Orthodontics / Invisalign

In general, Invisalign treatment costs between $3,000 and $8,000. The final cost of your orthodontic treatment will depend on the following factors:

• The complexity of your orthodontic issues
• The length of the treatment
• The number of trays and dental visits required
• How disciplined you are with wearing your trays (if you do not wear your Invisalign for the recommended 22 hours a day, you are likely to require additional trays and dental visits that were not included in the initial cost estimate)

You are a good candidate for Invisalign if you have minor to mild orthodontic issues and generally healthy teeth and gums. 

For the majority of people, an orthodontic treatment with Invisalign takes 14 to 18 months. However, people with complex and severe orthodontic issues may need to wear aligners for up to 24 months, while minor issues may be treated in 8 to 12 months.

Both Invisalign clear aligners and traditional braces have their own advantages and drawbacks. For example, traditional braces can be more effective for people with severe and complex teeth and bite misalignment. However, Invisalign is very effective for people with minor to mild orthodontic issues and can be more comfortable in daily use, cause less soreness, and is less noticeable in the mouth than traditional braces. Also, Invisalign does not require dietary restrictions and oral hygiene routine adjustments, as it can be removed at will.

You need to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours every day, meaning that you will remove them only when eating and during your oral hygiene routine. It is essential to wear your aligners all the time for the treatment to progress, as the pressure has to be applied constantly to your teeth for them to move. If you tend to remove your aligners often throughout the day, you will likely require additional trays, and your total treatment time will be longer. As a result, the process will end up being more expensive as well.

Invisalign is most effective for minor to mild misalignment cases and can treat the following issues:

• Crowded teeth
• Gaps between the teeth
• Rotated teeth
• Underbite
• Overbite
• Crossbite

When starting an orthodontic treatment, you should be prepared to experience some soreness and discomfort from time to time, regardless of the method used. The soreness is inevitable because your orthodontic appliances apply pressure to your teeth to force them to move through the jawbone and the gums. This being said, Invisalign is considered more comfortable and less painful than traditional braces. Still, you are likely to feel discomfort in the first weeks of your treatment and when you switch to a new set of aligners as the treatment progresses. 

During your orthodontic treatment with Invisalign, you will be required to visit your dentist every 4 to 6 weeks. These visits are necessary for your dentist to evaluate the progress and provide you with the next couple of sets of aligners. In comparison, an orthodontic treatment with traditional braces requires more frequent dental visits, sometimes as often as once a week.