So you’ve had your free consultation with Dr. Patel at either our Claremore or Tulsa office and you’re ready to start the process of getting your dream smile. You’ve determined that a clear aligner system is the best choice for your teeth, lifestyle, and budget. The Brace Place offers Invisalign® and Invisalign Teen® as our preferred clear aligner option.
What are Invisalign and Invisalign Teen Clear Aligners?
We, at The Brace Place, are your go-to Claremore and Tulsa, OK orthodontist for Invisalign and Invisalign Teen. Using Invisalign is a precise, no-fuss process that helps you get the smile you always wanted. The aligners are made of clear, easy to clean, BPA-free plastic that is comfortable to wear. If you were wondering, Invisalign and Invisalign Teen have slight differences, which address the needs and habits of teen Invisalign wearers:
Compliance Indicators – Small blue dots are printed on Invisalign Teen aligners. These dots fade after 2 weeks of wear to help indicate how long you’ve worn your clear aligners and when it’s time to move on to your next set.
Eruption Tabs – Teen mouths aren’t always fully developed when it’s time for orthodontic care. Invisalign Teen has special ‘eruption tabs’ at the back to accommodate growing molars.
More Replacement Aligners – Who doesn’t lose or misplace things once in a while? Invisalign Teen comes with 6 sets of extra aligners in case you lose or break your original ones.
How Does Invisalign Work?
The treatment process with Invisalign aligners is simple and easy. At this point, those familiar with orthodontic options may be asking, “How does Invisalign work vs. braces?” The Invisalign procedure involves gently straightening your teeth using a series of 18-30 sets of clear, mouthguard-style appliances you take out at home and change every 1-2 weeks. On the flip side, braces use brackets affixed to your teeth and metal wires that are not removable. Braces are adjusted throughout your treatment by Dr. Patel.
Need more info about Invisalign vs. braces? Find more answers to “How does Invisalign work?” here, and more about braces here.
A 3D Scan of Your Mouth – As your Tulsa, OK orthodontist, Dr. Patel begins your treatment with Invisalign using our iTero® digital scanner to take quick, comfortable digital scans of your teeth. The scans are sent to our computer and a 3D model of your mouth is created. Then, Dr. Patel plans out your treatment directly on this model to ensure that your clear aligners are custom fit to your teeth alone. He sends the specifications to Invisalign and a series of Invisalign clear aligners are printed for you based on his specifications.
Wearing the Aligners Every Day – Next, you’ll wear each set of custom Invisalign aligners throughout your treatment for at least 22 hours a day. You’ll change your aligners every 1-2 weeks. The aligners apply gentle pressure to gradually straighten your teeth as you make your way through the series. Most patients will receive about 18-30 sets over the entire treatment. Dr. Patel will guide you through with expert, personalized treatment until you reach your best smile!
Follow Up Visits – You’ll come into The Brace Place every 6-8 weeks for progress checks. Dr. Patel will review your progress and provide advice or changes to your wearing schedule if needed. With Invisalign aligners, follow up appointments are short and painless.
Dentist Appointments – Don’t forget to schedule dentist appointments every 6 months while you’re wearing your Invisalign aligners to keep tabs on your general oral health.
After You’re Done With Your Clear Aligners: When your aligner treatment plan is done, Dr. Patel will prescribe an Invisalign retainer to wear at night and an after-care plan to maintain your smile.
The Many Benefits of Invisalign:
As a clear aligner option, Invisalign are a trusted and proven alternative to traditional braces because it offers many benefits:
- Custom fit
- More comfortable treatment
- Freedom to eat and drink what you want
- Continuation of your usual oral care routine
- More discreet wear
- Quick and painless follow-up visits
Benefit #1: A Custom Fit, A Custom Smile – Dr. Patel uses the state-of-the art iTero® digital intraoral 3D scanner at The Brace Place. A 3D scan is taken of your mouth and Dr. Patel maps out the Invisalign procedure specific to your mouth only. Your custom set of aligners are used to achieve amazing results unique to you. Your final smile will still look like you but better!
Benefit #2: Comfortable To Wear – Clear aligners are generally comfortable. This is because they straighten your teeth gradually and the initial adjustment to wearing them is pretty minimal. During the Invisalign process, most wearers swap out their aligners every 1-2 weeks for a slightly different shape, the last being the ones closest to your final smile.
Benefit #3: Eat Whatever You Want – If you have friends who used traditional braces to straighten their teeth, you know that you can’t eat whatever you want with braces — hard or crunchy foods and sticky or chewy foods can damage or even break braces.
Clear aligners like Invisalign allow you to continue your usual eating routine and choices — you simply take out your aligners when you eat, then put them back in right after you’re done. Remember to keep on choosing nutritious foods for your general oral health. Foods higher in sugar contribute to bacteria and plaque build-up. Not only is the goal of clear aligners a smile you’re proud of but also one that’s healthy!
Benefit #4: Continuing Your Usual Oral Care Routine – With Invisalign, you can continue the same brushing and flossing routine you had before. Simply take out your clear aligners to brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste in the morning, after meals and snacks, and before bed. Remember to floss once a day. Continue your usual dentist check ups for assessment and cleaning.
Benefit #5: You Can Barely See Them – Clear aligners are just that — clear. Visually, you barely notice them when they’re in your mouth. If you’re feeling the slightest bit self-conscious about the process of straighter teeth, clear aligners alleviate that worry.
Benefit #6: Quick and Painless Follow-Up Visits – Unlike follow-up visits for traditional braces, follow-up appointments with clear aligners are easy. Your appointments every 6-8 weeks are painless and quick.
How To Take Care of Clear Aligners:
Your Tulsa, OK orthodontist and his team will guide you on how best to take care of your Invisalign aligners. But in short, there isn’t much to it! Here are some do’s and don’ts:
- Clean your aligners with water and a soft toothbrush when you wake up and before you go to bed.
- Take out your clear aligners when eating or drinking (plain water is ok).
- Brush and floss your teeth after eating OR at least rinse your mouth well with water.
- Rinse your clear aligners with water throughout the day to get rid of any food debris or bacteria.
- Keep your aligners in their case when you’re not wearing them.
- If your Invisalign aligners get damaged, take them to Dr. Patel for assessment.
A Word About Invisalign vs. Clear Aligners Online
It’s safe to say that clear aligners like Invisalign are a very convenient and proven choice for achieving your best smile. Lately, however, direct-to-consumer aligners have popped up, touted as cheaper and quicker than orthodontist-approved aligners. At The Brace Place, we strongly recommend you think twice about considering these at-home orthodontic systems. With the Invisalign process, you’re in Dr. Patel’s experienced hands every step of the way. With online clear aligners, you’re left to manage on your own, even taking crucial first steps at home without an orthodontist’s guidance. In the end, you might end up doing more harm than good.
How Much Does Invisalign Cost?
The Brace Place wants everyone to have a healthy, straight smile and we don’t think finances should prevent you from achieving that. The cost of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen are comparable to other orthodontist-approved clear aligners. Invisalign cost is based on the complexity of your treatment and the number of aligners you’ll need.
Custom Financing Options
After your free consultation, Dr. Patel will tell you what your options are and the cost. The good news is that we offer flexible payment plans to help make the cost of your treatment more manageable and budget-friendly.
Take The Next Step Towards A Confident Smile
As your Tulsa, OK orthodontist, we provide personalized, state-of-the-art care so you can enjoy a lifetime of confidence in your smile and the best in oral health. Now that you’re well-informed about Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, and how Invisalign work, book your next in-house or virtual appointment with Dr. Patel at the most convenient location for you — our Claremore and Tulsa teams are ready to help you take the next step today!
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