Limited Case Selection with Invisalign Express

Jason Tam, DDS answers: Invisalign vs Invisalign express for crowded teeth

I just had a consultation for Invisalign and the doctor told me that he can straighten my teeth with Invisalign express but that there is no way to widen my arch unless I use the full program Invisalign.

Don't they both work the same way but for different levels of severity? How could Invisalign express straighten my teeth without widening my arch?


Jason K. Tam, DDS
8 months ago

There are very few cases treatable with Express. Ten aligners is not a lot. That is basically 20 weeks of treatment. If your treatment can be completed with fixed braces in 20 weeks, you may be able to do this with Express.

Keep in mind that after regular Invisalign, there is the opportunity to do up to 3 refinements. With Express, you can pay for a detailing set, an additional short course of trays made without having your provider approve your treatment. You can pay for refinement, which allows your provider to dictate the movement of your teeth. However, by adding on the detailing set and/or refinement, the cost of the treatment starts to come very close to the cost of regular Invisalign.

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