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After Doing Full Invisalign Treatment, What Does It Mean to Need a "Refinement"?
asked 1 year ago by 9476anon in Connecticut
Latest answer by R. William McNeill, DDS, MS
Question viewed 1,212 times
Tags: refine pores, terminology
After almost completing the full Invisalign tray treatment, I am wearing #15's (17 trays total for upper and lowers) but specifically for a front tooth that was pushed up into the gum, from crowding of other teeth. So, my front tooth still has not come down all the way to be levelled with my other front tooth. The dentist said I would need a "refinement." What does that involve? More impressions? And, will I have to pay $6,800 again, as I don't have the funds.
8 answers to After Doing Full Invisalign Treatment, What Does It Mean to Need a "Refinement"?
+2
Invisalign refinement is just fine tuning
It is very common for an Invisalign case to need some fine tuning (refinement). This simply means some new aligners to finish the job, and quite often this is included in the orignal fee. If MANY refinements are needed, there may be an additional fee, but it would not be the full Invisalign fee.
+2
Refinement for invisalign
Invisalign is very accurate in predicting tooth movement but sometimes at the end of a treatment a few more trays are needed to finish the case prior to retainers. You have a full case so refinements should be free.
It sounds like the tooth needs to be pulled down so it would be best for your dentist to add a button attachment or even elastics.
Jennifer Jablow, DDS
New York Cosmetic Dentist
New York Cosmetic Dentist
+1
Invisalign refinement is part of the process
It is common to do "refinement" and/or "mid-course correction" with Invisalign since one or more teeth may not "track" exactly as planned. Usually this does require new impressions and re-submission to the Invisalign laboratory so the new series of aligners can be planned in detail . In most orthodontic practices it is assumed that more than one aligner series will be required for each patient so the fee takes that in to account. I...
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R. William McNeill, DDS, MS
Mercer Island Orthodontist
Mercer Island Orthodontist
+1
Refinement for Invisalign
A refinement is usually included in a full case. These are cases with more than 10 trays per arch. More than one refinement is not unusual especially for more difficult cases. I see approximately 20 percent of my cases required refinements. Invisalign will charge a fee for refinements that are pass the deadline for refinements.
Daniel C Huang, DDS
Newport Beach Cosmetic Dentist
Newport Beach Cosmetic Dentist
+1
Invisalign refinement very common
It's very common to require a refinement at the end of Invisalign treatment. As I explain to my patients, the computer simulation can only give an estimate as to how well your teeth will move. Many factors affect the final result. A refinement is just continued treatment to really "fine tune" the final result. In my office, refinements are included in the original cost-there is no additional charge. The only time this doesn't apply is if the...
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Gerilyn Alfe, DMD
Chicago Cosmetic Dentist
Chicago Cosmetic Dentist
+1
Invisalign refinement
Most cases need refinement. It is simply tweaking the last little bits after completing the main course of treatment. Usually at the end of treatment, the result is pretty good, but can almost always be a little better. These are free aligners that take you the rest of the way.
John Whittemore, DDS
Memphis Cosmetic Dentist
Memphis Cosmetic Dentist
+1
Refinement is included
A refinment is the term used by Invisalign to mean the you are going to get more aligners based on new inpressions. There should be no new fees associated with this. It is a common part of the Invisalign treatment to refine a case. You may recieve a few or many aligners depending on how much there is to correct.
Deborah Petronio, DDS
East Aurora Cosmetic Dentist
East Aurora Cosmetic Dentist
+1
Invisalign refinement
There should not be additional fees to do this refinement. It may just require a few extra trays or perhaps another impression as well. You should know, however, that moving a tooth vertically is something Invisalign is not always good at. Some other means may be needed, such as wearing rubber bands attached to buttons on the teeth, or even braces.
