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Invisalign Clear Braces - Astoria, NY

Straighten Your Teeth to Achieve a Flawless Smile

Traditionally, straightening teeth meant completing advanced orthodontic services that used brackets and wires to shift the smile into alignment. Today at ED Family Dental in Astoria, we are happy to offer a quicker, cosmetically superior alternative – Invisalign clear braces. If you want to learn more about your Invisalign and our other treatment options, call our Astoria dentistry practice to schedule an orthodontic consultation appointment with us today. We’ll review your treatment goals, evaluate your current bite alignment, and partner with you to create an orthodontic treatment plan that will give you the flawless and functional smile you deserve.

What is Invisalign?

Woman placing her Invisalign tray

Invisalign is a unique orthodontic treatment plan that utilizes clear alignment trays rather than brackets and wires to shift teeth into their ideal alignment. In the past, Invisalign was only used to adjust minor alignment concerns like spacing, but today, we can utilize the Invisalign clear braces system to treat more advanced issues like over, under, and crossbite.

How does Invisalign Work?

Hand holding Invisalign tray

Invisalign clear braces plans use a series of plastic alignment trays to shift teeth into their desired position. Every set of aligners is crafted precisely to represent the placement of teeth a step nearer to the results you’re after. Patients wear the aligners for two weeks at a time. Then, simply exchange their current alignment trays for the next in the series. For eight to eighteen months you’ll continue your Invisalign treatment until you achieve the desired end result. Throughout treatment, you’ll only need to visit our office every six to eight weeks for short checkup exams. During these periodic checkups, we simply make sure your smile is shifting according to the current plan, and our team can make adjustments to ensure you achieve your desired results in the time you planned.

Who Should Consider Invisalign?

Woman holding Invisalign tray

Before beginning an orthodontic treatment plan, patients should take the time to consider all of their options. Those patients who are most likely to benefit from treatment with Invisalign include:

Who Can Invisalign Help?

If you have alignment issues, this doesn’t mean that you need to undergo multiple years of wearing metal braces! Invisalign is able to correct a wide range of bite and alignment issues. Continue reading to learn about all of the different ways that Invisalign can correct smiles.

Crowded Teeth

A very common orthodontic problem consists of overcrowding. This can negatively impact both your oral health and your bite. It can even make it more difficult for you to maintain excellent oral hygiene. The good news is that clear aligners can shift your teeth to be the perfect distance apart. This can improve the appearance, health, and function of your smile in the process.

Gaps Between Teeth

Just like crooked teeth, teeth that are spaced too far apart can impact your self-esteem. They can also trap food debris and increase your risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. With Invisalign, your trays can closely close gaps in your smile until all of your teeth are perfectly aligned.

Overbite

Overbites happen when the top teeth come out too far from the lower arch of the teeth. Overbites result in jaw pain, speech issues, uneven dental wear, and difficulty opening and closing the mouth. This problem can also leave the top teeth more exposed, putting them at higher risk of becoming injured.

Underbite

An underbite describes when the bottom teeth go slightly passed or match with the top row of teeth when you close your mouth. This can be caused by several different factors, including genetics, jaw injury, and nonnutritive habits (like thumb sucking and pacifier use after a certain age). Oftentimes, patients with underbites require the use of rubber bands and other attachments to be used in combination with Invisalign aligners. This ultimately helps to gradually address the bite and shift the lower arch into its proper location.

Crossbite

When the bottom teeth are slightly in front of the upper arch, this is known as a “crossbite.” This is usually due to genetics, poor oral habits, or premature loss of the primary teeth. When left unaddressed, crossbites can lead to other issues, like increased risk of gum disease, tooth decay, speech difficulties, headaches, teeth grinding, and facial asymmetry. Invisalign can correct this issue in most cases. However, if your crossbite is caused by issues involving jaw development, it might be necessary to accompany the aligners with elastic and other accessories.

Open Bite

An open bite is when the top and bottom front teeth aren’t able to overlap or touch when you close your mouth completely. In most cases, this is due to poor bone development or nonnutritive habits, like prolonged thumb sucking and pacifier use. An open bite can lead to difficulty pronouncing certain words and sounds, as well as excessive enamel wear of the back teeth. Invisalign can bring the top and bottom teeth together, correcting the bite pattern and reducing additional oral damage.

What are the Benefits of Invisalign Orthodontics?

Man placing an Invisalign tray

There is no treatment that is right for every patient, so in order to choose the best treatment to meet your needs, you’ll need to consider the advantages of each option. Some of the many benefits of Invisalign treatment include:

Understanding the Cost of Invisalign

Business professional adding up numbers on calculator

Invisalign in Astoria is widely known for its virtually incognito trays and quicker treatment timeline, but how much does it cost exactly? While there is no all-encompassing answer, there are a few factors that play a role in the final price across the board. Keep reading to learn what they are, as well as which options are available to make achieving your dream smile affordable.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Invisalign

Patient and dentist smiling while discussing Invisalign

To address each person’s unique dental needs, Invisalign is completely customized. As a result of not providing a “one-size-fits-all” treatment, there is no “one-size-fits-all” price. Therefore, the cost can vary from patient to patient based on:

  • Whether you are straightening both your top and bottom arches.
  • The overall complexity of your treatment (ex: addressing one small gap vs. correcting severe crowding).
  • The length of the proposed treatment.

Invisalign VS Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?

Closeup of woman thinking

When it comes to your smile, there is no room for error. Therefore, while “quick fix” solutions are available through Smile Direct Club for as little as $2,000, it is important to remember that “do it yourself” solutions with little to NO oversight from a professional do come at a cost. Making the impressions yourself or not correctly following the treatment process can result in a number of serious functional and aesthetic issues, which is why opting for lower-cost alternatives should be considered in-depth. On the other hand, with Invisalign, you have Dr. Shkurti supervising your treatment, who is a licensed, experienced professional. This will ensure impressions are accurate, any issues are addressed right away, and that your treatment experience is smoother overall. Simply put, Invisalign is worth the cost.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Woman looking at dentist insurance on phone

Since many plans don’t include coverage for orthodontic treatment, Invisalign is typically an out-of-pocket expense. With that being said, that isn’t always the case, which is why it is good to check with your provider! If you need any assistance with the process, don’t hesitate to let our team know. Otherwise, you can use your FSA account (if you have one through your employer) to cover the cost.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

Person holding tooth in one hand and money in the other

If you don’t have an individual dental plan or one through your employer, you’ll be happy to know that there is another option: CareCredit. This third-party financier allows you to break up the cost of even the most extensive treatments into monthly, budget-friendly payments. That way, your dream smile is never out of reach. Ask us about utilizing this financial option at your initial consultation!

If you want to straighten your teeth in Astoria, then we are here to help. To ensure your experience is as seamless and stress-free as possible, we encourage you to schedule an initial consultation. From there, we can ensure you are a candidate, learn more about your smile goals, and discuss all the financial details. Give us a call today to schedule yours!

Invisalign FAQs

Invisalign aligner

It is natural to want as much information as possible before making a big decision, especially when it’s in regard to your health and physical appearance. That is why we have compiled some of the most common questions – and answers – about Invisalign clear braces. We hope you find our Invisalign FAQ page helpful in answering some of your questions and determining if this treatment is right for you.

After you are finished reading, give us a call at our convenient Astoria location to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shkurti. You will be glad you did!

Does Invisalign Hurt?

When you first start wearing a new set of Invisalign aligners, your teeth may feel a little sensitive for a day or two. This mild discomfort is a sign that Invisalign is working and your teeth are gradually shifting into the desired position. Any discomfort you feel will be temporary and should fade quickly.

How Often Must I Wear My Aligners?

You are key to the success of your Invisalign treatment! Wearing your aligners for the recommended number of hours a day – typically 20 to 22 – is critical to straightening your smile on schedule. Invisalign aligners are easily removable, so you can take them out whenever you eat a meal or clean your teeth – just be sure to put them back in afterwards.

How Do I Keep My Aligners Clean?

You can keep your Invisalign aligners clean by gently brushing them with a toothbrush and toothpaste once per day. After brushing your aligners, rinse them with lukewarm water – never with hot water. Using hot water on aligners can permanently warp the plastic.

Are Invisalign Aligners Chemically Safe?
You can rest easy when wearing your Invisalign aligners. The clear plastic trays are made from medical-grade thermoplastic polymers that have been approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for long-term use inside the human body. According to the manufacturer, the biocompatible aligners do not contain any traces of Bisphenol A (BPA), latex, parabens, phthalates, glutaraldehyde or epoxy.

Can You Eat with Invisalign?

Good news: there aren’t any dietary restrictions with Invisalign! Plus, since you’ll be removing your aligners before eating, you’ll be able to enjoy your meal or snack without any discomfort or irritation.

Note: If you have several attachments, then we may recommend avoiding raw nuts, croutons, and other crunchy foods. Similarly, we recommend keeping your intake of sugary foods to a minimum since they can result in cavities that bring your teeth-straightening journey to a temporary stop.

How Long Does Invisalign Take?

There are multiple factors that impact the answer, starting with the severity of your misalignment and extending to how many aligners you need. However, one that many patients don’t often consider is how well they follow the treatment guidelines. Although the average treatment timeline with Invisalign is only 12 to 18 months, it can be significantly longer if you don’t wear your trays for 20+ hours a day or you constantly lose them. In other words, to get through your series of trays as quickly and efficiently as possible, it’s of the utmost importance that you follow the instructions we give you to a tee!

What if My Invisalign Broke?

If one of your Invisalign aligners broke, do your best not to panic, and don’t wear them! Instead, call our Astoria dental team ASAP to explain what happened. Then, we can take a look at your treatment plan and determine what to do next. If you are only a day or two away from moving onto your next set in the series, we may recommend transitioning to those a bit early. If, on the other hand, you just started the set of broken trays, then we will likely instruct you to wear your previous trays until your replacement ones arrive at our office.

Can You Get Invisalign After Braces?

Many patients do! In fact, it’s very common for patients who had braces as children or teens to get Invisalign as an adult. Even if you’ve never undergone orthodontic treatment, getting Invisalign after traditional braces may be an option. Typically, this is the case for patients who have moderate to severe cases of misalignment that clear aligners can’t correct. This is often referred to as “hybrid orthodontic treatment.”

Does Invisalign Give You a Lisp?

Have you heard that Invisalign gives you a lisp? Don’t worry – 14+ million patients wouldn’t have chosen to straighten their teeth with clear aligners if that was the case. This myth has circulated because there is sometimes an adjustment period when patients first get their trays. The good news is that any changes that do arise will be minor, temporary, and nothing that can’t be fixed with some practice!

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