Invisalign - Marlton, NJ

Many dental patients know that a straight smile looks great, but they don’t necessarily know that straighter smiles are also healthier. Another thing that many dentistry patients don’t know about straighter teeth is that you don’t need to receive traditional bracket and wire treatment to achieve the flawless smile you desire. Instead, let the dentist and dentistry team at the South Jersey Center for Dental Medicine talk to you about Invisalign at our Marlton, NJ dental office. These clear alignment tray orthodontic solutions allow dentistry patients to achieve straight, beautiful smiles in less time while looking their very best. If you want to learn more about Invisalign or any of our other treatment options, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to helping you with all of your oral health and hygiene goals.

How Invisalign works

Traditional braces use wires connected to brackets that attach to the front surfaces of teeth to place pressure, moving smiles into position. Invisalign alignment tray orthodontics complete the same process using a series of clear plastic aligners. Each set of alignment trays is molded to reflect your smile one step closer to the ideal position. When you wear the aligners for about two weeks at a time, the pressure shifts your teeth into this new placement. Then, you exchange the current set of aligners for the next set in the series. Over the course of about twelve months of treatment, your teeth will be gently shifted into their ideal position.

Who Can Invisalign Help?

If what you’ve read about Invisalign so far has intrigued you, then you’ll be happy to hear that clear aligners are quite versatile as well. In fact, this discreet orthodontic treatment has helped patients with crowded teeth, spaced-out teeth, and several common bite problems over the years. You can read on to learn more, but don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with us if you want to find out if you’re a candidate!

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Crowded Teeth

Teeth that overlap don’t just take a toll on your confidence; they take a toll on your oral health. In fact, patients struggling with overcrowding often are prone to cavities and are at an increased risk of developing other serious oral health problems, like periodontal disease. In other words, Invisalign can improve the look and health of your smile – all with clear, custom-made, and comfortable aligners.

Gaps Between Teeth

If there are noticeable gaps between your teeth that you’re not fond of, then you might develop a habit of covering your smile when you laugh or covering your teeth in photos by keeping your lips closed. The good news is that patients with mild to moderate cases of malocclusion are usually candidates for Invisalign. To find out if clear aligners are right for you, take the next step: contact us to schedule a visit!

Overbite

Unfortunately, even minor cases of overbites can result in trouble enunciating clearly, difficulty smiling properly, and even premature wear and tear on your teeth. For that reason, we recommend contacting our team at South Jersey Center for Dental Medicine if your upper teeth protrude beyond your lower ones. From there, we can assess the complexity of your case and determine if Invisalign is right for you.

Underbite

In addition to the aesthetic drawbacks, this bite problem keeps your jaw in an unnatural position for extended periods of time. That’s why so many patients deal with chronic pain! Underbites also can make it difficult to chew and speak, which takes an undeniable toll on your quality of life. Fortunately, Invisalign is an option for many patients, so call us today to find out if it’s the metal-free solution you’ve been waiting for!

Crossbite

Crossbites, like the other bite problems on the list, can negatively impact the look, health, and function of your smile in more ways than one. That said, premature wear and tear on your teeth is a prevalent concern, so it’s important that we bring your bite into proper alignment sooner rather than later. Oftentimes, this can be accomplished with clear aligners and other orthodontic accessories, like rubber bands.

Open Bite

If there is space toward the front or back of your mouth that’s preventing you from biting down properly, then there’s a good chance that you have an open bite. Don’t worry – Invisalign is often an option for patients if their case isn’t too severe. So, don’t just assume that your only option is metal brackets and wires!

 

Benefits of Invisalign

While Invisalign is not necessarily the best orthodontic solution for every patient, there are numerous benefits for those who do choose treatment using Invisalign, including:

• Saved time – throughout treatment you’ll have fewer, shorter dental office visits and overall treatment time is significantly shorter than traditional orthodontics.
• No hassle – you won’t need to change your diet or oral hygiene routine. Simply remove your oral appliance and enjoy all of your favorite foods and complete your regular oral hygiene routine.
• Look great – throughout treatment, you’ll have a perfectly natural smile you’ll be proud to share thanks to the close-to-natural looking, clear alignment trays.
• Complete comfort – the smooth aligners will not create any soft tissue irritation, and most patients find this treatment method more comfortable than traditional bracket and wire braces.

Living with Invisalign Aligners

Have you ever wondered how your day-to-day life will change with Invisalign? Since the aligners are removable, discreet, and easy to care for, you won’t have to make any drastic changes. That said, it’s always a good idea to do your homework on what life with braces will look like before you sign on the dotted line. With this in mind, keep reading!

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Wearing Your Trays

In order to avoid unwanted treatment plan delays (and added expenses), you need to wear your aligners for 20+ hours a day. So, it’s important to find a routine that works for you! For some, that means dedicating 40 minutes to each meal. For others, that means setting a reminder on their phone so they remember to brush their teeth and put their aligners back on right after they are done eating. In both cases, using the stopwatch on your phone or the timer on the Invisalign app should help!

Cleaning Your Aligners

There are three things you need to clean your aligners: a soft-bristled toothbrush, clean water, and a clear, mild dishwashing liquid. Outside of that, make sure that you never use hot water since it can warp your aligners. It’s also a good idea to soak your trays each morning or evening in a dentist-recommended cleaner to help prevent plaque, saliva, food particles, and other debris from clinging to the surface.

Eating & Drinking

The good news is that there aren’t any dietary restrictions with Invisalign. So, you don’t need to worry about steering clear of apples, celery, and other crunchy foods. You do, however, need to remove your aligners before you eat. You should also take them off before drinking anything other than water, including iced coffee. This will help prevent them from warping or staining, which can negatively impact your treatment plan in more than one way.

Losing a Tray

If you realize that your aligners aren’t where you thought they were, then it’s important to start looking for them right away. After all, there is only a finite amount of aligner-free time allotted to each day. The best thing to do is re-trace your steps, looking in “random” places, like the pockets of the pants you were wearing earlier. If you cannot find them, then call us ASAP so we can determine if replacement trays need to be made or if you can move onto the next set of aligners in the series.

Routine Check-Ins

Instead of coming in every month for adjustment appointments, you’ll come to our office every six or eight weeks so we can take new scans of your teeth. This gives us important insight into how your teeth are responding to the aligners. If something isn’t right, like one of your teeth isn’t moving as anticipated, then we can make the necessary adjustments to your treatment plan, hopefully preventing delays in the process.

 

Cost of Invisalign

The costs of Invisalign treatments varies depending on the number of aligners needed and the length of treatment time. However, patients typically spend about the same amount on alignment tray orthodontic treatment that they would for traditional orthodontics. Today, dental insurance providers typically provide the same percentage of coverage for Invisalign, which further reduces the out of pockets costs of care. Before we begin your Invisalign treatment plan, we’ll go over each step of the process and the costs associated to ensure you are never surprised by the costs of your dental treatment. 

Invisalign Frequently Asked Questions

While most people are familiar with traditional metal braces, not everyone knows how Invisalign treatment works. If you still have questions about Invisalign clear braces, we are here to help! Our team at South Jersey Center for Dental Medicine has answered some of the most common questions about Invisalign in Marlton below. We hope you find this FAQ section helpful as you consider how to best straighten your teeth.

When you are finished reading, don’t hesitate to take the first step toward a new smile by scheduling an initial consultation with Dr. Sandberg!

Does Invisalign Treatment Hurt?

Many patients find Invisalign treatment more comfortable than traditional metal braces. However, you will likely experience some slight soreness or sensitivity when you first start wearing your Invisalign trays. This is a sign that the orthodontic treatment is working! Your discomfort should go away in just a few short days once your teeth adjust to the pressure from the trays.

How Many Hours a Day Should I Wear My Invisalign Aligners?

Generally speaking, you should wear your Invisalign aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day or as directed by Dr. Sandberg. While the aligners are easily removable to eat and brush your teeth, you should always put them back in as soon as possible. Every minute that your aligners are out, your teeth will want to shift back toward their previous position. To complete your Invisalign treatment as quickly and smoothly as possible, wear your aligners whenever you are not eating or cleaning your teeth.

Are Invisalign Aligners Safe to Wear?

Yes! More than eight million people worldwide have safely and effectively straightened their teeth using Invisalign technology. Invisalign aligners are crafted from medical-grade polyurethane plastic, which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for long-term use in the body. In addition, the aligners do not contain any Bisphenol A (BPA), parabens, latex, phthalates, glutaraldehyde or epoxy, according to the manufacturer.

How Do I Clean My Aligners?

Gum disease, tooth decay and other oral health problems can interrupt and delay successful Invisalign treatment. To prevent plaque and bacteria from building up on your aligners and harming your teeth and gums, follow these steps:

• Gently brush your aligners each day using a soft-bristled toothbrush
• Brush with soap and lukewarm water instead of an abrasive toothpaste
• Rinse your aligners with lukewarm water only – hot water can damage the plastic trays
• Always place your aligners back in your mouth after cleaning them

I Had Metal Braces in the Past. Can I Still Benefit from Invisalign?

Did you survive your teenage years wearing metal braces? Even with traditional orthodontic treatment, teeth can still slowly shift over time. If you wore braces in the past but are unhappy with the current position of your teeth, you may still be able to benefit from Invisalign in Marlton. Wearing clear braces this time around will certainly be more comfortable and less embarrassing compared to your prior orthodontic experience!

Can I Smoke While Undergoing Invisalign Treatment?

One of the major advantages of Invisalign is that the trays are nearly invisible. However, if you smoke while wearing Invisalign trays, they will quickly accumulate noticeable stains. Taking your trays out to smoke is not a good option either, as frequently removing them will significantly delay completion of your treatment. Your best bet? Kick the tobacco habit! Doing so will boost both your smile and your overall health.