More than a quarter of people don’t like to smile, all because of how their teeth look. Over a third of these people also reported feeling embarrassed by their smile.
It turns out, these personal perceptions can affect one’s well-being! Researchers say that dental disorders really affect self-esteem and quality of life. Problems like tooth loss, malocclusion, and crooked teeth can cause psychosocial issues.
If you’re one of the millions who have an overbite or crooked teeth, now’s the time to consider Invisalign.
Now, you may have heard that the average Invisalign cost is higher than metal braces. Although it’s true in some cases, there are plenty of reasons why it’s worth the extra price.
Ready to learn all about getting Invisalign, its cost, and why you should invest in it? Then keep reading, as we’ve listed everything you need to know about this treatment!
Average Invisalign Cost: How Much You Can Expect to Pay
The Consumer Guide for Dentistry puts the average cost of Invisalign between $3,000 and $5,000.
For comparison, traditional braces for kids cost between $4,685 and $6,500. For adults, the average range is between $4,800 and $7,135.
Note that these are averages, so they could still be lower or higher. That’s because orthodontic treatments, including Invisalign and braces, are highly personalized. Meaning, your costs will depend on your unique and individual case.
The top factor that affects costs is the severity of the malocclusion or crookedness. Minor crookedness, for instance, is easier to treat than a severe overbite. As such, correcting a slight teeth misalignment will cost less than a more complex one.
Also, age, insurance coverage, and financing will influence your total expenses.
Based on these averages, Invisalign can be a lower-cost alternative to metal braces. But even if it’ll cost more, it still has several advantages over traditional braces.
Don’t Be Shy: Smile
Granted, the stigma surrounding metal braces continues to wane. However, many teens and adults remain uncomfortable with the thought of wearing them. The glint of metal and puckered lips make them shy away from orthodontic treatment.
If you’re one of these individuals, the Invisalign system may be your better choice. Invisalign, like traditional braces, gently repositions misaligned teeth. Instead of using metal brackets and wires though, Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners.
The trays, made of a special thermoplastic, are so see-through that they’re almost invisible. Even if you speak or smile with the aligners, people may not notice you’re wearing them. You can finally flash those open-mouthed smiles that you once tried your best to hide.
And no, there’s no such thing as being too old for straighter teeth nowadays. In fact, 20% of orthodontic patients are adults.
Faster Results
Your Invisalign orthodontist will ask you to wear your aligners between 20 and 22 hours a day. Doing so allows the trays to place constant but gentle pressure on your teeth. It’s this pressure that will move your teeth to their more ideal locations.
You can get the most out of your treatment if you follow your orthodontist’s directions. In fact, your teeth may become straighter six months earlier than if you wear metal braces!
On average though, it takes about six to 12 months for Invisalign to fix minor bite and alignment issues. If you have a more severe case, your treatment may take up to 18 months.
For comparison, traditional braces for adults can take between 18 and 36 months. This longer treatment time is often due to the more complex cases that metal braces correct.
Freedom from Food Restrictions
Food restriction is one of the things to expect when wearing traditional braces. Hard, sugary, sticky, and too-chewy foods are some of these foods to avoid. Even healthy snacks, like nuts and carrot sticks, would be part of your diet restriction.
These foods can dislodge metal brackets or even break them. If this happens, you’d need to visit your orthodontist right away to get them reattached. Otherwise, your doctor may have to extend your treatment time.
Invisalign frees you from most of these food restrictions since you can remove the trays. You’d still want to avoid sugary foods during the treatment though. This, however, is more for your health than preventing damages to your aligners.
Better Dental Hygiene
Since you can remove Invisalign trays, it’s easier to floss and brush your teeth. You’ll be able to brush all parts and surfaces of your teeth and gums. You can also floss your teeth all the way from top to bottom.
Fixed braces can make it harder to maintain dental hygiene, as they cover the front area of the teeth. The wires also hinder flossing, since they block the areas nearest the gums.
A Safer Option for Active Individuals
If you play contact sports on a regular basis, Invisalign may be a better choice. For one, because the brackets and wires of metal braces can increase your risk of mouth injuries. This can happen if someone (or something, like a ball) accidentally hits your face.
Another reason is to prevent costly damage to your orthodontic appliances. You may end up losing some of your brackets if a sports accident knocks them out of your mouth. Not only will you have to pay your orthodontist an emergency visit; you may also have to pay extra for the lost parts.
If you opt for Invisalign, you only have to remove the trays before going out to the field or into the court. You can worry less about injuries and paying for damaged aligners. Just be sure not to go beyond the two- to four-hour limit when removing your aligners.
Flash Those Great Smiles Sooner with Invisalign Treatment
Now that you know more about Invisalign cost and why it comes with a price like that, you can decide if its right for you. If you want to have straighter teeth without food restrictions, then consider Invisalign. For more severe malocclusion or teeth misalignment though, traditional braces may be better.
Still unsure of whether you should go for Invisalign? Our Cleveland orthodontics office will be happy to give you more insider details! Give us a call now so you can learn more about this innovative way to straighter teeth.