January 7, 2020

Invisible braces are a common orthodontic treatment amongst patients as they are more discrete and less noticeable than traditional dental braces. When you smile, no one will see any wires or metal brackets as you do with normal braces.

To answer your questions about the topic, our team outlined what invisible braces are and explained the treatment process.

What are invisible braces?

Invisible braces, known as clear aligners, are an orthodontic treatment that help to straighten your teeth. If you require alignment correction of our teeth, your dentist may provide you with clear aligners as an alternative to traditional braces. Clear aligners enable you to keep smiling with confidence without the use of metal brackets.

The treatment procedure involves wearing custom made plastic aligners over your teeth to help move your teeth into a natural, straight, more ideal position.

At Coastal Dental Care, we offer two types of clear aligner systems, Invisalign and SmileStyler.

Invisalign is an American-based company, who will create your required aligners at the start of your treatment. SmileStyler is an Australian-based company who will custom make your aligners after each oral scan undertaken by your dentist.

What is involved in the treatment?

At your first initial visit, your dentist will assess your oral health and discuss treatment options that are suitable for your condition.

Once assessed, your dentist will take digital scans of your teeth by using 3D Intra-oral scanner. This will allow you to see a 3D image of your teeth before and after the treatment. As a result, your dentist will be able to monitor your progress during the treatment.

A few weeks after your consultation, you will receive a box of custom-made, clear aligners ready for you to use. Each aligner is to be used for a period of 1-3 weeks, as advised by your dentist. After this period, you will replace the old aligner with the next one.

During the process you will need to visit your dentist once every 6-8 weeks to evaluate your progress. You will also receive your next set of aligners at this appointment.

As you progress through each individual aligner, you will begin to see your new, straighter smile take shape. For optimal results, it is important that you wear your aligners for at least 20-22 hours per day. You should remove your aligners when you:

• Brush your teeth
• Eat food
• Floss

Why use clear aligners?

Clear and difficult to notice

Want to smile without those noticeable braces? Well now you can, as clear aligners enable you to do so. It is almost impossible to notice the clear, plastic aligner when it is in your mouth. The treatment enables you to keep smiling confidently whilst your teeth are being straightened into ideal alignment.

Simple

The procedure is simple and the aligners can be easily removed at your convenience. Unlike normal braces, you can remove them from your mouth. You can remove them while you eat, floss or brush. This leaves you with more freedom to continue your normal daily routine without the disruption of having metal braces. You will, in some cases, have tooth coloured buttons or attachments that will be fixed to certain teeth during your treatment.

Length of the treatment

Like any procedure, the duration of the treatment depends on your current situation. In most cases, the more correct required the longer process will take. As a result, treatment can range between 6 months to 2 years.

Improved hygiene

It is important to maintain healthy teeth and gums whilst you undertake teeth straightening or orthodontic treatment. The use of Invisalign or SmileStyler enables patients to remove the aligners each night to allow you to floss and brush your teeth effectively. In addition, the aligners themselves can be cleaned as well.

Cost of the treatment

At Coastal Dental Care, our Invisalign and SmileStyler treatments usually cost between $5,000 and $7,500 to undertake. Initially, your dentist will be able to provide you with an accurate price which will vary depending on how much treatment you require.

On the other hand, the cost of traditional metal braces varies from patient to patient and can cost between $5,500 and $8,000.

In addition, your private health insurance plan may cover some of your clear aligner treatment. This depends on your dental extras cover. To find out more, consult your private health insurer to enquire about your cover.

Book an appointment

Looking to straighten your teeth? You can book an appointment online 24/7 or contact us today!