Just like changes that occur to the body over the years as we age, the teeth are no exception. Whether you have had orthodontic treatment or not, your teeth can shift and change in position if not retained.Most people notice changes to their lower front teeth in the form of “crowding”. I recommend to my patients that they wear retainers indefinitely after orthodontic treatment. Immediately after orthodontic treatment I advise them to wear retainers every night while sleeping forapproximately 2 years. After the 2 year period of nightly wear, I suggest that they continue to wear their retainers at least a few nights a week.I explain to them that they will be able to tell how often to wear the retainers based on how they feel when they are worn. For instance, if the retainers feel tight and the teeth feel sore after missing a few nights of retainer wear, the retainers should be worn more frequently since the teeth are trying to shift. However, in the same scenario, if the retainers are worn and they feel “passive” with no discomfort to the teeth, that may be an indication that they can be worn less frequent. I do not ever tell my patients to stop wearing retainers as there is always the possibility of the teeth shifting out of the desired position.
One of the great options when using Invisalign is that they offer something called refinements after all of the initial sets of trays have been worn. The reason for this is to “tweak” the final product. If there are any teeth that have not moved fully into the designated positions, and if desired, your orthodontist can request up to 3 refinements at no extra fee. That is, of course, if you have been treated with the comprehensive Invisalign product. Make certain to ask your orthodontist about the different options that Invisalign offers before beginning your treatment. If a refinement is needed or desired, new impressions or a scan can be taken of your teeth, sent to Invisalign with the requested changes to be made, and shortly thereafter new trays will be sent for you to finalize your treatment and address any concerns. Your orthodontist should discuss the desired changes with you so that all of your concerns are addressed.Many times it is imperative to treat both upper and lower teeth in order to accomplish the changes that are requested. For instance, if a lower front tooth is slightly rotated, it may be necessary to change the position of an upper front tooth slightly in order to move the lower properly. Therefore, it would be necessary for you to wear both upper and lower trays that are active. In the same case scenario, if there is no need to move the upper tooth and the lower tooth can be moved into the proper position alone, Invisalign may send trays that are actively moving the lower teeth and trays that are passive (holding trays) for the upper. Every situation is unique and must be addressed properly so that you receive the best possible outcome.
Invisalign offers two different Invisalign Express options. One is Invisalign Express 5 and the other is Invisalign Express 10. The numbers indicate the number of trays allowed to accomplish your tooth movement needs and desires. Invisalign Express 5 would be used for extremely minor tooth movements and Invisalign Express 10 for minor tooth movements. Both express products offer fewer trays for people who do not need more than 10 trays to accomplish their tooth movement goals. For example, if you needed a small space closed to accomplish your orthodontic goal, you may be a candidate for an express product. The same might be true if you had very minimal crowding of your front teeth. Consult with your orthodontist who can evaluate your dental needs and recommend the appropriate Invisalign product that will provide an optimal result for you.
In my orthodontic practice I am very particular and careful to make sure the upper and lower teeth are always aligned and also fit together properly, upper to lower when biting. Therefore, I do not use Invisalign for one dental arch only. The cost for aligning one dental arch is the same for aligning both dental arches in tandem. Logically, think about changing the positions of your teeth on just the bottom arch only. Once those positions are changed, if the opposing dental arch is not changed, the two will no longer fit together accurately. It could be detrimental to your jaw alignment to undergo the treatment of one dental arch only without affecting the other and there is no difference in cost.
In my orthodontic practice, the price for Invisalign and Invisalign Teen is very comparable, when relating Comprehensive Invisalign to Invisalign Teen. There are varying types and prices for the regular Invisalign product, such as Invisalign Express 5, Invisalign Express 10, Invisalign Assist and Comprehensive Invisalign. Currently there is only one Teen product. Pricing is very dependent on the length of treatment required, the difficulty of the particular case and the type of product required to achieve the best overall result.
