North Sydney Orthodontics Suite 3, Level 5, 8 West St North Sydney NSW 2060 Call (02) 9954 5144

 

North Sydney Orthodontics Invisalign
September 30, 2014 Dr Charles Daniels

North Sydney Orthodontics Plastic aligners (Invisalign)

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a big name in aligner therapy because in 1997 it was the first company to digitize the process of incremental tooth movement, to create gradual tooth movement from plastic overlays (aligners). Invisalign enjoyed patent protection for 20 years while it developed its brand and market position.  Since the patents expired a few years ago many orthodontic manufacturers have entered the aligner market,  including your local orthodontist who can make aligners in the practice through the use of licensed software and 3D digital printing.  In the minds of many patients invisalign is a generic name for aligner therapy.

At North Sydney Orthodontics we manufacture our plastic aligner products on site using Suresmile software because it allows a very quick start to aligner therapy usually about 2 weeks to fit aligners, can be easily integrated into treatment with braces and can be changed and updated easily.  Although the software is based in Texas we manufacture our aligners here in Australia.  If you want to use invisalign branded aligners no problem but start time will be slower and model acquisition will use traditional dental model making techniques as invisalign (unlike other orthodontist labs) don’t accept records from independent scanners.

Plastic aligners (AKA Invisalign) works best for adults but can be suitable in the older teenager. While clear plastic aligners are nearly invisible almost no one can tell you’re wearing them, but they can interfer with speech and must be removed and replaced for eating and drinking.

What’s great about Invisalign?

Clear aligners are less visible than braces and certainly it is possible to maintain normal tooth brushing and flossing efficiency.  Invisalign  or any plastic aligners are well suited to patients who have previously had gum problems they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are no problem.

traditional braces vs invisalign

How Does Invisalign Work?

You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move little by little, week by week until they have straightened to the final position Dr. Daniels  has prescribed. You’ll visit Dr. Daniels about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.

How to start Invisalign

At  your initial consultation, Dr Daniels obtain a digital model and records which are used to plan simulations of the possible treatment options
Usually within 1-2 weeks the simulation(s) are available to review and usually with one or 2 changes we reach a plan to approve.
As we manufacture our aligners in house your first set of aligners can be then prepared within just a few days to fit and get you started on your journey

What are the benefits of Invisalign compared to braces?

Invisalign is less visible than standard or ceramic braces , though the attachments may make it more obvious.  You can enjoy eating and drinking without getting food stuck in your appliances , but also you must remove the aligners and replace them after eating and drinking – so it can be a little socially disruptive.  Tooth brushing and flossing your teeth is easy with invisalign and for this reason its a great option for patients who have had problems with their gum health.

Invisalign is a digital treatment which allows you to see the proposed treatment and anticipated outcome before you start – its a great way to avoid any unexpected outcomes, however it is less effective than directly attached appliances like braces and refinement treatment is almost always required after the initial course of treatment to get the desired outcome, so predicting the actual treatment time can be unreliable.

What is the cost of a consultation for Invisalign?

Invisalign treatment is suitable for a large number of teenagers and adult patients. We offer a Free Invisalign Suitability Check. The suitability check is a short consultation limited to discussion of Invisalign suitability only.  No other treatment method will be discussed.

If you wish to discuss all of the available methods for getting your teeth straight our usual consultation  fee will apply (check with reception for rates).  A percentage of this fee is claimable through almost all health insurance companies.

What is the cost of Invisalign?

  1. Suitability check for invisalign $free

  2. We have undertaken aligner therapy for patients for as little as $3500*, but for comprehensive treatment costs are typically $8000-9500 depending on difficulty.

These fees are correct for treatments commencing during 2021

Will insurance cover any of the cost of my Invisalign treatment?

Yes, providing you have orthodontic coverage (braces), Invisalign should be covered to the same extent as conventional braces

Can any dentist do Invisalign ?

Invisalign quality improvement have developed protocols to maximize the effectiveness of treatment but the process is still under the control of the clinician providing your treatment. Many dentists are carrying out Invisalign but we believe that the best chance of success is when orthodontic treatment is provided by a fully trained orthodontist who is familiar with the potential difficulties of tooth movement.

What if I need to have teeth removed for Invisalign treatment?

Improved techniques now allow us to consider some extraction cases using plastic aligners. If your teeth are mildly crowded often space can be found by slightly expanding the dental arch, moving the molar teeth back, making some teeth a fraction of a millimetre narrower or moving teeth forward that are pushed too far back.

Is Invisalign treatment painful ?

Most people experience temporary, minor discomfort for a few days at the beginning of each new stage of treatment. This is a normal part of all orthodontic treatments.

Will Invisalign affect my speech?

Like all orthodontic treatments, Aligners may temporarily affect the speech of some people, and you may have a slight lisp for a day or two

Will my teeth remain straight after Invisalign treatment?

Like all orthodontic treatment relapse of alignment is a possibility so a retention strategy is required to keep teeth straight once active treatment is completed.  The type of available retainers will be discussed with you and your initial retainers are included free in your invisalign treatment costs.

I was always very conscious of the responsibility that being a professional person brings, and I have always striven to be the best practitioner I can be and advise and treat my patients in their best interest.
Sydney Orthodontist Specialist. Correcting crooked teeth and bite problems
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