Invisalign – Fresno, CA

Crowded Teeth

Teeth that overlap create small crevices that food particles and other debris can accumulate in, leaving you prone to cavities and gum disease. To solve this issue, Invisalign’s clear aligners guide your teeth into more uniform positions. This not only improves how your smile looks but also allows you to clean them more easily!

Gaps Between Teeth

Spaced-out teeth are another orthodontic issue that negatively affects the aesthetics of your smile and your oral health. Since patients struggling with tooth gaps are more prone to dental problems, starting treatment with Invisalign sooner rather than later is best. The aligners can effectively move your teeth closer together, closing the gaps for a sturdier bite.

Overbite

While it’s normal for your top teeth to overlap your bottom ones a little bit, an overbite can be a painful and frustrating issue. Overbites tend to lead to jaw pain, speech problems, and even damage to the upper teeth. With the help of Invisalign, an overbite can be corrected, setting your jaw into a more comfortable position.

Underbite

Underbites can occur due to genetics, early oral habits, or trauma. Over time, they can become a distressing issue that leads to a variety of other health problems like sleep apnea, digestive issues, and bruxism (teeth grinding.) Invisalign trays combined with rubber bands and other attachments can help guide your jaw and restore your bite.

Crossbite

Genetic factors and premature loss of baby teeth can create a crossbite where your bottom teeth are slightly in front of the upper dental arch. Without treatment, this can result in an increased risk of oral issues like tooth decay and gum disease, as well as headaches and jaw pain. In the past, Invisalign couldn’t treat such a complex issue, but today we can combine it with elastics, buttons, and attachments for a complete recovery.

Open Bite

With an open bite, your top and bottom teeth can’t touch or overlap when you close your mouth. This typically happens due to poor bone development as a child due to habits like prolonged pacifier use and thumb-sucking. The condition causes excessive enamel wear which can cause chips, cracks, and even tooth infections over time. Invisalign helps bring your teeth together, reducing your risk of enamel damage and improving your smile.

If you find it hard to close your mouth or if you have consistent headaches, jaw pain, or experience frequent dental damage, give us a call at Shinkawa Dental. With Invisalign, a straight and healthy smile could be within your reach!

Invisalign Blends Into Your Lifestyle

With Invisalign, you won’t need to dramatically change your lifestyle. Thanks to the removable nature of the aligners, you can continue to:

• Brush and floss your teeth as normal
• Enjoy all the same foods as you did before treatment
• Play your favorite sports or instruments

As long as you remember to wear your aligners for at least 20-22 hours every day, your treatment will stay on track as you go about your life as usual.

Maintain Your Professional Appearance

If you have a job interview coming up, are dating, or need to maintain a professional appearance at work, the thought of having a mouthful of metal braces is probably unbearable! Fortunately, Invisalign aligners are made of smooth, thin, and biocompatible clear plastic. Once worn, they should be virtually impossible to detect unless you’re looking for them. You can show off your pearly whites confidently knowing there are no wires or brackets to distract from your smile.

Keep Your Smile Healthy While Straightening Your Teeth

It’s no secret that brushing and flossing around traditional metal braces can be a challenge. Unfortunately, that’s why many patients with metal braces end up with cavities, gum disease, and enamel discoloration. Fortunately, your daily oral hygiene routine won’t have to change at all with Invisalign! You can continue to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth every day by taking your aligners out and cleaning them separately.

Invisalign Is More Comfortable Than Traditional Braces

With Invisalign, you can count on a more comfortable straightening experience than that with metal braces. Traditional braces have poking wires and abrasive brackets that can scratch the inside of your mouth, causing sores and irritation on your lips, cheeks, and tongue. On the other hand, Invisalign aligners are smooth and will glide past the soft oral tissues imperceptibly. Even managing soreness from the act of moving the teeth themselves is easier with Invisalign than traditional braces. Invisalign patients can choose to switch to their new set of aligners right before bedtime, allowing them to sleep through the initial stages of discomfort.

Spend Less Time At Orthodontic Checkups

Your time is valuable. With Invisalign, you’ll save lots of time with fewer and shorter orthodontic checkups! You’ll need to attend periodic orthodontic checkups to have your progress monitored and to pick up the next several sets of your aligners. However, you’ll need fewer checkups than patients with traditional braces. Plus, since Invisalign aligners don’t need to be adjusted, these checkups are shorter and easier as well!

How is Invisalign Teen Different?

Firstly, Invisalign TEEN comes with a free set of replacement trays (because teens are forgetful), and there is also an indicator dot on the back of each aligner. As each tray is worn, it will fade, meaning it’s easy for teens (and their parents) to make sure they are keeping them in enough. Now, older children can get the treatment they need without worrying about their friends or teachers noticing their appliance.

Is Invisalign Right for Your Teen?

This is where your intuition as a parent is invaluable. Invisalign requires a little more responsibility and discipline from a patient compared to regular braces because it can just be taken on and off at will. Can you rely on your teen to wear their trays for the required 20-22 hours a day and only remove them for eating and oral hygiene? Even if there are replacement trays, do you think your child will be able to keep up with their aligners and carrying case every day for several months? Will they rinse and clean their trays every time they take them out?

We’ll talk about all this with you and your teen during their consultation so everyone can be on the same page.

The Benefits of Invisalign Teen

• Discreet: Even more so than in the past, teens are self-conscious about their appearance. With Invisalign TEEN, only you, our team, and probably their friends will know they are undergoing treatment. To everyone else, they won’t notice a thing!
• Comfortable: Compared to the metal brackets and wires of braces, Invisalign TEEN’s smooth plastic feels cozy inside the mouth.
• Better Hygiene: It can be tricky to brush and floss effectively with braces, but it’s easy with Invisalign TEEN—your child can just take out their trays before assuming their regular routine.
• Faster: While the typical braces case takes about 1-3 years, most Invisalign TEEN treatments can be completed in about 12-18 months.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Invisalign

Invisalign is a highly customized treatment created based on your specific orthodontic needs. This means the amount you’ll pay will vary greatly depending on the following factors:

• Severity of your orthodontic issue (minor misalignment vs. severe bite problems)
• How often you wear your aligners (should be worn between 20 and 22 hours a day)
• Whether you are straightening one or both arches of teeth (straightening both arches will likely require more visits to the office to ensure everything is shifting as intended)

Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Is There a Difference?

The best treatment truly depends on your needs. For example, Smile Direct Club is more ideal for those looking for a “quick fix” at a lower cost. In fact, Smile Direct Club charges their clear aligners for as low as $2,000. Invisalign, in contrast, can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $8,000 depending on your needs.

However, when it comes to your smile, sometimes getting the cheapest treatment isn’t always the most ideal. For example, Smile Direct Club expects you to create your aligners on your own with no oversight from a dentist. This means you could make aligners that don’t fit your mouth properly (or even worse, cause harm to your smile). This forces you to go to a professional regardless just to get them fixed.

In contrast, you’ll always get oversight from a dentist during every phase of your realignment when you pursue Invisalign. These trays are also made by professionals and highly accurate, so you know you’re getting the best and smoothest treatment plan possible. For many, this makes the higher cost worth it.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Some dental insurance plans offer coverage for Invisalign, but more often than not it won’t be included. However, you should still check with your provider directly just to make sure, a process our team is happy to help facilitate. FSA funds can also be used to help cover your costs if you have them.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

Even if you don’t have dental insurance, there are options available to you that make your care more affordable. For example, we recommend CareCredit to those looking for a way to pay for care over an extended period of time. These payments come with little to no interest attached, making even expensive services like Invisalign easier to fit into a budget.

We also encourage you to take advantage of any specials specifically dedicated to Invisalign, which can be found on our special offers page. Looking for a way to save on other services so you can put more money towards your Invisalign? Consider signing up for our in-house dental savings plan!

Does Invisalign Hurt?

Invisalign is not a painful treatment. Its smooth plastic design makes it one of the most comfortable orthodontic treatment options. When you first get your Invisalign aligners, there is an adjustment period. You might experience slight soreness or discomfort that some might characterize as pain, but this will go away as soon as you are used to the treatment. Invisalign works by slowly shifting your teeth into proper alignment by using a series of aligners. Every time you switch to the next aligner in the series, you may experience pressure, but this just shows that it is working! To manage soreness and discomfort, try taking over-the-counter pain relievers as directed or using a cold compress.

Can You Eat with Invisalign?

One of the greatest advantages of Invisalign is that the aligners are completely removable, so you can take them out when it’s time to enjoy a meal. Eating with your aligners in your mouth can damage them and put unnecessary pressure on your teeth. The only thing that you should be consuming while wearing your Invisalign is water. If you are going to enjoy anything else, you should put your aligners in a safe place.

Can You Get Invisalign After Braces?

This all depends on your specific needs. Braces are able to correct more severe overbites, underbites, and crossbites than Invisalign can. However, in many cases, patients’ teeth have grown crooked and misaligned years after completing orthodontic treatment via traditional braces. Invisalign is usually able to help. You can find out if Invisalign is right for you by seeing us a for a consultation.

Is Invisalign Cheaper than Braces?

Since no two smiles are exactly the same, the cost of your orthodontic treatments will vary based on numerous factors, like the severity of your misalignment. In most cases, Invisalign costs about the same as traditional braces. Variables, like oral health and commitment to the treatment plan will also play a role. Some dental insurance plans offer at least partial coverage for Invisalign, so it’s a good idea to check with your provider before committing to the treatment. There are also Invisalign specials available to help make the orthodontic treatment more affordable. By exploring your options and speaking with our team, we can figure out a plan that works best for your individual needs.

How Long Does Invisalign Take?

As with cost, the exact timeline of Invisalign treatment can vary greatly from patient to patient. However, the primary factor at play is the degree to which your teeth are misaligned. It goes without saying that the greater distance your teeth need to move, the more time it will take to complete those movements. Another major factor is your dedication to wearing the aligners as often as instructed. If you don’t wear the trays for at least 22 hours per day, your teeth won’t shift as quickly as planned, increasing the amount of time you’ll have to wait for a straight smile.

On average, it takes between 12 and 18 months to finish Invisalign treatment, but extremely mild cases may take as little as six months. Even if 18 months seems like a long time, keep in mind that it’s still much shorter than the average treatment time with traditional braces (24 to 36 months).

What Happens After Invisalign?

Once you’ve finished wearing your last set of aligners in the series, you’ll meet with one of our dentists, who will verify that your teeth are in the proper positions before briefing you on how to take care of your newly straight smile. You’ll start by wearing a retainer, which are often a set of plastic trays that are similar to the aligners you’re already used to. Retainers are crucial after orthodontic treatment, as they help your teeth “remember” their new positions and prevent them from shifting back to their previous crooked state and undoing all of the work you put into your treatment. Depending on your specific needs, you might need to wear your retainer almost 24/7 for a few days or weeks at first, but our dentists will let you know when you can switch to only wearing it at night.

How Do I Clean My Invisalign?

The Invisalign company sells their own patented, easy-to-use cleaning system, which you can purchase directly from their website. However, you can also clean your aligners with a soft-bristled toothbrush (just make sure it’s NOT the same one that you use to brush your teeth) and clear antibacterial hand soap. To prevent food debris from sticking to your trays, you should rinse them off several times a day, but only use room-temperature water. Hot water can permanently warp the plastic, making your aligners fit incorrectly and potentially move your teeth in the wrong direction.  

Does Invisalign Give You a Lisp?

Whenever you start wearing a new appliance in your mouth, it generally takes some time for your speech to adjust. For Invisalign patients, this may result in a lisp. This is because the “s” sound is produced by placing the tongue against the backs of the front teeth, and since the aligners are now there, your tongue may get slightly “confused.”

If you develop a slight lisp from Invisalign, you might be tempted to not speak in order to avoid drawing attention to it. However, the fastest way to talk normally again is with practice. The more often you speak, the more quickly your tongue will learn how to maneuver itself around your aligners when you talk. You could practice by reading your favorite book aloud or even singing in the shower!