How Much Does Invisalign Cost?

If you've always felt uncertain about your teeth, now is the time to make a change. Invisalign® is a fully customized orthodontic treatment system that can give you a healthy, attractive smile without the traditional hassle of having metal across your smile.

Invisalign represents an investment in your appearance, oral health, and quality of life. The treatment generally costs about $3,000 to $7,000 in Phoenix, AZ, comparable to standard metal braces.

How Invisalign Works

For over two decades, Invisalign has been creating beautiful, healthier smiles. The system fabricates clear, medical-grade plastic aligners that shift your teeth into optimal positions, ensuring a straight, esthetic appearance while reducing improper wear and chipping on your teeth.

You will move on to the next aligner in the series every one to two weeks. Each tooth precisely moves as you progress through treatment, creating a healthy, well-aligned smile. The system works in about 12 to 18 months, though some patients have shorter or longer treatment times depending on the position of the teeth and adherence to proper wearing of the aligners.

The Invisalign Treatment Process

Step 1: Consultation

First, meet with your dentist to discover how Invisalign benefits you. Your dentist will explain the Invisalign process and answer your questions, and they will determine whether you are a good candidate for the treatment. In some cases, conventional braces may better serve you.

Step 2: Digital Scanning

Next, the dentist takes digital scans of your hard and soft oral tissues using the iTero intraoral scanner. The scanner takes hundreds of digital images of your teeth, which proprietary software assembles into a 3-D digital model.

Step 3: Design

Your dentist will use this model to design your aligners. They will plan each gradual tooth movement for best results. This design may include minor adjustments to teeth as well as the placement of tooth-colored attachments that are necessary to optimize tooth movement. 

Step 4: Aligner Creation

The Invisalign lab makes your aligners from advanced medical-grade plastic that is strong and comfortable. These aligners are created off site and are shipped to your doctor for placement and management. 

Step 5: Treatment

You will visit your dentist for an initial fitting when your aligners arrive. They will ensure your aligners fit correctly. This is also when any necessary tooth adjustments or placement of attachments will occur. You will wear each aligner for roughly one to two weeks, then change to the next in the series.

Treatment time with Invisalign varies depending on the complexity of your orthodontic issues. The system usually takes about 12 to 18 months to complete. You’ll be enjoying your new, gorgeous, straight smile in record time and with much less inconvenience than traditional braces

Step 6: Retainer

You must wear a retainer after treatment to keep your results indefinitely. If you don't wear a retainer, your teeth experience a bounce-back and some amount of progress will be lost and misalignments will begin to form again. As we say, you only have to wear it as long as you want your teeth to stay straight. 

Retainers must be worn as though they were an aligner, 21-24 hours a day, for at least six to eight weeks following the end of treatment. Patients can then switch to nighttime only wear. 

Tips for Maximum Success with Invisalign

Remove Aligners to Eat and Drink

When you eat or drink anything but water, remove your aligners and place them in their carrying case. It is best to brush your teeth before replacing them.

Emphasize Oral Hygiene

Practice excellent oral hygiene. Brush and floss as your dentist recommends to keep your teeth and aligners as clean as possible.

Keep Aligners Clean

Clean your aligners carefully, avoiding abrasive or dyed products. If you cannot brush, rinse your mouth and aligners with water every time you eat or drink.

Wear Aligners 20-22 Hours Daily

Always wear your aligners unless you are actively eating, drinking, or caring for your teeth. If you forget to put them back in, you will jeopardize your treatment's success, prolong your treatment time,  and potentially lose your investment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Invisalign

Who is a good candidate for Invisalign?

Most healthy adults and teens are good candidates for Invisalign. Suitable candidates share these characteristics:

• Minor to moderate orthodontic correction needs, including minor dental bite problems (overbite, underbite)
• Responsible enough to wear their aligners for up to 22 hours daily and practice good oral hygiene.
• All permanent teeth erupted
• Jaw has finished growing
• Healthy gums and no periodontal disease
• No untreated tooth decay

Why invest in Invisalign treatment?

Invisalign may represent a financial investment, but excellent oral health is beyond price. When you have straight, healthy teeth, you may be able to avoid dental problems like gum disease and tooth decay later in life.

In addition to the oral health benefits, Invisalign improves your quality of life. You will feel better about your appearance and have more self-confidence.

Contact Rush Family Dental

When you look in the mirror, you may feel something is missing. If it's time to straighten your smile, we would love to show you what Invisalign can do. We are proud to be recognized as an Invisalign gold provider. Please contact us at one of our convenient locations in Phoenix or Chandler to schedule your consultation today.