Invisalign—Chaska, MN
The Clear Path to Straight Teeth
Invisalign offers the reliability and beautiful results that can be achieved with traditional braces without requiring someone to spend years with a mouthful of metal. Over 20 million people around the world have been able to fix their crooked, crowded, and gapped teeth with this treatment while maintaining their normal appearance, diet, and oral hygiene routine. White Oak Dental combines it with our meticulous attention to detail and ability to customize our care. If you think Invisalign in Chaska might be the right choice for you or your teen, give us a call today to schedule a consultation.
Why Choose White Oak Dental for Invisalign?
- 100% Digital Impressions—No Goopy Puddy!
- Highly Experienced Cosmetic Dentist
- We Welcome Your Dental Insurance
How Invisalign Works
The reason Invisalign is so dependable is that it relies on the same basic principle as braces to straighten the teeth—light pressure is gradually applied so they shift into the correct positions. Instead of using noticeable metal brackets and wires to do this, patients only need to wear a progressive set of clear aligner trays. Made of smooth and transparent plastic, these guide the teeth to wear they need to go. After about two weeks of use, a patient then switches to the next set of trays in their series.
Who Can Invisalign Help?
Invisalign is able to address mild to moderate cases of the most common orthodontic issues. So, if you are interested in straightening your teeth without noticeable, metal braces, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with us! The sooner you do, the sooner we can determine if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. In the meantime, you can read on to learn more about the orthodontic problems clear aligners can address.
Crowded Teeth
Crowded teeth can develop in early childhood, adolescence, and even well into adulthood. Whether you’ve been struggling with overcrowding for several years or several decades now, don’t wait – schedule a consultation with us to find out if you’re a candidate for Invisalign! If you are, then we can create the space needed to guide your teeth into proper alignment. The final result? An even, attractive smile.
Gaps Between Teeth
While too little space between the teeth is an issue, so is too much! Gaps can negatively affect the appearance of your smile, and they also lead to the excessive buildup of plaque and bacteria, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease. Fortunately, Invisalign can close gaps both large and small so that your smile stands out for all the right reasons.
Overbite
Do your upper teeth protrude beyond your lower ones? If so, you might have an overbite. In addition to taking a toll on your self-esteem, this bite problem can make it difficult to enunciate clearly and chew properly. So, it’s important that you explore your treatment options sooner rather than later. If your case isn’t too severe, there’s a good chance that Invisalign will be an option!
Underbite
What if you have the opposite problem (your lower teeth sit in front of your upper ones)? If that’s the case, Invisalign may still be an option! Ultimately, the only way to find out is to schedule a consultation with us so we can conduct a comprehensive oral exam. Then, we can determine if Invisalign is an option and, if it is, get to work on creating your custom treatment plan.
Crossbite
Crossbites often aren’t as talked about, but that doesn’t make them any less serious. In fact, even mild cases can lead to chronic jaw pain, premature wear and tear, as well as TMJ dysfunction. For all of those reasons, we recommend getting the orthodontic treatment you need. If you’re a candidate for Invisalign, then your journey to a healthier, more aesthetically pleasing smile will be completely metal-free.
Open Bite
Overbites, like the other orthodontic problems on this list, can give someone a less-than-perfect smile while also interfering with their ability to chew and speak comfortably. With Invisalign, we can alter the individual teeth so that the entire bite becomes more balanced, functional, and comfortable. The best part? The average treatment timeline is only 12-18 months!
Benefits of Invisalign
If you are currently in the process of deciding which orthodontic treatment is right for you, there are several reasons to choose Invisalign. To date, more than 17 million patients have opted for clear aligners because of the numerous benefits they come with, including:
Discreet Braces
Metal brackets and wires are a bit of an eyesore. As a result, everyone will know if you have traditional braces. Invisalign aligners, on the other hand, are crafted from smooth, clear plastic. As a result, they basically disappear when you put them on, ensuring they don’t draw any unwanted attention to your smile.
Comfortable Aligners
If you had metal braces when you were younger, then you likely remember the soft tissue irritation and mouth sores that came from the brackets and wires. With Invisalign, your journey to a straighter smile will be considerably more comfortable. That’s because the trays are custom-made just for you using a digital impression, ensuring the smooth plastic is gentle on your gums, lips, and cheeks.
Hassle-Free Treatment
While traditional braces require you to change multiple aspects of your life, including your diet, Invisalign does not! When it comes time to eat, you can remove your trays. It’s that easy. You can also take them off before going on a first date, giving an important presentation at work, or any other occasion when you want to look and feel your best as long as you wear them for a total of 20 hours a day.
Shorter Average Treatment Timeline
Typically, it takes about two to three years to get the desired results with traditional braces. Conversely, the average treatment timeline with Invisalign is only 12-18 months. If you’re interested in learning how long it will take for us to straighten your teeth, then schedule a consultation! Once we know more about your case, we can provide you with an estimate.
Easy Dental Care
For many patients, the idea of adopting a cumbersome oral hygiene routine and buying special dental tools is less than appealing. Fortunately, you don’t need to do either with Invisalign. Since the aligners are removable, you can brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash as usual. The only step you need to add to your routine is caring for your aligners, which is pretty simple.
Fewer Follow-Up Visits
One benefit that is often glossed over is that there aren’t monthly adjustment appointments with Invisalign. Most of the time, patients come in every 6-8 weeks, and the progress visits are often less than 30 minutes. So, if you opt for clear aligners, you’ll spend considerably less time in the treatment chair overall!
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
While we can’t provide you with an estimate of the cost of your Invisalign treatment online, we can provide you with an estimate at your consultation. In fact, we’ll go over all of the financial information, including how we could use your insurance or financing to help the treatment fit comfortably into your budget. If you want to learn more in the meantime, this next section is for you!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign
Naturally, one of the biggest determining factors in the cost of your Invisalign treatment is the severity of your case. After all, smaller movements require fewer trays, while bigger adjustments call for more trays and a higher price. In addition to that, we need to consider:
- If any preliminary care is needed, like a tooth-colored filling
- If single-arch treatment is possible
- If attachments, buttons, or any other orthodontic accessories are needed
- The type of retainer needed to preserve your results
Rest assured, we will review all of this information and more at your visit. We also like to share with our patients what to do to avoid additional costs, like prioritizing each progress appointment.
Does Invisalign Cost More Than Mail-In Aligners?
Invisalign usually does cost more than mail-in aligners. One of the biggest reasons for this is that mail-order alternatives cut corners, like skipping the initial exam and having the patient take their own impressions. While this does cut costs, it also dramatically increases the risk of something going wrong, such as the alignment of your teeth getting worse instead of better. To put it simply, even though Invisalign comes with a higher price tag, it’s worth the investment.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?
Some dental plans do include partial coverage for orthodontic treatment. So, if you are insured and aren’t familiar with your benefits, it’s worth dedicating a few minutes to reading the fine print on your plan. If that proves to be difficult, don’t hesitate to ask our Chaska dental team for assistance. We’re in-network with several of the nation’s leading providers, including Delta Dental, Cigna, and Premier Dental Group. We’re also familiar with their plans and would be happy to take a look at yours. In short, we’re here to help, so feel free to provide us with your membership information when you call to schedule your appointment!
Options for Making Invisalign Affordable
Are you uninsured? Good news: Invisalign financing is available at our Chaska office! With trusted third-party financiers like CareCredit and Cherry, you don’t have to pay for the entire cost in one lump sum. Instead, you can space out the cost of your orthodontic treatment into smaller monthly chunks that fit comfortably within your budget. If you want to learn more about this financial solution, or you have any other questions related to the cost of clear aligners, feel free to give us a call.
Invisalign FAQs
What are Invisalign Attachments?
Attachments are one of many orthodontic accessories that can be added to your treatment plan. They are used so your aligners have something to grip onto, helping them guide your teeth and bite into proper alignment. Whether you have one, a few, or 15+ attachments, you don’t have to worry – since they are just small pieces of tooth-colored resin, they won’t draw any unwanted attention to your smile. Plus, putting them on and taking them off is completely painless.
Can You Get Invisalign After Braces?
If your teeth moved out of their properly aligned positions following your time with traditional braces, you might be wondering if you’re a candidate for Invisalign. It’s possible! In fact, many patients who have experienced orthodontic relapse have achieved a straight smile again with clear aligners. So, don’t let the fact that you went through orthodontic treatment before stop you from scheduling a consultation with us!
What Should I Do if My Invisalign Tray Broke?
At the beginning of your Invisalign treatment, we will provide you with helpful tips on how to keep your aligners in pristine condition – from rinsing them with clean, cool water each time you take them off to storing them in their designated case when you aren’t wearing them. That said, accidents sometimes happen, like them falling off of your bathroom counter and onto your tile floor. Whether they have a small crack along one side or they have broken into several pieces, don’t try to use superglue to repair them or move onto the next set of aligners in the series. Instead, call us ASAP so we can determine the best way to get you back on track with your treatment plan.
How Do I Clean My Invisalign?
The last thing you want is for your aligners to turn yellow or develop an unpleasant odor. Fortunately, you don’t need any expensive products to keep them clean; clean, cool water, mild, clear dishwashing liquid, and a soft-bristled toothbrush should do the trick! You can also use the cleaning crystals that came in your welcome kit or another dentist-recommended clear aligner cleaner if you feel like they need a deeper clean.
What Happens After Invisalign?
After your Invisalign treatment, you’ll be given a retainer to wear each night while you sleep. This is an important step of the process because – without it – your chances of orthodontic relapse skyrocket. So, make wearing it a priority and, if you accidentally lose or break yours, call our Chaska dental team ASAP so we can provide you with a new one.