When patients ask us at Forest Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry if Invisalign is worth it, they’re thinking about a lot of things: how well it works, how much it costs, how easy it is to use and how it will affect their daily life. You want to make sure you’re making the right choice because this is a big decision that will impact your smile and your daily life for months or even years. Based on years of helping patients in Lake Forest get straighter smiles with different orthodontic treatments, we wanted to share our two cents. Occlusion refers to how the upper and lower teeth fit together when biting or chewing. Proper Occlusion is essential for balanced function, long-term oral health, and a stable bite.
Since it came out, Invisalign has changed orthodontic treatment by giving patients an option other than metal braces that many people like. The process involves a set of clear, removable aligners designed specifically for your teeth. As your teeth move, you switch to a new aligner every 1-2 weeks. Each aligner slowly moves your teeth into place. The fact that the aligners are almost invisible is probably the best part for many people who want to improve their smile without having to deal with the metal brackets and wires that are so obvious.
Invisalign may or may not be worth it for you depending on your situation and what matters most to you. For teens and adults who are embarrassed about having braces, the visual improvement alone is often enough to make it worth the investment. We’ve had many patients who put off getting braces for years because they couldn’t see wearing them. But they finally decided to go for Invisalign because the clear aligners made them feel better about getting treatment. Invisalign can be very helpful if you work in a professional setting, go to a lot of social events or just want privacy.
Invisalign’s ability to be taken out has practical benefits beyond how it looks. You don’t have to worry about what you eat because you can take the aligners out while you eat. People who wear traditional braces have to stay away from several foods that can break brackets or get stuck in wires. But people who use Invisalign can eat popcorn, apples, corn on the cob and other things that would be hard to eat with braces. All you have to do is take out your aligners before meals and put them back in after brushing your teeth. This flexibility also makes it much easier to keep your mouth clean. You can brush and floss regularly without having to deal with wires and brackets which helps keep your teeth healthy during treatment.
The fact that Invisalign is removable is also its biggest drawback. You have to wear the aligners for 20-22 hours a day for them to work. You have to be disciplined and dedicated to do this. If you often forget to wear your aligners, leave them out for a long time or lose them, your treatment will take longer than expected and may not work as well as it could. We’ve seen patients who would have been better off with regular braces because they had trouble keeping up with the responsibility of wearing removable aligners all the time.
Invisalign can help with many orthodontic problems such as crowding, spacing, overbites, underbites and crossbites. Invisalign can now handle more complicated cases than it could at first since the technology has come a long way over the years. That being said, some really bad orthodontic cases still need traditional braces to get the best results. When you come in for a consultation at our office, we’ll be honest about whether or not Invisalign can help you achieve your goals or if another treatment would be better.
Comfort is another reason why many people find Invisalign to be worth it. The smooth plastic aligners don’t have any rough edges or metal that sticks out and can hurt your lips and cheeks. You may feel some pressure and slight pain when you switch to new aligners but this usually goes away soon. Many patients say this is more comfortable than the regular tightening procedures that come with regular braces.
In most cases, the cost of Invisalign is the same as traditional braces. So the decision often comes down to personal preference and lifestyle variables rather than price. We work with insurance companies and offer flexible payment options at Forest Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry so orthodontic treatment is available to everyone regardless of which option you choose. 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.
For many people, treatment with Invisalign is around the same as with braces, 12-18 months. But simpler cases may be faster and more complicated cases may take longer. One good thing with Invisalign is you don’t have to come in as often as you do with regular braces. You won’t have to come in every month to get your aligners tightened. Instead you’ll come in every 6-8 weeks to check on your progress and get your next set of aligners.
In the end, whether or not Invisalign is worth it in Lake Forest depends on your individual orthodontic needs, lifestyle, level of discipline and personal preferences. We recommend you schedule an appointment so we can take a look at your teeth, talk about your goals and concerns and help you make a smart decision. We will tell you the truth about whether or not Invisalign is right for you and give you all the information you need to make the best decision for your treatment.