Invisalign: Cost, Quick Fixes and Elastics

Invisalign and orthodontic treatment is an excellent way to achieve a healthy, happy smile but there is concern at reports of patients dissatisfied with the results of treatments offering a fix quick. Many of these quick fix treatments claim to provide orthodontic treatment that will straighten teeth in six months or less – much faster than comprehensive treatment.

Don’t expect a quick fix

While it is true that simple straightening of the front teeth can be carried out in as little as six months, this is not always a long term solution. It often takes at least 12 months to get the teeth fully corrected, biting correctly and in harmony with the jaws and lips, with either Invisalign or braces.

Consider all options

Check that your orthodontist is a member of the Australian Society of Orthodontics and therefore has the recognised specialist qualifications to perform orthodontic treatment as a specialist orthodontist. Orthodontists have carried out at least three years further training in orthodontics after becoming a qualified dentist. It’s advisable to ask the orthodontist how much training they have had in orthodontics and with the type of treatment being offered.

New innovations with invisalign

The Invisalign G4 is the next generation of SmartForce clinical innovations. Better clinical outcomes are now achievable with anterior open bites as well as other problems. Improved optimised extrusion attachments extrude the anterior teeth as a unit, leveraging the posterior teeth as anchorage. Intrusive forces are applied to the posterior teeth.

Elastics with invisalign

It is possible to wear to elastics with Invisalign aligners. With the recent innovations better outcomes are now achievable for correcting overbites and underbites. Therefore someone with the upper teeth sticking out further than the lower teeth is able to wear elastics with the Invisalign aligners to correct these problems. When elastics are required these are usually worn at the start of the commencement of the Invisalign aligners. This is in contrast to braces where elastics are usually started mid-treatment.

Cost

Beware of quick fixes, if something sounds too good to be true, then generally it is. Correct alignment of the teeth takes time and requires expertise on the part of the orthodontist. Invisalign and braces will often take at least 12 months to get the teeth fully corrected, biting correctly and in harmony with the jaws and lips.