Total Care Dental Madison

Cosmetic Dentist Provides Invisalign Clear Aligners iN Madison, WI

For teens and adults, getting braces can be embarrassing. Metal braces are obvious and can hurt a teen’s self-esteem. In a business setting, braces can seem unprofessional or be a distraction.

Invisalign aligners, also called Invisalign braces or clear aligners, are a form of cosmetic dentistry that uses a series of clear, comfortable and removable aligners to straighten crooked, gapped and crowded teeth gradually. Straight teeth are more than aesthetically pleasing: they mean healthier gums, easier cleanings, improved chewing and speech function and decreased risk of future tooth trauma. By wearing clear plastic aligners from Total Care Dental, you can avoid the negatives of visible braces while still correcting your smile’s alignment.

Comfortable Braces Alternative For Teens and Adults

Invisalign braces are smooth and easier to use than metal braces by eliminating the need for metal brackets and wires. This orthodontic appliance is made of strong, medical-grade plastic that corrects spacing and bite problems with great precision. Invisible braces are compact and custom-made to the characteristics of your mouth.

Braces Alternative For Sports Players

You won’t have to give up your favorite hobbies or activities with Invisalign. Metal braces can cause injuries to the mouth during athletic activities. If you’re on a sports team and worry about metal braces cutting your mouth, clear braces are easily removable so you can wear a mouth guard instead.

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Benefits of Invisalign Aligners

Discrete appearance: Invisalign is clear so they don’t detract from your face or smile. Most people won’t even know you’re wearing your aligners.
Comfortable fit: Invisalign reduces the discomfort that typically comes with traditional braces such as pain and scraping against your tongue, cheeks, or gums.
Removable: Easily remove the aligner trays to brush your teeth, eat/drink, and play sports.
Shorter treatment time: Traditional braces typically are worn for about 2 years while Invisalign treatments may be completed between 8-12 months.
Improved oral health: With Invisalign, oral health is as simple as removing your aligners and brushing and flossing as usual. You don’t have to worry about brushing around your brackets and wires or stains and cavities after completing the treatment.
Less dental visits: Metal braces require more office visits for tightening and rubber bands. Invisalign’s treatment program allows you to obtain multiple trays at once, so you can move on to the next phase without an office visit.
No dietary restrictions: The ability to remove the aligners allows you to eat and drink whatever you want.

Invisalign vs Traditional Braces

Braces and Retainers vs Invisalign

Traditional Braces	Invisalign
May be needed for 2 or more years to take full effect	Takes 8 to 12 months to work on average
Made from traditional brackets and wires	Made from SmartTrack material
In-person consultations with a doctor of your choice	In-person consultations with a doctor of your choice
Cannot remove for eating, drinking & flossing	Easily removable for eating, drinking & flossing
Required emergency visits for broken wires	No emergency visits for broken wires
Virtually visible	Virtually invisible
Covered by many orthodontic insurance plans	Covered by many dental insurance plans
Possible cuts on the inside cheeks	Comfortable to wear
More required visits to the orthodontist	Less required visits to the dentist

How Do Invisalign Aligners Work?

Invisalign clear aligners consist of several custom-fit aligners for your teeth. A typical treatment process consists of:

Meeting with your dentist for a digital scan of your teeth via X-rays to get accurate sizes.
Ordering the custom-made aligners.
Wearing aligners approximately 2 weeks at a time, removing them only to eat, brush and floss.
Replacing each aligner with the next in the series to promote the correction process.
Finishing your last set of aligners and admiring your new straightened smile.

Candidates for Invisalign

Good candidates for Invisalign aligners meet the following criteria:

Disciplined: Willing to follow a structured treatment plan by wearing aligners for 22 hours per day and retainers thereafter.
Looking for discreet treatment: Prefers near-invisible aligners.
Old enough: Must have all adult teeth in place.
Needing mild to moderate correction: Invisalign is great at treating misaligned, gapped, crowded, protruding and overlapping teeth.
Have an open bite: Some instances of crossbite, overbite and underbite can be corrected as well.
Are in good oral health
Have no recent extensive dental work done: Fillings, crowns, and veneers are usually fine.
Have an active lifestyle: Invisalign won’t stand in your way.

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Signs Your Child Needs Braces

If teens still have baby teeth, the natural gaps caused when baby teeth fall out can make it difficult to see if the adult teeth are growing in correctly. X-rays and regular exams at our Madison dental clinic will track the progress of emerging teeth to see if they are straight and healthy. If not, we can begin treatment with Invisalign clear braces. Typical signs your child may need a teeth alignment treatment:

Food gets stuck between teeth
Trouble brushing, flossing or talking
Discomfort or pain in the mouth
Noticeably crooked or spaced teeth
Frequent accidental biting of inner cheeks

Signs You Need Braces as an Adult

Orthodontic treatments for adults may be needed when teeth change position due to injury or the eruption of wisdom teeth. Teeth can move and shift as we age, leading to once straight teeth becoming crooked. A retainer, or mouth appliance that helps the jaw or teeth to keep their shape, can prevent this, but not always. In these situations, Invisalign is a convenient way to quietly correct your smile without anyone noticing. Other signs you may need a form of orthodontic therapy include:

Trouble brushing or flossing
Discomfort or pain in the mouth
Noticeably crooked or spaced teeth
You had braces and have not worn a retainer

What to Know About Invisalign Aligners

Invisalign Braces Invisalign is an exciting development in the dental world. It’s more affordable than you might think, and your insurance may even cover the orthodontic treatment. Here are some important facts you should know about Invisalign:

Every patient has a custom treatment plan
Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible and made of smooth plastic you won't notice is there
You receive a new set of clear aligners about twice a month
Invisalign aligners are great for people who play contact sports like hockey and football
No sacrificing the foods you love, Invisalign allows you to eat anything you want
Brushing and flossing is a breeze since you don't have hard metal braces
Invisalign aligners won’t irritate cheeks and gums like normal braces
Orthodontist visits are only every four to six weeks
Many dental insurance plans cover Invisalign aligners just like normal braces
On average, Invisalign can treat anything normal braces treats faster

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Frequently Asked Questions About Invisalign Clear Aligners

How much does Invisalign cost?

How do I know if I need Invisalign?

What is the difference between Invisalign vs braces?

Are there any disadvantages to Invisalign?

How do Invisalign braces work?

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Affordable Invisalign Treatment for Adults and Teens

Invisalign aligners are in a similar price range to traditional braces with the extra benefit of being removable and discrete. The final cost will be determined by your exact needs, as every set of Invisalign braces is customized on an individual basis.

Financing for Invisalign

Low-cost dental care payment options in Madison are available including 24 months of interest-free (0%) financing through Care Credit. We even work with patients who have no dental insurance.