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Many older patients want to finally correct crooked teeth and noticeable gaps in their smiles, but they feel like they missed the boat on traditional orthodontic treatment. Others wore braces at a younger age but are starting to experience a relapse in the form of teeth shifting back towards their original, misaligned states. In both of these situations, Invisalign® may be the ideal solution! This subtle and easy-to-use service can straighten smiles beautifully, no metal wires or brackets required. Ready to see if you’re a candidate? Contact Kirlough Family Dentistry in Middleburg Heights, OH today to schedule a consultation.
Invisalign® treatment consists of a series of (like the name implies) clear, plastic aligners, each one representing a different stage of your smile throughout the treatment process. The patient’s job is simple – our dental office will provide the sets of aligners, and you will wear each one for a predetermined amount of time (typically two to three weeks) before switching to the next aligner in the set. The trays are fully removable and should always be taken out of the mouth when eating, brushing, and flossing.
If you’re wondering if Invisalign can help you, there’s a good chance the answer is “yes.” After all, this innovative clear aligner treatment has helped more than 17 million patients over the last two decades! If you are interested in learning which orthodontic problems Invisalign can fix prior to your consultation, then this next section is for you.
If your teeth overlap, then you may not feel the most confident when you smile. That’s not the only reason we recommend exploring your orthodontic treatment options, however. Crowded teeth can also harbor plaque and food particles, increasing your risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease. Fortunately, Invisalign clear aligners can gently move your teeth into their properly aligned positions, improving the look of your smile as well as your oral health.
As they get older, many patients grow less and less fond of the gap between their two front teeth. If that’s the case for you, then take the next step: schedule a consultation with our cosmetic dentist in Middleburg Heights, Dr. Kirlough! Once he has a chance to review your dental history and assess the complexity of your case, he can determine if Invisalign is right for you.
Do your upper teeth extend past your lower teeth? If so, you may have an overbite. The good news is that, while there was once a time when this orthodontic problem could only be fixed with traditional braces, mild and moderate cases can often be addressed with Invisalign now. In other words, there’s a good chance that your journey to a straight smile and aligned bite will be completely metal-free (and considerably more comfortable!).
What if your lower jaw extends beyond your upper one? This bite problem is referred to as an underbite. Even in mild cases, it can lead to considerable discomfort as well as difficulty chewing and trouble enunciating clearly. Fortunately, Invisalign clear aligners can often be used in tandem with other orthodontic accessories (i.e., attachments, buttons, rubber bands) to correct it.
A crossbite is another common bite problem. In this case, some of the upper teeth sit behind the lower ones, leading to considerable jaw pain. Not only that, but pressure is placed on some teeth more than others, increasing the risk of sustaining a serious chip or crack. These are just a few of the many reasons we recommend reviewing your treatment options, like Invisalign, sooner rather than later.
When your mouth is closed or you bite down, do your upper and lower teeth meet evenly? If they don’t, then you may have an open bite. If it isn’t corrected, then you’ll likely experience the consequences, like chronic jaw pain, premature wear and tear on certain teeth, and trouble chewing properly. Luckily, traditional braces are no longer the only option; Invisalign is often a solution for patients with more mild cases as well!
The many advantages of Invisalign make it a clear winner over metal braces. However, price is still a major factor in any dental treatment, and Invisalign is no exception. As you will find out below, there are several factors that can affect the cost of Invisalign in Middleburg Heights. So, Dr. Kirlough cannot provide you with a cost estimate until he meets with you during a consultation. Continue reading to learn about some of the variables that can influence the price of straightening your smile.
Every patient’s smile has unique needs, so there isn’t a universal cost of Invisalign. Various factors can impact how much you’ll pay for a straighter set of pearly whites, such as:
At your consultation, your Invisalign dentist in Middleburg Heights will closely examine your smile and give you a cost estimate. From there, our team can discuss payment options.
If you’ve been looking into fixing crooked teeth, then you’ve undoubtedly heard of mail-in aligners. This system of clear aligners costs only a fraction of what Invisalign does. However, when it comes to your smile, cheaper is NOT always better!
Mail-In aligners and other “do-it-yourself” clear aligner kits come with very little, if any, oversight from a dental professional. Rather, you’re entirely responsible for capturing accurate impressions of your teeth and following the treatment process correctly. Without professional supervision, it can be all too easy for things to go wrong. Your smile might not turn out the way you wanted it to, so you may end up having to see a dentist anyway for corrections.
Save yourself time and money by choosing Invisalign in Middleburg Heights from the start. Dr. Kirlough and the rest of our team will be with you every step of the way. The precise impressions, effective aligners, expert oversight, and lasting results will be worth every penny!
Although every dental insurance plan is different, many of them do NOT cover orthodontic treatment. If they do, they might only offer coverage for traditional braces and exclude Invisalign. However, it couldn’t hurt to contact a representative from your insurance company and find out for sure. Our team would be happy to help with this process! We’re even in-network with many of the area’s leading dental insurance providers, including:
Even without insurance, there are plenty of ways to make Invisalign affordable. Kirlough Family Dentistry is partnered with CareCredit to give our patients the opportunity to split up their treatment costs into low monthly payments. There are multiple flexible payment plans to choose from, so they can fit into almost any budget. Many of them even have very little or no interest!