Frank Farrelly, BDS

Hi bribri7,

It is true that invisalign do not charge the orthodontist for additional trays, but it may require additional visits and planning from them if you cannot fit the plan. This may incur additional charges.

You should contact them immediately and advise that you have lost them. If they order them in advance and have them ready, likely there will be no charge to you. Remember, for all orthodontic treatment it is not just the cost of the materials, but the expertise and time of the specialist that you are paying for.

Have you lost your aligners after mumber 30, or have you lost 30 aligners? If they need to order a full set again, they may consider a mid course correction instead? Again, you should talk to them.

regards

Dr Frank Farrelly

Hi,

If you are mid treatment, the orthodontist has an ethical and legal (depending on area) obligation to continue treatment, if possible. If you cannot find them with Dr Google, perhaps you could find them through the local dental board. All dental practitioners need to be registered to practice dentistry. They will likely have contact details.

It may just be an oversight, or there may have been circumstances requiring them to leave, beyond their control. Has the practice they worked at closed? It may be they had a falling out and they could no longer practice there. Obviously all patients should not be inconvenienced, but if they don't have access to your records, they can't contact you either. If you have no luck with the board or the practice, perhaps contact invisalign directly. They may be able to help track them down, or at least get your remaining aligners.

Best of luck.

Whitening with in chair or take home trays can give great results for most people, without any structural damage to the teeth or any long term maintenance. However, if there are defects on the tooth or certain types of discolouration, whitening may not be as effective.

Veneers usually need some form of preparation (cutting) of the tooth. This means it is not reversible and they will need to be replaced over your lifetime multiple times. For those with certain types of occlusion (bite), they may be unsuitable.

If you have both options and your dentist thinks you can get good results with both, trying whitening first would be recommended and then veneers if still needed. This way the veneers will also look better as the other teeth will also be lighter, but if you get white teeth that you are happy with, there is no need for veneers.

When you say as white as possible, I assume you mean within the normal range of teeth colours. If you wish to go whiter than natural teeth, you will require veneers. The best result will still be obtained by whitening first.

Hi melissaxlynn,

When doing consultations for invisalign or other orthodontic treatment, the complexity, time, outcomes and retention are all considered. There is a large variation in costs based on these factors, but a rough idea is quite easy to assess for an experienced practitioner.

Any orthodontic treatment will have unexpected problems along the way as everyone reacts differently to any kind of medical treatment. All our bodies work slightly differently. When an orthodontist or dentist assesses the cost, they consider how much it will cost them in terms of materials, time and laboratory costs. Some simple cases may require more time, some complex cases can be quick.

If you think you have been quoted too much for your case, it is worth having a second opinion. Some orthodontists can be more affordable by using auxillaries to help streamline treatment. Some orthodontists like to do everything themselves to ensure it is perfect every step of the way. I hope this helps. Remember, above all you are paying for their expertise (which they translate into costs). I would prefer and expert to spend less time with me, than someone with limited experience, taking it slow.

Hi notordinary89,

Invisalign makes precise small movements of up to .2mm for each aligner. However, this does not mean it will take just 8 aligners or 16 weeks to correct. If just these 2 teeth were moved, that would be the case. In reality, all the other teeth need to move to compensate, otherwise the gap would just be moved to the back of these teeth instead of the front.

When you see a dentist or orthodontist for consultation, they should be able to give you an estimate of the expected time frame to complete treatment, but even then, it is only when a full computerised model of your teeth with a clincheck is carried out, that they can know with any certainty. Many practitioners of invisalign offer free consultation.

It is more important to have correct treatment, than quick treatment. Good luck with your treatment.