearing your aligner.

Can You Eat with Invisalign?

One of the biggest advantages of using Invisalign is you don’t have to avoid certain foods just to realign your smile. When it’s time to eat, simply take your aligners out beforehand. If you don’t, you can easily chip, crack, and stain them. The only thing we recommend consuming while wearing your aligners is plain water. Keep in mind that traditional braces are fixed, which means you are far more limited on what you’re allowed to eat when choosing this option. Invisalign offers additional flexibility to eat tough, hard, bready, and crunchy foods (plus you can still chew gum).

How Do I Clean My Invisalign?

The makers of Invisalign do have their own cleaning system specifically designed to keep aligners clean, transparent, and smelling pleasant. These cleaning crystals are particularly effective at loosening food debris from your aligners. However, this isn’t the only option you have for cleaning them. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and denture cleanser, you can gently remove plaque and food debris from your appliance during your regular at-home oral care routine. Be sure to rinse it throughout the day as well to prevent food from sticking to the plastic material. When cleaning, avoid using hot water as this can cause the aligner to change shape and no longer fit properly.

What Happens After Invisalign?

After you’ve completed wearing the last pair of aligners in your series, we’ll go over your results and confirm your teeth are in their finalized positions. If they are, we can begin explaining the aftercare process to ensure your teeth stay that way going forward. As part of your post-treatment, you’ll need to wear a retainer. This is also done following treatment with traditional braces. Not only are these more comfortable than retainers you may be aware of, but they can also be transparent if you’d prefer. It’s crucial for you to wear the retainer as much as possible so you can maintain your smile’s new appearance.