A lot of adults in Ellensburg come to us asking about Invisalign. Some had braces as a kid and their teeth have shifted over the years. Others never got orthodontic treatment and have just lived with it. Either way, the question is usually the same: does Invisalign actually work?
The short answer is yes, for the right cases it works very well. The longer answer is that Invisalign is not the right fit for everyone, and I want to give you an honest picture of what it can and cannot do.
What Invisalign actually is
Invisalign is a brand of clear aligners. The system uses a series of custom-made plastic trays that fit over your teeth. You wear each tray for one to two weeks, then move on to the next one in the series. Each tray is slightly different from the last, gradually shifting your teeth toward their final position.
The trays are made of a medical-grade thermoplastic that is nearly invisible when worn. From a few feet away, most people will not notice you have them in. They are removable, which is one of the biggest advantages over traditional braces, but they need to be worn 20 to 22 hours a day to work.
What Invisalign is good at
Mild to moderate crowding. If your teeth are slightly overlapped or rotated, Invisalign handles this well.
Spacing issues. Small gaps between teeth can be closed with aligners.
Mild bite problems. Certain types of overbites, underbites, and crossbites respond well to Invisalign, especially in adult cases where the bite is not severely off.
Relapse cases. A lot of our adult patients had braces as teenagers and stopped wearing their retainers. Their teeth shifted over the years. Invisalign is great for these cases because the movements needed are usually small.
Most adult cases finish in 12 to 18 months. Some shorter cases finish in six to nine months. More complex cases can take longer.
Where traditional braces might make more sense
I am always honest with patients about this. Invisalign is not a magic solution for every orthodontic problem.
Severe crowding or rotation. When teeth need to make big movements, traditional braces give the orthodontist more precise control. Invisalign can do some of this with attachments, which are small tooth-colored bumps bonded to the teeth, but there is a limit.
Significant bite problems. Major overbites, underbites, or open bites often need treatment that Invisalign alone cannot deliver.
Vertical movement. Pulling teeth down or pushing them up into the bone is harder with aligners than with brackets and wires.
Patients who will not wear them. Aligners only work if you wear them. If you are someone who knows you will leave them out for hours every day, traditional braces will get you a better result because you cannot take them off.
If Invisalign is not going to get you to the result you want, I will tell you that upfront. Sometimes I refer patients to an orthodontist for more complex cases.
What the process looks like
It starts with a consultation. We do a thorough exam, take X-rays, and use a digital scanner to create a 3D model of your teeth. Using treatment planning software, I can show you a simulation of how your teeth will move over the course of treatment, including a preview of the final result.
If we move forward, your aligners are manufactured and arrive in a few weeks. You will get a series of trays, each labeled in order. We start you on the first set and have you come in for short check-up appointments every six to eight weeks to make sure things are tracking on plan.
You wear the trays 20 to 22 hours a day. The only times you take them out are to eat, drink anything other than water, and brush your teeth. Then they go right back in.
Some patients need attachments, which are small tooth-colored bumps we bond to certain teeth to help the aligners grip. These come off at the end of treatment.
After treatment, you wear retainers. Either clear retainers like the aligners or fixed retainers behind the teeth. This is non-negotiable. The single biggest reason adult patients need orthodontic treatment in the first place is that they did not wear their retainers as teenagers.
Daily life with Invisalign
You will get used to it within a week or two. The main adjustments are:
Routine. You take them out before meals, brush your teeth before putting them back in, and clean the trays daily.
Speech. Some patients have a slight lisp for the first few days. It goes away.
Pressure. Each new set of trays causes some pressure or soreness for a day or two as your teeth start moving. This is normal and means it is working.
You can drink water with the trays in. Anything else, including coffee, tea, soda, juice, or alcohol, will stain them and trap sugar against your teeth.
Cost and timeline
Invisalign typically runs in the four to six thousand dollar range for adult cases, depending on complexity and length of treatment. Insurance with orthodontic benefits often covers a portion. We work with most major insurance plans and can help you figure out your coverage.
Treatment time depends on the complexity of your case. We will give you a realistic estimate at the consultation, not a marketing number.
A note for our Spanish-speaking patients
Nuestro equipo habla espanol y estamos felices de discutir todas sus opciones de tratamiento ortodontico en el idioma que prefiera. Sabemos que decisiones sobre la salud son importantes, y queremos que se sienta comodo haciendo todas las preguntas que tenga.
If you are in Ellensburg or the surrounding Kittitas County area and want to talk through your options, call us at (509) 933-3300. We are happy to take a look and give you a straight answer about whether Invisalign makes sense for your situation. (For more on cosmetic options for adults, see our posts on porcelain veneers and teeth whitening.)
Related reading: Why people in Kittitas County are fixing their smiles with veneers, Teeth whitening in Ellensburg, A dentist who grew up here.