When people ask us at Forest Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry if Invisalign is worth it, we know they’re thinking about a lot of things, how much it costs, how well it works and how it will affect their daily life. We want to give you honest advice based on our experience helping patients in Gurnee, IL get straighter smiles with different orthodontic solutions. This is a big decision. Surgical Orthodontics combines orthodontic treatment with corrective jaw surgery to address more complex bite or alignment issues. This approach helps improve function, facial balance, and long-term stability.
Invisalign has been getting more and more popular over the past 20 years and there’s a reason for it. The system uses a series of clear, removable aligners that slowly move your teeth into place. You wear each aligner for about one to two weeks before moving on to the next one in the series. Each one is made just for your teeth. One of the main reasons adults and teens choose this option over traditional metal braces is that the aligners are almost invisible.
Whether or not Invisalign is worth it depends a lot on your unique orthodontic needs and what’s most important to you. Invisalign can work very well for mild to severe orthodontic problems such as crowding, spacing, overbites, underbites and crossbites. We’ve had patients with these kinds of problems do very well. The technology has come a long way and Invisalign can now handle more complex cases than it used to. However, some very bad orthodontic problems may still need traditional braces for the best results.
The look of Invisalign is one of its best features. Even when you’re talking to someone up close, it’s hard to see the clear aligners. This is especially appealing to people who want to straighten their teeth without the metal brackets and wires being seen. Many of our professional patients like that they can go to meetings, deliver presentations or go to social events without feeling embarrassed about their braces. Teenagers who are already dealing with the social demands of high school feel better about themselves when they wear clear aligners instead of regular braces.
Invisalign aligners can be taken out which makes them more useful than regular braces. You can take the aligners out when you eat so you don’t have to follow any special diets. When you wear traditional braces, some foods, like popcorn, hard sweets and chewy snacks, can break brackets or get stuck in wires. People who wear Invisalign can eat whatever they want but they need to remember to brush their teeth before putting the aligners back in so food doesn’t get stuck between their teeth. It’s also a lot easier to keep your mouth clean when you can take out your aligners. You can brush and floss normally without having to work around brackets and wires. This helps keep your teeth healthy during treatment.
The fact that Invisalign is removable is also the biggest problem with this treatment approach. To work the aligners need to be worn for 20 to 22 hours a day. That takes a lot of discipline and dedication. If you often forget to wear your aligners or leave them out for a long time your treatment will take longer than intended and you might not get the results you want. We’ve seen cases where patients who had trouble following the rules would have been better off with traditional braces. These braces work all the time since they can’t be taken off. Retainer Instructions guide patients on how to care for and wear their retainers after orthodontic treatment. Following these Retainer Instructions helps maintain results and prevent shifting.
When deciding if Invisalign is worth it, cost is another thing to consider. In most cases Invisalign costs about the same as regular braces, but this can vary depending on how complex your case is and how long you need to wear them. We at Forest Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry provide clear pricing and work with many insurance plans that will pay for some of the cost of orthodontic treatment. When patients think about the benefits of comfort, aesthetics and convenience they often feel it’s worth it. We also have payment plans to help families in Gurnee, IL pay for treatment.
Another thing to consider is comfort. The smooth plastic of Invisalign aligners has no rough edges or metal bits sticking out. Many people say they’re more comfortable than regular braces especially when they’re getting used to them. You may feel some pressure and slight pain when you transition to a new set of aligners but this usually goes away in a day or two. Braces made of metal can hurt your mouth because the brackets scrape on the inside of your cheeks. You also have to go to the dentist every so often to get them tightened which can be painful.
For most cases the time it takes to treat with Invisalign is about the same as with traditional braces. It usually takes 12 to 18 months but simpler cases may be done faster and more complicated cases may take longer. With new 3D imaging technology we can now show you a virtual picture of how your teeth will move during treatment and what the final result should look like. This has made the predictability of Invisalign treatment much better.
One thing that makes Invisalign worth it for many people is that they don’t have to go to the dentist as often. You will still need to come in for regular check-ups to see how things are doing and get your next set of aligners but these appointments are usually shorter and less frequent than the adjustment appointments you need to make with traditional braces. Busy people and families with full schedules like how easy this is.
In the end it all comes down to your individual situation, orthodontic needs, lifestyle and personal preferences. We recommend you schedule a consultation so we can examine your teeth, talk about your goals and help you decide if Invisalign is right for you. Not everyone is a good candidate for Invisalign and we’ll be honest with you if this treatment is right for you or if another orthodontic option would be better.