Invisalign ® – Framingham, MA
The More Comfortable and Discreet Way To Straighten Teeth
At Framingham Premier Dental, our patients don’t have to worry about getting a mouth full of metal to straighten their teeth because Dr. Marianna Gaitsgory offers Invisalign clear braces as an optimal teeth-straightening solution for teenagers as well as adults. For patients seeking a cosmetically suitable option for shifting crooked and crowded teeth into their ideal places, we may recommend this modern orthodontic treatment because it allows patients to avoid uncomfortable and cumbersome brackets and wires. As an alternative, Invisalign clear braces are a very aesthetically pleasing remedy for teens and adults who want to straighten their smiles un-noticeably and comfortably.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Starting your journey towards a straightened smile and better oral health is easy. It begins with Dr. Gaitsgory evaluating your teeth and oral structure during an initial consultation to determine if Invisalign clear braces will best benefit your smile.
If Invisalign in Framingham is the teeth-straightening solution for you, we’ll use 3-D computer imaging technology to create your treatment plan. The images show the progression from the initial position to the final, optimized position. With this data and your molds, the dental lab creates your series of Invisalign clear aligners.
Your Invisalign trays will move your crooked or oddly spaced teeth into alignment over the course of eight to 14 months, on average. Every two weeks, you’ll switch out one set of aligners for the next in the series. Since adjustments aren’t needed, you only need to check in with Dr. Gaitsgory at our Framingham dental practice every six to eight weeks for a quick progress check and to pick up your next series of aligners.
What Problems Can Invisalign Correct?
Invisalign treatment is more versatile than many patients believe. Our patients who choose this orthodontic solution are typically looking to fix some of the following problems:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Openbite
- Gaps between teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Crooked teeth
Benefits of Invisalign
This clear alternative to traditional braces continues to gain popularity as more patients learn about its unique advantages. Instead of utilizing metallic brackets and wires, this orthodontic service relies on transparent trays that fit snugly over your arches to gently shift your teeth to their ideal placements.
Continue reading to learn about the various benefits of choosing this treatment over the standard method of straightening smiles, and please feel free to contact our office for more information!
More Comfortable Treatment
Standard braces are notorious for cutting the tender tissues inside your mouth and causing intense aches, especially after the archwire has been readjusted. Thankfully, the smooth plastic material of Invisalign is unlikely to lacerate your gums or the insides of your lips and cheeks. And although it’s normal to feel sore when switching to new trays, patients typically find them to be more comfortable.
Discreet Transparent Trays
One of the first things people notice about you is the quality of your smile, and if you’re feeling self-conscious about your appearance, you’re likely eager to avoid dark metal brackets and wires.
Fortunately, Invisalign uses completely transparent material that allows your natural enamel to shine through. Not only that, but you could start to see straighter teeth in as few as two weeks, meaning you’ll be showing off an already-straighter smile throughout your treatment.
Enhanced Self-Esteem
Did you know that people with dental issues are more likely to report feeling anxious or depressed? If you’re overly concerned about being judged for your appearance, you might avoid spending time with others, which can detract from your daily quality of life.
Thankfully, clear aligners can reposition your grin more discreetly to boost your confidence. This, in turn, can contribute to better professional achievements, more meaningful relationships, and an engaging social calendar.
Non-Invasive Option
Traditional orthodontics are anchored to your teeth throughout your treatment and are therefore considered more invasive. Patients must adjust their daily routines, including their dental hygiene habits and dietary decisions, to accommodate the brittle metal brackets and wires.
Meanwhile, these transparent trays are completely removable. That makes it easier to keep your teeth clean and allows you to continue enjoying all your favorite meals!
Improved Dental Hygiene
Patients with braces might struggle with oral issues because it’s harder to brush and floss with their orthodontics in place. Unfortunately, this increases the likelihood of developing cavities, gum disease, or other concerns.
Thankfully, Invisalign can be completely removed so you can maintain your daily dental regimen. This can strengthen your enamel and connective tissues and help prevent problems.
Faster Follow-Ups
You’ll be required to schedule check-in appointments with Dr. Gaitsgory, usually about every six to eight weeks throughout your treatment timeline. Fortunately, these visits tend to be briefer than standard follow-ups in orthodontics because there’s no need to adjust an archwire.
Instead, our team will examine your condition to ensure your teeth are shifting as intended and provide the next trays in your series that you’ll need to wear. This can often be completed in as few as 15 to 30 minutes.
Living with Invisalign Aligners
Many adults and teens choose Invisalign because the transparent trays are typically considered more comfortable and discreet than traditional braces. But that doesn’t necessarily mean this treatment is the best solution to meet your unique needs.
Continue reading to learn more about what daily life looks like with Invisalign to help you decide whether it is right for you!
Wearing Your Trays
Unlike standard orthodontics, which involve attaching bulky brackets to your enamel, this service utilizes removable trays that fit snuggly over your arches to straighten your smile. But you must wear them for 20 to 22 hours daily to prevent your teeth from reverting to their starting positions, which can potentially add weeks or months to your treatment timeline.
That means they’re intended to be removed for meals and cleanings, but otherwise, you should keep them inserted for most of the day and night.
Cleaning Your Aligners
The transparent material your trays are made from allows your enamel to show through. This makes it harder for others to detect them. But they can become stained or clouded if they’re not cleaned consistently, which can defeat the purpose of ‘invisible’ orthodontics.
You should remove them twice daily to gently scrub them with a soft-bristle toothbrush and clear dish soap that won’t abrade the surface. It’s also usually safe to soak them for 15 to 30 minutes daily in a solution of water and Invisalign cleaning crystals, which helps remove even the most stubborn residue buildup.
Eating & Drinking
Because these plastic trays are removable, patients aren’t required to adhere to the same dietary restrictions as those with braces. However, it’s worth noting that the material isn’t meant to withstand the pressure of biting and chewing, so you must remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything other than water.
You might think sipping coffee or tea is safe, but hot temperatures can warp the material so your Invisalign no longer fits or functions correctly. Plus, darkly tinted foods and drinks can cause stains.
Losing or Damaging a Tray
It’s not necessarily considered an emergency if you lose or break one of your aligners, but you should contact our office as soon as possible to let us know. Dr. Gaitsgory will need to provide appropriate instructions for how to proceed while minimizing potential interruptions to your treatment timeline.
Depending on how long you wore the lost or damaged trays, she might ask you to revert to a previous set while she reorders them, or switch to the next pair in your series earlier than initially anticipated.
Routine Check-Ins
You’ll need to schedule regular follow-up appointments with Dr. Gaitsgory every four to eight weeks or so for the duration of your Invisalign treatment. These check-ins allow her to monitor your progress and dental condition so she can catch and treat any areas of concern, like thinning enamel or swollen gums, before they progress. Our team will also provide the next aligners in your series that you’ll be asked to wear.
Thankfully, these visits can often be as brief as 15 to 30 minutes!
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
There are several factors that go into the cost of individual patients’ Invisalign treatment. For example, the length of your treatment may depend on how complex your orthodontic issues are or whether you accidentally lose or break an aligner. Typically, the more aligners you need and longer your treatment plan is, the higher the cost for treatment. The best way to learn how much it will cost is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gaitsgory, your Invisalign dentist in Framingham, so she can develop a customized timeline for you.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
There are several details that will go into calculating the cost of Invisalign in Framingham that our team will speak with you about during your initial consultation, including:
- The number of aligners you’ll need to address your unique orthodontic issues will be determined by the complexity of your case, which our team will be able to learn more about once we have access to X-rays and your dental history.
- Whether you'll need one or both arches of your teeth straghtened, although it’s important to keep in mind that in most cases, we recommend straightening all of your teeth to ensure a proper bite.
- If you stay on-top of your treatment >by wearing your trays for at least 22 hours a day and keeping track of your aligners so you don’t accidentally lose one.
- If you require additional accessories for the best treatment results, like elastics.
Invisalign vs. SmileDirectClub™: Cost & Value
Today, there are countless mail-in aligner programs that have patients feeling they can receive the same results for a fraction of the cost. However, the reality is that these programs are rarely, if ever overseen by a dental professional, whereas your Invisalign treatment will be closely monitored by someone with years of experience in their field. Not to mention, the aligners utilize a patented material for both comfort and efficiency instead of plastic.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
While some dental insurance plans cover the cost of one orthodontic treatment like Invisalign in Framingham, that’s not the case for every one. Our team will help you navigate your benefits to determine whether you’ll need to pay an out-of-pocket cost to receive treatment. We’re also in-network with most PPO dental insurance plans, like Cigna, MetLife, Aetna, and more, so you can save from steeper costs when you choose us!
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
In addition to accepting and maximizing dental insurance, we’re also happy to accept a variety of payment options, like CareCredit additional financing, cash, personal checks, and all major credit cards. We also offer 0% financing through our In-House Dental Plan!
Invisalign FAQs
Does wearing Invisalign aligners hurt?
Unlike traditional metal braces that can rub against the inside of your cheeks and lips, causing wounds and irritation, Invisalign trays are made from a smooth plastic material that is significantly more comfortable. Not only are they customized to fit your unique dental structure, but you won’t have to carry around orthodontic wax with you, like you would have to with metal brackets and wires.
Some of our patients report feeling slight discomfort when they advance to their next set of aligners in their treatment because they’re tighter. To help counteract this, you can put your new trays in at night so you sleep through a majority of the adjustment period, or you can take over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen.
How long is Invisalign treatment?
There’s no singular Invisalign treatment plan. Each of our patients’ has varying orthodontic issues, which means that every procedure is different. Depending on your unique needs, our average Invisalign treatment is typically between eight and 14 months. During your initial consultation, we’ll examine your mouth and walk you through your treatment timeline so you know exactly what to expect.
How do I clean my Invisalign trays?
Cleaning your Invisalign trays is a vital part of the process. If you don’t regularly sanitize your aligners, it could lead to food particles becoming trapped between your teeth and appliance, causing oral health problems such as tooth decay. In order to maintain your trays, be sure to follow these tips:
- Rinse your aligners before each time you put them back in your mouth.
- Soak your aligners for 15 minutes every day in a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water to sanitize them.
- Regularly clean your aligners with a soft bristled toothbrush and clear antibacterial soap.
- Whenever your aligners aren’t in your mouth, place them in their protective case.
If you have any questions about how to care for your trays or you accidentally lose or break one, don’t hesitate to contact our office as soon as you’re able to!
Will I need to wear a retainer after Invisalign treatment?
In order to maintain the results that you worked so hard to achieve, you’ll need to wear an aligner after your treatment. Your teeth have a type of muscle memory, which means that if they aren’t held in place until they get used to their new positions, they can gradually shift back into misalignment. Towards the end of your treatment, we’ll discuss your retainer options with you.