What is Invisalign?Invisalign® is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without having to live with the "metal mouth" look of traditional braces.
Invisalign® uses a series of clear, removable plastic aligners that are custom-made for your teeth so most people around you probably won't even notice you're wearing them.
Invisalign® is a lot more convenient than traditional braces. The aligners are easily removable, so you choose when you wear them. You're free to take them out whenever you need to. Eating, drinking... you name it. Even if you just need a break from wearing your aligners during a high school reunion or special work event, that's OK. But remember, you need to wear your aligners as prescribed by Dr. Meyer in order to achieve your treatment goals.
Invisalign® has been proven effective in clinical research and in orthodontic practices nationwide. In fact, over 70% of all U.S. dentists are certified to treat patients with Invisalign®.
Invisible, so no one will notice you're wearing them.
Removable, so you can still enjoy your favorite foods. You can eat and drink what you want while in treatment; plus brushing and flossing is no problem.
Customized, so your teeth will gradually shift into place using aligners that are custom made for your teeth and your teeth only.
Effective, so even before your Invisalign®
treatment is finished, your teeth will improve and you'll begin to enjoy the benefits of healthier gums and a better smile.
Comfortable, so you won't have any metal wires or brackets to irritate your mouth or cause mouth abrasions during treatment.
Health benefits
Invisalign FAQ page
While Invisalign® moves your teeth without the pain and anxiety of metal braces, some people will experience temporary discomfort for a few days at the beginning of each new stage of treatment. This is normal and is typically described as a feeling of pressure. It's also a sign that Invisalign® is working, as it moves your teeth to their final destination. This discomfort typically goes away in a couple of days.
Similar to other orthodontic treatments, Invisalign® aligners may temporarily affect the speech of some people, and you may have a slight lisp for a day or two. However, as your tongue gets used to having aligners in your mouth, any lisp caused by the aligners should disappear.
Smoking is discouraged while wearing aligners because it is possible for the aligners to become discolored.
Your aligners can be cleaned by brushing them and rinsing them in lukewarm water. Of course, Invisalign will be happy to sell you what they consider to be "...the best way to clean your aligners" by using the Invisalign® cleaning kit, available for order at my.invisalign.com.
Because medical benefits differ significantly from policy to policy, you should review your personal coverage plan. However, in general, if a patient has orthodontic coverage, Invisalign® should be covered to the same extent as conventional braces. You should check with your insurance carrier to get the best answer to this question.
We will help you find options to make your treatment affordable. Dr. Meyer offers an in-house no interest financing plan with a down payment of $2,000. The remaining treatment plan balance will then be divided over 12 monthly installments.
Dr. Meyer also offers flexible and affordable monthly payment plans, many with no down payment and no interest through CareCredit. CareCredit is a third-party patient-financing program, specifically designed for health-care expenses, that makes it easier for you to get the treatment or procedures you want and need. Visit carecredit.com for more information or contact us for an application.
A little bit at a time!
Yes, now that we've done all we can to create your super smile now it's up to you to keep it! Once you have been wearing your retainers at night and they are fitting well enough that they need no additional adjustment, we no longer need to see you regularly. See our retainer instructions.
TMJ refers to the jaw joint. Individuals can have a number of problems with the jaw joint, some of which can be aggravated by appliances and treatments like Invisalign®, and sometimes the jaw joint function is improved by aligning the teeth properly. To find out if your TMJ problem will adversely impact dental treatment, consult Dr. Meyer, an Invisalign®-certified doctor.
How does Invisalign work?You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.
After 2 weeks you will replace each aligner with the next in the series. Your teeth will move little by little, week by week, until they have straightened to the final position.
You will have to visit Dr. Meyer once a month or more to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
Total treatment time averages 12-18 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 12 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.
Payment options and costThere's no definitive answer to that question until you visit our office for your initial consultation and your treatment plan is reviewed by Dr. Meyer. Roughly speaking, the fee for this service ranges between $4,500 to $6,000 or more depending on the complexity of your situation. There are many factors that determine the cost of your Invisalign® treatment: how extensive the issues you want corrected, how long your treatment plan will last, and the specific treatment details.
What about insurance? Some dental insurance providers cover orthodontic treatment to some extent. If your dental plan is one of them, Invisalign® may qualify as orthodontic treatment. Talk to your insurance provider to determine the extent of coverage for your treatment. You may also contact us to see if we can help you determine what benefits you may have for Invisalign®treatment.
What are my other options? Dr. Meyer does offer flexible payment plans to patients. We will help you find options to make your treatment affordable. Click here to view our Invisalign® financial policy.
You may also want to consider Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) if your employer offers that to you. An FSA allows you to set aside a portion of your paycheck in order to pay for qualified medical expenses. The money you elect to contribute is deducted from your pay and transferred directly into your FSA, and therefore, is not subject to payroll taxes. After incurring eligible medical costs, you can then submit your receipt for reimbursement from your FSA. Since this is a pre-tax contribution it's an easy and convenient way to get the smile you want and save money while doing it. You should contact your employer for more information.
Are there financing options with Invisalign®?
Dr. Meyer offers an in-house no interest financing plan with a down payment of $2000. The remaining treatment balance ` then be divided over 12 monthly installments.
Another financing option available to help you get Invisalign®
treatment is CareCredit. CareCredit is a third party financing company focused on providing credit for healthcare services. Once you're approved for CareCredit financing, you can use it for
your Invisalign® treatment and enjoy convenient monthly payment options, no up-front costs, no prepayment penalties and no annual fees. Visit carecredit.com
for more information or contact us for an application.
Before and After pictures: Will Invisalign work for me?Invisalign® treats a wide variety of cases, including crowding, space closure, narrow arches, overbites, underbites, orthodontic relapse, anterior intrusion, crossbites and other limited treatment cases. Only an Invisalign® certified dentist, like Dr. Meyer, can determine if Invisalign® is right for you, there's a quick way to tell if you might be a candidate. Take a look at some of these cases and Match Your Teeth to the one that might be similar to your situation.
Patient 1: Severe Spacing. Invisalign® Treatment Time: 14 months.
Number of Aligners: Upper: 28, Lower: 26
Patient 2: Overbite and Crowding. Invisalign® Treatment Time: 14 months.
Number of Aligners: Upper: 31, Lower: 27
Patient 3: Straighten Front Teeth. "While consulting with my dentist he approached me with wearing Invisalign instead of traditional braces. What I liked about the treatment was that I could see progress with each new set. They are clear and didn't affect my appearance. I have finished my treatment and it feels wonderful to receive so many compliments about my teeth."
Invisalign® Treatment Time: 10 months.
Number of Aligners: Upper: 22, Lower: 20
Patient 4: Overlapping and Crowding. "After years of looking longingly at sets of straight teeth, I decided that it was time to do something about my overlapping front teeth. However, the thought of a 'metal mouth' was just not an easy option for me. The treatment itself was a breeze - no pain, easy to use, and best of all, invisible. I am thrilled with the results. Would I recommend it? Well, my 17-year-old son just got his first set of aligners last week!"
Invisalign® Treatment Time: 10 months.
Number of Aligners: Upper: 17, Lower: 11
Patient 5: Straighten Front Teeth. "I liked the treatment because it was so low-maintenence. I was able to eat easily; all I had to do was remove the Aligners from my mouth. They were very easy to keep clean by brushing, and I did not have to worry about food getting stuck in my braces. Plus, there were no wires and no bleeding gums!"
Invisalign® Treatment Time: 9 months.
Number of Aligners: Upper: 16, Lower: 18
Patient 6: Spacing. "I liked the treatment because it was so low-maintenence. I was able to eat easily; all I had to do was remove the Aligners from my mouth. They were very easy to keep clean by brushing, and I did not have to worry about food getting stuck in my braces. Plus, there were no wires and no bleeding gums!"
Invisalign® Treatment Time: 9 months.
Number of Aligners: Upper: 9, Lower: 9
Patient 7: Straighten Front Teeth. "Invisalign was a great thing - and I promote it every day."
Invisalign® Treatment Time: 6.5 months.
Number of Aligners: Upper: 13+4, Lower: 13
How do I get started? Free consultation!
The first step you need to do is make an appointment with Dr. Meyer and
staff, an Invisalign® certified
dentist office, for a free consultation.Once this treatment plan is accepted by you and Dr. Meyer, Invisalign® will then create a series of precisely customized aligners, using advanced technology, for you to wear at each stage of your treatment.
You will then come in for placement of your first set of aligners. You will be given additional sets to wear before you have to return for a check up. You'll wear each set of aligners day and night for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. You'll visit Dr. Meyer about once a month to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
Congratulations! When you're finished wearing each aligner in the series, your treatment will be complete. We will even be able to finish your case with tooth whitening dentistry if you desire, to give you that gleaming beautiful smile you've always wanted!
Teeth that moved must be retained, otherwise they will move again. Dr. Meyer will design a retention plan to help you keep your smile for life! This may be a removable retainer or a bonded retainer (fixed lingual wire) or both.
Invisalign Instructions
  |
Wearing Invisalign® aligners may temporarily affect the speech of some people, and you may have a slight lisp for a day or two. However, as your tongue gets used to having aligners in your mouth, any lisp caused by the aligners should disappear. It is important that you do not eat or drink anything, except for water, while wearing your Invisalign® aligners. Your aligners will become stained if you drink anything other than water. Also drinking soda or other sugary drinks will get under your aligners and stick to your teeth where decay can set in. Your aligners will be very tight and sometimes they are difficult to remove. If you cannot get them out with your fingernails, you can use a crochet hook to remove them. |
Retainer Instructions