Invisalign® in Fairfax

How Does Invisalign® Treatment Work?

Invisalign gently moves teeth into place using a progressive series of clear, comfortable aligners. Each new aligner is in a slightly different shape to move teeth slowly and gently toward their final, straight position.

After your initial Invisalign consultation, our dentist will take an impression of your teeth and send it to a dental lab. Using information the dentist shares with the lab, the lab produces the necessary number of progressive Invisalign aligners (retainers), using the latest advancements in 3D computer technology and manufacturing methods. The complexity of your specific case and how much your teeth need to move will determine how many aligners you will need and how long you’ll have to wear them.

Typically, Invisalign clients switch to a new aligner every week or every other week, following a routine set by our Invisalign dentist. You’ll return to our dental office in Fairfax for check-ups and to pick up a new set of aligners about every six weeks.

The best results are seen in those who wear their Invisalign aligners 20-to-22 hours a day, removing them only to eat, drink, brush or floss. Tobacco users should also remove them before smoking or chewing tobacco.

Once you complete your treatment, it is generally recommended that you wear a retainer, just as you would if you had worn braces. The retainer will help keep your teeth in alignment. Be sure to discuss this with your Invisalign dentist.

What are the benefits of Invisalign?

The most obvious benefit with Invisalign is that the aligners are all but invisible; people may not even notice you’re wearing Invisalign. Other advantages include:

• You can remove your aligners when you eat or drink, which allows you to enjoy foods such as popcorn, nuts, corn on the cob, hard fruit, chips and hard, chewy candy – none of which are allowed when wearing traditional braces.
• You won’t be dealing with any metal brackets or wires like those that come with traditional braces and can irritate your mouth. And there are no rubber bands are required.
• Because there are no brackets or wires that must be adjusted, you’ll make fewer visits to our Invisalign dentist in Fairfax.
• Unlike with traditional braces, you can remove your Invisalign aligners which enables you to more thoroughly brush and floss your teeth than you can when wearing braces.

What is Invisalign Teen®?

Invisalign Teen is an Invisalign product designed for teenagers who have their permanent teeth. It’s a popular solution for teenagers who play sports, who play musical instruments, or who simply prefer the look of clear aligners over metal braces.

Invisalign Teen is a very similar system to Invisalign in how it is made and how it works. There are a few key differences. One is that Invisalign Teen aligners include a small, no-cheat color-changing element that is visible to the dentist. This allows our Invisalign dentist to know immediately whether the teenager has been wearing the aligners for the recommend amount of time.

The other difference between Invisalign and Invisalign Teen is that more replacement aligners are usually provided to teens just in case a set gets broken or lost.

How much does Invisalign cost?

The cost of Invisalign treatment depends on your individual needs. Only your Invisalign-trained dentist can provide you with that cost. Generally, however, the cost is consistent with that of braces.

Numerous factors influence the cost of Invisalign treatment, including length of treatment, treatment goals, the number of aligners you need, and the complexity of the case.

Insurance coverage for Invisalign varies from one policy to another, so it’s suggested you review your policy or call your insurance carrier to see what is covered. If a policy covers braces, it most likely covers Invisalign.

A flexible spending account (FSA) can help minimize your costs by putting $2,550 of pretax dollars toward the cost of your Invisalign treatment.

Our team can talk to you about paying the entire amount up front or about flexible, affordable monthly payments if you don’t have insurance coverage.

Call our office in Fairfax today at (571) 364-7943 to schedule an Invisalign consultation.