Invisalign – State College, PA
Comfortable and Clear Braces Are Here
Traditional braces are both effective and versatile, but they leave much to be desired in terms of comfort and appearance. Fortunately, that’s where Invisalign comes in. This revolutionary orthodontic treatment is completely metal-free, doesn’t come with any dietary restrictions, and delivers results in an average of just 12-18 months. If you want to learn more about this smile-enhancing service, including what the teeth-straightening process looks like, then keep reading or schedule an appointment!
Why Choose Kevin P. Labosky, DMD for Invisalign?
- Dentist with 20+ Years of Experience
- Flexible Financing Available with CareCredit
- Morning, Lunchtime, and Afternoon Hours
How Invisalign Works
Although the teeth-straightening process looks a bit different for everyone, the very first step is the same: a consultation with our highly experienced and caring dentist, Dr. Kevin Labosky. After getting to know you a bit better and learning about your smile goals, he’ll take a look at your teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy. Then, he will assess the complexity of your case and determine if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. If you are, then he will take impressions of your teeth so a series of custom aligners can be made. Each one will guide your teeth incrementally closer to their ideal positions and be worn for 7-14 days.
Who Invisalign Can Help
To date, more than 12 million patients have chosen Invisalign. So, as you can imagine, clear aligner treatment is quite versatile! Below, you’ll find a little more information on some common orthodontic problems that this discreet orthodontic treatment can address.
Crowded Teeth
If there isn’t enough space in your mouth, your teeth will start to crowd together. Not only does this negatively impact the look of your smile, but it also negatively impacts the health of your smile. After all, it’s much harder for your toothbrush and floss to remove food particles, plaque, and other debris from between your teeth when they aren’t aligned properly. In short, for the sake of the look, health, and function of your smile, you should find out if you’re a candidate for Invisalign.
Gaps Between Teeth
Gapped teeth are another common orthodontic problem that can take a toll on your oral health and self-esteem. Fortunately, Invisalign is often a solution. If you’re a candidate for this orthodontic treatment, then we will gently guide your teeth into their perfectly aligned positions with completely clear, custom-made trays that are metal-free. As a result, your journey to a straighter smile will be both comfortable and discreet!
Bite Alignment
There’s a common misconception that braces only straighten your teeth; they can align your bite too! So, if you have an overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite, it’s worth setting aside time to come in for a consultation and find out if you’re a candidate for Invisalign.
Benefits of Invisalign
Have you ever wondered why more than 17 million patients have chosen to straighten their teeth with Invisalign? If so, you’re in the right place! Below, you’ll find several noteworthy perks, starting with one that often gets overlooked.
Brushing and Flossing Are a Breeze
This is a benefit of Invisalign that is often overlooked! While patients with traditional braces often need to buy interproximal toothbrushes, pre-threaded floss, and other special oral hygiene tools to keep their smiles healthy, patients with Invisalign don’t. The reason for this is simple: the aligners are removable. As a result, all you have to do is take them off and store them properly. Then, you can proceed as usual.
The Average Treatment Timeline Is Shorter
Typically, patients with traditional braces achieve the results they desire in 2-3 years. Invisalign, on the other hand, has an average treatment timeline of only 12-18 months. So, you can see why patients who have an important event coming up, like a wedding, prefer clear aligners.
If you are interested in getting an estimate of the length of your teeth-straightening journey, then the best thing to do is schedule a consultation with Dr. Kevin Labosky. That way, he can learn all about your dental history, needs, and goals.
There Aren’t Any Metal Components
In addition to being metal-free, Invisalign aligners are crafted from smooth plastic and are custom-made for each patient. As a result, they are considerably more comfortable. In fact, many patients don’t experience any soft tissue irritation or mouth sores during their orthodontic treatment!
Tip: If one of your aligners has a rough edge, bring it to our office. We’d be happy to file it down for you.
The Aligners Are Completely See-Through
Although effective, many patients with traditional braces had the same complaint: the metal brackets and wires drew unwanted attention to their smiles. If that’s what has stopped you from straightening your teeth, you’ll be happy to know that Invisalign aligners are completely see-through. As a result, they are basically invisible when worn!
There Are Fewer Follow-Up Visits
Unlike traditional braces, which require monthly adjustment appointments, Invisalign progress visits are usually every 6-8 weeks. As a result, you’ll spend significantly less time in the treatment chair overall. Plus, if your teeth are moving as anticipated, there’s a good chance that our State College dental team will be able to get you in and out of our office in less than 30 minutes!
You Can Eat All of Your Favorite Foods
Last, but definitely not least, Invisalign doesn’t come with the same dietary restrictions that traditional braces do. All we ask is that you don’t overindulge on sugary and crunchy foods. After all, broken and lost aligners aren’t the only orthodontic emergencies; tooth decay, gum disease, and other serious oral health problems can bring your treatment plan to a halt, too.
How Much Does Invisalign Cost?
The price of Invisalign isn’t the same from patient to patient. That’s because there are several factors that impact the cost, including how many aligners are needed and the type of retainer you choose. Rest assured, we won’t leave you in the dark about anything related to your treatment, including the price. Instead, we will provide you with an estimate upfront and help you find a way for it to fit into your budget.
Invisalign FAQs
How Long Does Invisalign Usually Take?
Are you curious how long you can expect to be wearing your clear aligners before you finally achieve a perfectly straight smile? Although your treatment timeline can depend on your unique circumstances, most patients complete this service in about 12 to 18 months.
With that said, some patients with more minor concerns might be done in as few as 6 months. But if you have stubborn teeth that don’t shift as anticipated, or you don’t adhere to the wear-time guidelines, it can take longer than usual.
Does Invisalign Hurt?
Many experts in College consider Invisalign to be a more discreet and comfortable alternative to traditional braces because the transparent plastic trays are less invasive and won’t gouge the tender tissues inside your mouth like metallic brackets and wires.
But any treatment that exerts enough pressure over your teeth to shift them in your arches has the potential to cause soreness or throbbing, especially when you first start wearing new trays. Thankfully, this tends to fade after a couple of days on its own and can often be safely reduced by taking over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
What Happens if I Lose or Break a Tray?
Invisalign designs all your clear aligners at once, and then they are delivered to you at the right point in time to account for the ongoing movement of your teeth. If you lose or break a tray, it’s not the end of the world, but it could interrupt your treatment timeline if you don’t let us know.
Contact our office in College to tell us what happened so we can provide appropriate instructions moving forward. Depending on how long you have been wearing the missing trays, we might ask you to wear a previous set while we reorder them. Otherwise, we might give you the next set in your series to start wearing earlier than initially anticipated.
Can You Eat with Invisalign In?
Another reason this treatment has gained popularity is that the clear trays are completely removable, so there are no dietary restrictions to follow. However, the plastic material isn’t intended to be worn for more than a couple of weeks, so it’s not designed to withstand the pressure of biting and chewing.
If you eat with Invisalign still inserted, anything overly hard or crunchy could scratch or break them, while hot temperatures can warp the material so they no longer fit correctly. As a result, it’s best to avoid consuming anything other than room-temperature water when it’s in your mouth.
