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Invisalign – Doylestown, PA

Straighten Your Smile Without the Hassle

 

In the past, fixing orthodontic issues meant needing to have noticeable and uncomfortable metal brackets and wires affixed in your mouth. These downsides have kept many people from receiving the treatment they require to improve their oral health and enhance the appearance of their smile. At Dr. Terry F. Rakowsky Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, our team offers a modern, discreet, and comfortable alternative to metal braces, called Invisalign in Doylestown. Read on to learn more about the treatment and whether you’re a good candidate.

Why Choose Dr. Terry Rakowsky for Invisalign? 

  • Dentist with Over 35 Years of Experience
  • Locally Owned & Operated Dental Practice
  • Comprehensive Dental Care Under 1 Roof

How Does Invisalign Work?

smiling young adult in a blue shirt

Instead of utilizing metal brackets and wires, Invisalign treatment uses custom-fitted plastic trays, similar to retainers, to gently and strategically shift your teeth into their ideal positions. Every two weeks, you’ll advance to your next series of aligners in your treatment, until you eventually complete the process and achieve your ideal results. Every six to eight weeks, depending on what we determine is best at your initial consultation, you’ll come in for a quick progress check and to pick up your next series of aligners in your treatment.

Indications for Invisalign

Invisalign aligners sitting on a counter

Many patients are surprised to learn that Invisalign treatment is a great solution for a wide variety of orthodontic issues, including some of the following that we’ve listed below.

Crowded Teeth

Crowded teeth can increase your risk of plaque, tartar, and harmful bacteria accumulation in your mouth. By aligning them with Invisalign trays, you’ll be able to prevent common oral health problems like cavities from occurring.

Gaps Between Teeth

If you’re not a fan of having unevenly spaced teeth, and your orthodontic issue has begun to affect your self-confidence or oral health, Invisalign trays can close the gaps between your teeth, making your smile more symmetrical and even.

Bite Misalignment

Whether you have overbite, crossbite, or underbite, Invisalign trays can act to align your jaws and disperse bite force evenly across your mouth, preventing you from developing other conditions, like TMJ dysfunction and bruxism.

The Benefits of Invisalign

a young business professional holding a cup of coffee and crossing their arms

Invisalign is one of the most popular orthodontic treatments among patients because of the variety of benefits that it offers, as opposed to traditional metal braces. Some of the advantages that you’ll be able to enjoy include:

  • Discreet, clear aligners
  • Better oral health while undergoing treatment
  • Eat all of the foods that you love
  • Easy to clean and maintain the aligners
  • Conveniently removable
  • Shorter average treatment time
  • More comfortable than metal braces

How Much Does Invisalign Cost?   

a person rinsing off their Invisalign aligners after earing

The cost of your Invisalign treatment depends on a variety of factors, including the severity of your orthodontic problems, how many aligners you’ll need to achieve your ideal results, and other details that your dentist in Doylestown will determine during your initial consultation. To learn the cost of your unique Invisalign treatment, schedule a consultation with our office today!

In-House Clear Retainers

Woman using her clear retainer

One of the many benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners are completely clear and comfortable. Once your treatment is done, you won’t want to switch to retainers that have noticeable brackets and wires. Instead, Dr. Rakowsky provides clear retainers that are created entirely in-house. They look, feel, and function just like Invisalign, however they are designed to protect your results. After investing your time and money in your Invisalign treatment, the last thing you want is to see your teeth drift out of place. That’s why Dr. Rakowsky’s clear retainers are the perfect solution – they are personalized, effective, and more affordable than other options.

Understanding the Cost of Invisalign

Dental assistant smiling while handing patient form

The cost of your Invisalign treatment depends on a variety of factors, which is why pinpointing the price online can be near-impossible. The good news is that there is an easy way to get an estimate: schedule a consultation with our Doylestown dental team! You’re also welcome to read on to learn a bit more about the factors that impact the cost of Invisalign.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign

Closeup of clear aligner on grey surface

At your consultation, our highly trained, friendly, and experienced dentist, Dr. Rakowsky, will assess the position of your teeth and take X-rays to determine:

  • The severity of your orthodontic problems
  • How many aligners you’ll need to achieve your ideal results
  • If we need to straighten one or both arches of teeth
  • If rubber bands (or other orthodontic accessories) are needed

It’s important to note that these are just the factors that influence the upfront cost of your Invisalign treatment. In other words, it is possible for there to be additional payments down the line if you misplace your aligners consistently or fall off-track with your plan by not wearing your trays for 20-22 hours a day.

Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?

Dentist with white gloves placing aligner on patient's teeth

Typically, Invisalign costs more than mail-order alternatives, like Smile Direct Club™. Why? To begin, Invisalign is supervised by a licensed dental professional, and the entire treatment process always starts with a thorough exam to ensure you’re a good candidate. Conversely, mail-order clear aligner companies skip the initial exam and ask patients to take DIY impressions, which are often inaccurate. So, it’s not surprising that professional organizations like the American Dental Association do not support orthodontic alternatives like these.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Patient filling out dental insurance form in lobby

That depends on your plan! So, read through the fine print to see if orthodontic services like Invisalign are covered. If you are having a hard time finding it or are confused by the jargon, you’re always welcome to ask us for help too. In addition to being in-network with Delta Dental, we accept all major PPO plans, making it very easy for insured patients to make the most of their coverage.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

Dentist and patient smiling next to each other in office

One of the easiest ways to save is to check out our latest specials! We’ve offered Invisalign® Clear Braces for as low as $199/month with CareCredit and several other promotions to help make the cost of pursuing your dream smile affordable. To learn more, you can check the special offers page on our website or give us a call. Of course, we will also review all of the financial solutions available to you at your appointment.

Invisalign FAQs

With Invisalign, you don’t need to put up with a mouthful of metal brackets and wires to achieve a straighter smile. However, you may still have some unanswered questions about Invisalign, so we’re here to help. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we receive about Invisalign in Doylestown. If you don’t see the information that you’re looking for below, give us a call. We’d be happy to answer your questions and get you started with an initial consultation.

What Does Invisalign Look Like?

Invisalign is made from clear plastic, so the aligners are visible when outside of the mouth, but very difficult to detect once being worn. With proper maintenance, you can keep your aligners clear, clean, and discreet. Ultimately, you can achieve a straighter smile without compromising your appearance. In some cases, patients may require attachments, buttons, or elastics that help during the alignment process. These items aren’t made of clear plastic, so they can sometimes be more visible than the rest of your aligners.

Does Invisalign Hurt?

Invisalign isn’t a painful treatment. Its smooth plastic design makes it one of the most comfortable options out there. When you first get your Invisalign, there is an adjustment period when you will likely experience slight soreness or discomfort, but this will go away as you get used to the treatment. Invisalign works by gradually shifting your teeth into proper alignment, so you may experience a small amount of pressure, but this is how you know that your treatment is working. To help with this adjustment, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever and/or use a cold compress.

Can You Eat with Invisalign?

One of the main advantages of Invisalign is that it is completely removable, therefore allowing you to take your aligners out when it’s time to eat. Eating while wearing your Invisalign can cause cracks and stains, and it puts unnecessary pressure on your teeth. The only thing that you should be consuming while wearing your aligners is water.

Can You Get Invisalign After Braces?

This all depends on your specific needs. Braces are better able to correct more severe overbites, underbites, and crossbites that Invisalign cannot. If your teeth have grown crooked or misaligned years after you completed treatment with braces, Invisalign can usually help with this problem and align your smile. To find out for sure if Invisalign is a good option for you, see us for your initial consultation.

How Long Does Invisalign Take?

Multiple factors can influence the amount of time it will take to finish your Invisalign treatment. These can commonly include the complexity of your orthodontic or misalignment issue and your commitment to your treatment plan. On average, it can take patients between 12 to 18 months to complete the entire process.

If a person has extremely mild orthodontic problems, they can sometimes finish their treatment in as little as 6 months! And while 18 months seems a long time, Invisalign is still at least 4 months shorter than the average process for traditional braces. By staying committed to your treatment plan and visiting your dentist regularly for checkups, you should experience a more efficient process.

What Happens After Invisalign?

After completing your time with your last set of clear aligners in the series, you’ll come into the office for your dentist to assess your results. We’ll confirm that your teeth have moved into their ideal positions before walking you through what to expect when maintaining your newly straightened smile.

The most important part of post-treatment is that you wear your retainer. These can either be wire retainers or look and feel similar to your clear aligners. These appliances are specifically designed to maintain the position of your pearly whites instead of moving them, so they’ll be much more comfortable to wear. By wearing them as instructed, you can be sure to enjoy your straight teeth for many years to come, protecting your investment in the process. You’ll typically start by keeping them in all day before moving on to only having them in overnight.

What if My Invisalign Broke?

While durable, Invisalign trays can still become cracked, scratched, broken, or otherwise damaged. If you notice your aligners have a hairline crack, they may be used as long as you practice extra caution when removing or putting them on. Minimize bending them as much as possible. Don’t try repairing your damaged aligner by yourself or with household items, such as superglue. This can put your oral and overall health at risk of toxic substances.

After notifying your dentist of the situation, they may recommend that you use your previous case or move on to your next set of aligners depending on your progress. To lower your chances of damaging your aligners, remove them before eating anything, store them in a protective case, use only lukewarm water to rinse them, and place a towel under them to break their fall if you drop them.

How Do I Clean My Invisalign?

Other than soaking them in cleaning crystals that help remove debris, food particles, and plaque, you’ll want to use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently scrub your Invisalign trays. Be sure to rinse your aligners every day, especially after eating or drinking anything (except pure water). This will help keep debris and bacteria from accumulating on the trays and your teeth. Do NOT use hot water, as this can warp your aligners and delay your treatment plan. Remember to also brush and floss your teeth before putting your Invisalign trays back on to avoid trapping food and plaque-causing bacteria.