With over 20 years of research, the world’s largest 3D printing operation, and data from over 6 million smiles, Invisalign has proven itself to be a revolutionary treatment that offers a secret, seamless way to straighten teeth. If you think your teeth might need work but you don’t want any metal brackets or wires in your mouth, Invisalign clear aligners are a great option for you. At Dr. Jessica Cohen Orthodontics, we can make your dream of having a new smile come to life without any metal with the help of Invisalign in Highland Park! Dr. Jessica Cohen is a certified Invisalign provider and has treated countless teens and adults with this cutting-edge system. Keep reading to learn more about Invisalign and give us a call when you’re ready to schedule your consultation!
Invisalign is such a game changer, especially when performed by a Preferred Invisalign Provider like Dr. Cohen. As an active member of prestigious organizations like the Chicago Dental Society, the Illinois Society of Orthodontics, the American Dental Association, and the American Association of Orthodontics, she has years of experience and advanced training in orthodontics. She has completed numerous personalized Invisalign treatments to help a wide variety of patients achieve the happy, healthy smiles they deserve. When you visit a seasoned professional like Dr. Cohen, you can rest assured that your smile is in good hands!
Invisalign uses virtually invisible aligners or trays to gradually move your teeth into place for a beautiful smile. The series of clear trays made for your specific treatment are unique to you, so you can get exactly the results you’re looking for. Each tray represents one step closer to your newly aligned smile, and you’ll wear each one for about two weeks. Every few weeks, you’ll visit Dr. Cohen for a quick checkup. She’ll monitor your progress to ensure your treatment is staying on track and will make any minor adjustments as needed. This is also when you’ll pick up your next several sets of aligners. You will continue this process until your smile is transformed into the desired smile you want. Simple as that!
Each Invisalign treatment is different for each of our patients. That being said, most of our patients have an Invisalign treatment time of 12 to 18 months. To be clear, this is an estimated average timeframe, and your exact timeline of treatment may vary. Your timeframe will depend on how long it takes for your teeth to become properly aligned with the help of the aligners. After all, this is influenced by many different factors, including what type of issue Invisalign is being used to address, which could include problems like:
Crowded teeth are unsightly and they create small spaces that trap food debris. To help minimize your risk of oral health issues and help you achieve a beautiful smile, Dr. Cohen can use Invisalign to realign your teeth into the proper positions.
The opposite of crowded teeth are gapped teeth, which pose just as much of a problem for your appearance and oral health. Thankfully, Invisalign can carefully close these gaps without pushing your teeth too close together, allowing you to enjoy a uniform set of pearly whites.
Bite issues like overbite, underbite, and crossbite can cause serious jaw problems in the future. Dr. Cohen can craft a carefully planned Invisalign treatment plan to bring your teeth and jaws into the right positions, giving you a prettier smile and a healthier bite.
If Invisalign is right for you, you can expect to enjoy a lot of benefits that you can’t get with metal braces, like:
Patients often expect that living with Invisalign will require a complete overhaul of their daily routine. In reality, it’s one of the most hassle-free orthodontic treatments! With that said, there are some important guidelines you need to follow in order to stay on-track. If you’re interested in learning what they are, then read on.
Wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours a day is one of the most important rules of Invisalign. After all, if you don’t wear them, they won’t work! If you’re having trouble meeting this goal day after day, try downloading the Invisalign app and using the timer on there. You can also use the timer on your phone – whatever helps you remember to put your trays back in immediately after eating or completing your oral hygiene regimen.
Let’s start with what you shouldn’t do, like using bleach, denture cleaner, or mouthwash to clean your aligners. The abrasive agents in these products can damage your trays, which is why it’s best to stick to clean water, a soft-bristled toothbrush, and the Invisalign cleaning crystals. On a daily basis, cleaning your aligners after each meal should keep them clean and clear. Of course, if you need to give them a deeper clean, then you can always use the cleaning crystals as well.
There’s really only one rule when it comes to eating and drinking with Invisalign: you have to remove your aligners first. If you don’t, then they can crack, warp, and discolor, negatively impacting your treatment in more ways than one. As for the foods and drinks themselves, we recommend sticking to a well-balanced diet that isn’t loaded with sugary or starchy foods. Instead, focus on filling your plate with things that will keep your teeth strong and healthy, like fresh vegetables.
If you damage a tray, do your best not to panic. Instead, place your aligners (or the pieces of your aligners) in a small, clean container and call our Highland Park orthodontist. Once we take a look at your treatment plan, we can determine if you’re safe to move onto the next set of trays in the series or if you need to wear your previous ones.
If you can’t seem to find your aligners, then carefully retrace your steps. If they are nowhere to be found, call us so we can get to work on having a replacement set made.
If you have all of your aligners, you might be wondering, “Why do I need to visit my orthodontist for check-in appointments?” Well, there are a few reasons! One of the most noteworthy ones is that your dental team needs to periodically scan your teeth to determine if they are moving as anticipated. If they aren’t, then they can provide you helpful tips (like using the Invisalign app to make sure you’re wearing your aligners enough) or make necessary adjustments to your treatment plan.
Since Invisalign is customized to meet the unique needs and preferences of each patient, there is no set price for Invisalign. However, once we evaluate you during your consultation, we’ll be able to provide an estimated price for your treatment. Additionally, we’ll be able to review your dental insurance coverage to ensure that your benefits are being maximized. Read on or reach out to our team today if you want to learn more about the cost of Invisalign in Highland Park!
The overall price of Invisalign treatment will vary from patient to patient due to several important factors, including:
While Invisalign is a popular and effective orthodontic method, there are other treatments like Smile Direct Club™ that might be more affordable. The problem with these do-it-yourself options is the lack of supervision from a dental professional. Though they cost less than Invisalign, this also means they won’t have the same quality results and are more prone to errors during the process. Without professional oversight, you can end up with more serious issues that’ll need to be treated by an orthodontist anyway.
During your Invisalign treatment, your orthodontist will oversee your progress from start to finish. We’ll also use highly accurate impressions to ensure your process is successful. Although the initial cost is higher than the alternative options, you can expect to undergo a safer and more comprehensive treatment overall.
Many dental insurance policies offer coverage for orthodontic treatments, including Invisalign. For this reason, it’s important to check with your provider about the details of your plan. This way you know what to expect when considering the cost of Invisalign. Our practice is also in-network with most dental insurance plans. Feel free to reach out to our knowledgeable team members if you’d like help with this process, and we’ll be happy to help you make the most of your benefits!
Even if you don’t have dental insurance, we might be able to offer alternative financing options to help make orthodontic treatments more affordable. Many of our plans can help break up your payments for more convenience, and we even offer a free consultation exam to get you started. Once we’ve assessed your situation, we’ll do everything we can to help make the cost of Invisalign as stress-free as possible. Don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with us today to learn more about your financial options and the estimated prices for a straighter smile!
Our team doesn’t just welcome questions; we encourage them! After all, your oral health is extremely important, and it’s only natural to have questions about your teeth-straightening journey. From care and diet to what happens after you’re done with Invisalign, we’ve responded to some common questions we hear from our patients in Highland Park.
When you see pictures of Invisalign, you often just notice the smooth, see-through aligners. However, patients with more moderate cases of misalignment will also need attachments. These small pieces of tooth-colored resin are securely bonded to your teeth and designed to give your aligners something to grip. That way, they can effectively guide misaligned teeth into their proper positions. Don’t worry – the process of putting them on and taking them off is completely painless and won’t harm your enamel. Plus, they get smoothed down so they don’t irritate the soft tissue in your mouth when your aligners aren’t in.
Good news: cleaning your aligners is easy! Here are a few simple steps you can implement to keep them clean and clear:
After you’ve worked through your series of aligners and you’re happy with the results, we will move onto the next step: preserving your smile. To prevent your teeth from moving back into their previously aligned positions, we will provide you with a custom retainer. Fortunately, retainers today are just as discreet as your Invisalign trays, so you won’t have to cover up your beautiful new smile. We typically recommend that patients commit to wearing theirs each evening, but the exact wear time will depend on your specific dental needs.
It’s true; traditional braces require you to avoid hard, sticky, and crunchy foods since they can result in an orthodontic emergency, like a broken wire. Luckily, the same cannot be said for Invisalign – you can eat whatever you’d like! With that said, patients are encouraged to keep their intake of added sugar to a minimum since sugary foods and beverages can cause cavities. Furthermore, extremely crunchy foods, like tortilla chips and popcorn can cause one of your attachments to come off, so it’s important to exercise caution when indulging in foods like these.
It’s possible! For patients with severe malocclusion, Invisalign may not be an option at first. The good news is that you may be able to start your orthodontic treatment with traditional braces and finish it with clear aligners. Ultimately, it will depend entirely on your specific dental needs, so schedule a consultation so we can determine if clear aligner treatment is right for you.
Invisalign is such a game changer! When you are ready to get your teeth looking great without the hassle of brushing and flossing in tight spaces or having to deal with the metal mouth look? This is your chance!