invisalign | falls church, va
invisalign®
invisalign®
Many older patients dream of finally correcting their crooked teeth and gaps, only to shy away at the thought of wearing metal braces. This is understandable – you’ve worked hard for your polished image, and you don’t want to feel like you’re right back in middle school. Thankfully, Invisalign Clear Braces are available here at Purple Plum Dentistry as a highly aesthetic alternative.
how does invisalign work?
Everyone’s Invisalign journey starts out the same way—with a consultation! When you book yours with our amazing team, we’ll capture X-rays of your mouth as well as intraoral images to help us create a 3D model of your smile. This will allow us to see what orthodontic issues need to be addressed as well as their severity and outline a treatment plan for you, so you know what to expect throughout the process.After committing to moving forward with our treatment plan, you’ll receive your first set of Invisalign trays, which you’ll wear for about two weeks before moving onto the next series in your treatment. Every six to eight weeks, you’ll return to our office to pick up the next sets of aligners until you’ve achieved the final results.
the benefits of invisalign®
Instead of the traditional metal brackets and wires, patients will wear clear, custom-made aligners that slide in smoothly over their teeth. Their subtle appearance will be barely noticeable in everyday life, and they can be removed at any time for convenient eating, brushing, and flossing. If you would like to explore the benefits of Invisalign in greater detail, don’t hesitate to contact our team here in Falls Church.
Everyone’s teeth are unique, and so is the treatment needed to straighten them. With traditional braces, your treatment could last for multiple years. However, at Purple Plum Dentistry, we handle mild to moderate alignment issues, which means that Invisalign treatment with us typically takes between two and a half months to twelve months to complete. Invisalign clear trays makes it simple and fast to get the results you want for your smile. For those with more severe misalignment, we can refer you to great orthodontists in the area who can help correct your teeth.
Indications for Invisalign®
Invisalign is a versatile orthodontic treatment that can be used to address a variety of issues, like crowded and gapped teeth, and bite misalignment, ranging in mild to moderate in severity. However, the best way to learn whether you’re a good candidate for the treatment is to visit our office for a consultation.
Crowded teeth can increase your risk of developing common oral health problems like cavities and gum disease by making it harder to brush and floss them. Invisalign can straighten them out and create a smoother, easier-to-clean surface.
While some people love the gaps between their teeth, others aren’t so fond of them. If this is your reality, Invisalign aligners can gradually and gently close gaps between teeth to create a symmetrical, complete row of pearly whites that you feel proud to let show.
Invisalign trays can fix minor to moderate overbite, underbite, and crossbite to help address underlying issues, like bruxism and TMJ dysfunction.
The Cost of Invisalign®
You know you want to straighten your teeth. What you may not know, however, is how much Invisalign costs. Fortunately, our Falls Church dental team is here to help you find the answer! If you would like a specific price estimate, then you’re welcome to schedule a consultation with us so we can learn more about your dental needs and create your custom treatment plan. If, on the other hand, you want to learn more about the cost in general, then keep reading.
There’s no set cost for Invisalign treatment because each plan is created based on our patient’s unique needs. However, there are several factors that we take into account to figure out the cost of your treatment, including:
• Whether you need any replacement aligners.
• How long your treatment will be (and, as a result, how many aligners you’ll need).
• If you stay on top of your treatment plan.
• The severity of the orthodontic issues you need to address.
We’ll discuss each of these with you during your consultation so you know what to expect cost-wise.
Mail-order clear aligners usually cost significantly less. Before you let that persuade you, however, it’s important to look into why. One example is that orthodontic alternatives like these don’t conduct a thorough initial exam and rely on DIY impressions. Furthermore, there are several patients who have experienced serious dental issues as the result of mail-order aligners, like worsened misaligned and teeth that have fallen out. That’s why professional organizations, like the American Dental Association, strongly recommend using professional orthodontic companies, like Invisalign. With more than 12 million patients around the world and 20+ years of experience straightening teeth, they are a reliable, safe, and effective brand that you can trust with your smile.
Each dental insurance plan is different, but the vast majority of them offer some coverage for dentures. It’s common for insurance to cover up to 50% of the cost of dentures after you have met your deductible and before you have reached your annual maximum. Our practice works with most major PPOs and can even make the process easier by handling claims on your behalf.
No matter your age, though, you should still ask a denture dentist in Falls Church about your options for rebuilding your smile after tooth loss. There’s no shame in wanting a full set of pearly whites!If you are currently insured, then you’ll be happy to hear that some providers cover the cost of Invisalign. Plus, we’re also proudly in-network with most major plans! So, we can help you better understand your out-of-pocket expenses and file the claim on your behalf. Of course, you can bring any questions you have throughout the process to our team as well.
Dental insurance is a great option for patients who have it, but what if you don’t? The good news is that we offer multiple other financial solutions. To start, we’re proud to offer in-house membership plans that include discounts on certain services. Plus, we are happy to accept additional financing through CareCredit. In short, this third-party financier allows you to space out your payments instead of paying for the entire cost of Invisalign upfront.Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any cost-related questions!
Frequently Asked Questions
Even if you’ve done a lot of research, it might seem like there is still so much more to learn about Invisalign. That’s okay – we’re always here to help! From your first phone call and your consultation to your final appointment, we will answer any questions you have so you can have the seamless and stress-free teeth-straightening experience you deserve.
No, you can’t drink coffee with your aligners in, even if you use a straw. Remember, this caffeinated beverage is highly acidic and can quickly stain your teeth and your trays. For these reasons, it’s crucial that you only indulge alongside a meal (when your aligners will already be out).
Since your aligners only work while you’re wearing them, you need to wear them for 20-22 hours a day. Basically, the more you wear them, the more likely it is that your teeth will track! A good rule-of-thumb is to only take them out when absolutely necessary, like when you’re eating or brushing your teeth.
Having clear trays is an amazing perk, until you can’t find them. The best thing to do in this situation is to retrace your steps, starting with the last place you remember seeing them. It may seem silly, but don’t forget to check “random” places, like the center console in your car, the trashcan, and your couch.
If you aren’t able to locate your trays, then contact our Falls Church dental team. We’ll help you get a replacement tray made or, in some cases, have you simply move onto the next aligner in the series instead.
Fortunately, cleaning your trays is easy – you only need two tools! In addition to rinsing your trays with clean water each time you remove them, we recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently scrub them before putting them back in your mouth. Of course, if more pigmented stains have surfaced, then you may need some additional tools. First, try using the cleaning crystals that came in your welcome kit. If that doesn’t work, then our team may be able to provide them with a deeper clean.
After your Invisalign treatment is over, it’s time to move onto the next step: preserving the results. This is crucial because roughly 50% of patients experience orthodontic relapse (which is where your teeth begin to drift back into their previous positions). Naturally, this can be extremely disappointing, which is why we want to prevent that from happening. That’s where your retainer comes in. Yours will be custom-made to fit your new smile perfectly, ensuring that your teeth stay in their perfectly aligned positions throughout the years.