Invisalign® – Houston, TX

Easy Dental Care

Traditional braces require some changes to your oral hygiene regimen, like using an interproximal toothbrush to clean around the brackets and wires. That’s not the case with Invisalign! Since the aligners are removable, you don’t need to change how you brush or floss your teeth. In fact, there are really only two tweaks you’ll need to make to your daily routine: you need to brush your teeth after each meal, and you need to clean your aligners consistently to prevent them from becoming stained and smelly.

No Dietary Restrictions

Another considerable perk is that there aren’t any dietary restrictions with Invisalign. So, you don’t need to worry about cutting out whole apples, raw carrots, and other crunchy foods from your diet. As long as you keep your consumption of sugary and starchy treats to a minimum, you shouldn’t run into any issues during your orthodontic treatment.

Important note: If you have a lot of attachments, we may ask you to avoid extremely crunchy foods, like hard pretzels, in an effort to keep them intact.

Removable Aligners

We’ve mentioned two perks of removable aligners already (easy oral care and freedom to eat all of your favorite foods), but there is something else patients love: it’s perfectly fine to remove them for an hour or so for a big event. So, if your wedding is rapidly approaching, you have a few job interviews lined up, or you have a big presentation at work, don’t worry – you can take your aligners out if you want to look and feel truly flawless.

Shorter Average Treatment Timeline

Usually, patients wear traditional braces for two or three years (although there are some cases where four years or more are needed). Conversely, patients with Invisalign usually finish their teeth-straightening journey in just 8-18 months. At your initial appointment, your Houston dentist will give you an estimate of your treatment timeline based on important information, like the complexity of your case. They will also share what you should and shouldn’t do to stay on-track with your plan.

Completely Metal-Free

We mentioned at the very beginning of this section that the fact that the aligners are clear often steals the spotlight. However, that’s just one of the benefits of virtually invisible braces. Since there aren’t any metal components, like brackets and wires, Invisalign is also considerably more comfortable. In other words, your braces won’t just look great; they’ll feel great too!

Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign

While Invisalign has helped more than 12 million people achieve their smile goals, it’s by no means a one-size-fits-all treatment. Before providing you with a price estimate, we’ll need to consider a few different factors, including:

• Whether you want to straighten one or both arches of teeth
• The severity of your misalignment
• How many trays you'll need
• If additional accessories, like rubber bands, are required

While we do our best to prevent surprises for our patients, it is possible for there to be additional costs stemming from not following the treatment guidelines. For example, if you don’t wear your aligners for 22 hours a day and fall off-track with your original plan, you may need re-treatment (which may require more time and money).

Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?

Upfront, mail-order clear aligner brands like Smile Direct Club™ do cost less. However, Invisalign continues to be the best choice for your smile and your wallet. There are a few reasons for this. To begin, Invisalign includes an in-depth assessment of your oral health, ensuring no decay or infection is present before starting treatment. Furthermore, the follow-up visits are in-person with a licensed dental professional, which is essential in keeping your treatment on-track. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you’ll never have to worry about where to turn with a question, dental emergency, or any other things that come up during your teeth-straightening journey.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

If you have dental insurance, you’ll be happy to know that many plans include a once-in-a-lifetime benefit for orthodontic treatment. So, it’s worth reviewing the fine print on yours before assuming that you will have to pay for the entire treatment out-of-pocket. Our team at Sunrise Dental is also here to help – we’re in-network with several popular providers, including Delta Dental.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

Don’t have dental insurance? Then you’ll be happy to hear that we offer another financial solution that will help make your Invisalign treatment more affordable: CareCredit. A trusted third-party financier, CareCredit allows you to choose a payment plan that works best with your budget. There are also low-to-no interest options for qualified patients, making your treatment even more affordable.