Invisalign – Kansas City, MO

How Invisalign Works

Brackets and wires pull your teeth into position, which is effective in correcting even the most complex issues. Unfortunately, braces can be very noticeable. Invisalign resolves the common complaints of metal braces because it doesn’t involve any brackets or wires.

Instead, impressions of your mouth are taken, which integrate with state-of-the-art technology to map the movement of your teeth. The information is transferred to a series of aligners you’ll wear over your teeth to move them into position. You’ll need to commit to wearing the aligners for at least 22 hours per day. You’ll switch to the next aligner in the series after about 1 week. On average, it takes 12-18 months to finish the treatment.

Who Can Invisalign Help?

Invisalign is effective for correcting a variety of bite and alignment issues that can lead to dental problems. Here’s a look at some examples.

Crowded Teeth

Unfortunately, if your teeth are overlapping, it’s more than an aesthetic problem. Poorly aligned teeth can also affect your dental health and your quality of life. Overcrowding can make it challenging to clean your teeth. Even with the best brushing and flossing techniques, food particles, plaque, and bacteria can get trapped in hard-to-reach places, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

You’ll also have an increased likeliness of dental emergencies, especially if there’s impact or injury to the face. You might never expect one to happen to you, but 1 in 6 Americans requires urgent dental attention annually. You can lower your risk of an unplanned trip to your dentist by moving your teeth into their correct positions.

Invisalign can gradually reposition the teeth so that they’re no longer overcrowded, thus creating a healthier smile.

Spaces Between Teeth

It’s easy to feel embarrassed by gapped teeth, but aesthetics aren’t the only concern. Believe it or not, the large spaces can negatively affect your oral health. Food can get trapped in the gaps, leading to an increased risk for cavities and gum disease.

Gaps between teeth can occur for several reasons, such as periodontal disease, smaller than average teeth, tongue thrusting, thumb-sucking or pacifier use, missing teeth, and a large frenulum. We’ll evaluate the gaps and discuss your goals to ensure clear aligners are the right choice for you.

Bite Alignment

No matter if you are living with an overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite, the effects can take a toll over time. Apart from the fact that most individuals do not like walking around with a poorly aligned bite for aesthetic reasons, there are other motivations to fix this common problem. For example, if you leave the issue alone:

• It can negatively impact your ability to speak clearly
• It can cause embarrassment and self-esteem issues
• It can lead to chronic jaw pain and, eventually, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)
• It can cause your teeth to wear down and become more susceptible to tooth decay, damage, and stains

Fortunately, Invisalign is versatile enough to alleviate a wide variety of bite problems.

Benefits of Invisalign

Today, Invisalign is one of the most sought-after orthodontic treatments. While many patients assume that’s solely because there aren’t any metal components, that’s actually just the beginning! This teeth-straightening solution continues to be loved because:

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The Aligners Are Nearly Invisible

Let’s start with one of the most obvious benefits of Invisalign: the aligners are virtually undetectable when worn. This is significantly different than traditional braces, which consist of noticeable brackets and wires. In fact, that may even be what has stopped you from pursuing orthodontic treatment in the past! If that’s the case, let us know. There’s a good chance that we can achieve the results you desire without drawing unwanted attention to your smile.

Improved Comfort

Another noteworthy perk: Invisalign aligners are considerably more comfortable. That’s largely because they are crafted from smooth plastic. However, the fact that they are custom-made from impressions of your teeth and have a low profile helps significantly as well! So, outside of the occasional (and temporary!) soreness from the movement of your teeth, your journey to a straighter smile will be smooth sailing.

Shorter Average Treatment Timeline

Typically, traditional braces take 2-3 years to deliver results. Invisalign, on the other hand, has an average treatment timeline of only 12-18 months. Not only that, but the aligners are see-through and removable, which allows patients to see progress every step of the way!

Hassle-Free Maintenance

In order to properly clean their teeth, their brackets, and their wires, patients with traditional braces typically need special cleaning products, like interproximal toothbrushes. That’s not the case with Invisalign because the aligners are removable. So, all you have to do is take them off, rinse them with clean, cool water, and place them in their designated case. Then, you can proceed with your usual dental care regimen!

Freedom to Eat Your Favorite Foods

One benefit of this smile-enhancing treatment that’s often overlooked is the fact that there isn’t a long list of dietary restrictions. There’s really only one rule when it comes to eating and drinking: you must remove your aligners beforehand (unless it’s water). Outside of that, just make sure to brush your teeth, clean your trays, and put them back on when you’re done.

No Monthly Adjustment Appointments

Whether you’re a student or a new parent, you may not have the time or energy to commit to monthly adjustment appointments. Don’t worry – Invisalign allows you to progress through portions of your treatment plan at home! In fact, the check-in visits are usually every 6-8 weeks, and, if your teeth are moving as anticipated, there’s a good chance that you’ll be in and out of our office in 30 minutes or less.

Living with Invisalign Aligners

Over the years, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard quite a bit about Invisalign, including that the aligners are basically invisible. But do you know what day-to-day life will look like on your journey to a straighter smile? If not, that’s okay – this section is dedicated to covering everything from how often you need to wear your trays to how to take care of them so noticeable yellow stains don’t develop.

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Wearing Your Trays

Although no two treatment plans are exactly the same, there are some aspects of Invisalign in Kansas City that are universal, like the daily wear time. In order to stay on track with your treatment plan, you need to wear your aligners for a minimum of 20 hours a day. It’s also of the utmost importance that you switch to each new set as directed (usually every 7-14 days).

Cleaning Your Aligners

Like many other patients, you may have been drawn to Invisalign because the aligners won’t draw any unwanted attention to your smile. That’s true – as long as you take good care of them. Fortunately, you don’t need any special oral hygiene products. Just rinse them with clean, cool water each time you take them off and clean them with a soft-bristle toothbrush and clear, mild dishwashing liquid each morning and night.

Important reminder: You need to brush your teeth and rinse your aligners before placing them back into your mouth. Not only will this help prevent a yellow hue from surfacing, but it will also protect your teeth from decay and your gums from infection.

Eating & Drinking

Simply put, you shouldn’t eat or drink anything while wearing your aligners (with the exception of water). It’s also a good idea to limit your intake of sugary treats, like soda and ice cream, since overindulging can quickly lead to a cavity. Instead, focus on incorporating foods into your diet that benefit your oral and overall health, like cottage cheese, bananas, and scrambled eggs.

Losing or Damaging a Tray

If you accidentally lose or break one of your aligners, it’s important that you get in touch with us right away. After all, it’s hard to meet the 20+ hour a day wear time if they get damaged or misplaced. Over the phone, we will take a look at your treatment plan and determine if you can progress to the next set in the series or if it’s safer to revert to the previous set while we have a replacement made.

Attending Progress Visits

One of the many benefits of Invisalign is that it allows patients to progress through portions of their treatment plan at home. With that said, you will need to visit our Kansas City dental team every 6-8 weeks if we determine that clear aligner treatment is right for you. That way, we can make sure that your teeth are moving as anticipated. If they aren’t, we can determine why that is as well as what adjustments need to be made to your treatment plan to get you back on track.

Understanding the Cost of Invisalign

The first step toward a straighter smile is to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Byars at our convenient Kansas City dental office. That way, he can get an in-depth understanding of your dental history, needs, and goals before creating your custom treatment plan. Although we can’t provide you with a price estimate until then, you can read on to learn some helpful information on the topic, starting with a few of the factors that impact the cost.

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Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign

The final cost will depend on a variety of factors, including:

• Whether any preliminary treatments are needed
• If single-arch treatment is possible
• How many aligners need to be made
• If rubber bands or any other orthodontic accessories are needed
• The type of retainer that must be made

Another important factor is your commitment to wearing the Invisalign aligners as directed (usually around 22 hours a day). Taking out your aligners more often than recommended can prolong your treatment schedule and lead to higher costs. For this reason, many cosmetic dentists do not recommend Invisalign treatment for very young patients, as they are more likely to misplace their aligners or forget to wear them.

Invisalign vs. Mail-In Aligners: Which Costs More?

Almost always, mail-in aligners are cheaper. That’s because they often skip the initial exam, rely on DIY impressions, and don’t hire licensed dental professionals to oversee the teeth-straightening process. All of this leads to a higher risk of dental damage and worsened misalignment, which is why these alternatives don’t have support from reputable organizations, like the ADA.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

While every plan is different, most dental insurance providers cover at least part of the cost of Invisalign. So, don’t hesitate to provide us with your membership information! We’re proud to be preferred providers with Delta Dental, and we also file claims for patients who are out-of-network.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

If you are uninsured or your plan does not cover orthodontic treatment, consider Invisalign financing in Kansas City! We are proud to partner with CareCredit, which offers low and no-interest payment plans for dental care. All you need to do is select the plan that works best for you. Then, you can break up the total cost into smaller, monthly installments.

Is Invisalign Worth the Investment?

Straightening your teeth with Invisalign clear braces does more than just improve your appearance – it can also boost your oral health! Correcting bite problems, closing dental gaps, and repositioning overcrowded teeth make it easier to clean your smile and prevent harmful plaque and bacteria from accumulating. Reducing the risk of tooth decay can translate to fewer cavities and less money spent on restorative treatments, such as crowns or root canals, in the future. When you consider the fact that Invisalign clear braces can enhance both your physical appearance and your oral health, there can be no doubt that this treatment is a wise choice. 

Invisalign FAQs

If you are struggling with persistent jaw pain and TMD symptoms, our non-surgical orthopedics team in Fort Lauderdale is ready to help you find relief! However, we acknowledge that you may want to learn more before you visit us. Below, you will find answers to some relevant questions. If your specific points of interest are not addressed here, feel free to reach out to us directly.