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Invisalign – Gorham, ME

A Straighter Smile Without Brackets or Wires

For decades, patients who wanted a straighter smile had to endure the uncomfortable, lengthy process of traditional orthodontics. But these days, there’s a much more convenient and discreet way of doing this, and it’s taken the world of modern dentistry by storm: Invisalign in Gorham! To find out if you’re a good candidate for this treatment, feel free to give us a call so we can schedule a consultation and begin discussing your smile goals.

Why Choose Morgan-Hill Dental Care for Invisalign?

  • FREE 1st Visits & 2nd Opinions
  • Image-Friendly Treatment for Teens & Adults
  • Comfortable & Welcoming Office Environment

How Invisalign Works

A dentist explaining Invisalign to a patient in Gorham, ME

Invisalign utilizes sets of clear plastic aligners to slowly shift your teeth into a straighter and healthier position. You’ll wear each set of aligners for roughly two weeks at a time, and you’ll gradually advance to new sets of trays to match your teeth’s progress. However, this can only happen if the aligners are worn for 20 – 22 hours every day; in fact, this is considered the “golden rule” of Invisalign! You’ll still have to visit us every six or so weeks for checkups and to pick up your new sets of aligners, but you don’t have to visit nearly as often as you would with traditional braces.

Indications for Invisalign

A patient receiving Invisalign in Gorham, ME

Here are three common issues that Invisalign can address:

Crowded Teeth

Having crooked and crowded teeth can expedite issues like tooth decay that forms cavities, but Invisalign applies a gentle amount of forced pressure to different parts of your smile, slowly but surely bringing your teeth into the properly aligned position while also mitigating potential oral health issues in the process.

Gaps Between Teeth

Gaps between teeth aren’t just embarrassing; they can also trap food debris and bacteria that lead to unpleasant oral health issues. Invisalign can be used to eliminate these spaces by bringing your teeth closer together so that they stay healthy and look uniform. 

Bite Alignment

A misaligned bite can place gratuitous pressure on your temporomandibular joint, causing issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching). Invisalign can be used to target many types of bite-alignment problems including underbites, overbites, and even crossbites.

The Benefits of Invisalign

A patient smiling and holding her Invisalign aligner in Gorham, ME

If you’re still on the fence about committing to this unique orthodontic treatment, here are some of the many benefits that Invisalign has to offer:

  • Comfort – The aligners are crafted with your comfort in mind; they’re made from a smooth, durable plastic that is far less likely to irritate your gums than metal braces.
  • Speed – While traditional orthodontics can take anywhere from 2 to 3 years to straighten your smile, Invisalign can often be completed in just 12 to 18 months.
  • Discreetness – Invisalign aligners are virtually undetectable while they’re being worn; no one will be able to tell that you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment unless you tell them!

Understanding the Cost of Invisalign

woman holding an Invisalign aligner

Every smile is unique, and so is the cost of each Invisalign treatment. Because each set of clear aligners is designed with a patient’s specific needs in mind, we can’t give you an accurate cost estimate until we’ve had the chance to examine your smile. Rest assured that before moving forward with the process, we’ll thoroughly explain your financial options, such as dental insurance and CareCredit. We’re even offering a limited-time special for a FREE Invisalign consultation!

Factors That Affect the Cost of Invisalign

dentist showing a patient how Invisalign works

Like many dental treatments, multiple factors must be considered when determining how much Invisalign costs. When you visit us for an Invisalign consultation, our dentists will come up with a cost estimate based on the answers to several questions, such as:

  • Will you need to wear aligners on your upper teeth, your lower teeth, or both? Naturally, the fewer aligners you need to wear, the less your treatment will cost.
  • How misaligned are your teeth? Fixing slightly gapped teeth will be easier and less expensive than aligning a severe overbite and multiple crooked teeth.
  • How long will your treatment take? If our dentists discover that you need more aligners than originally planned, your overall costs will increase.

Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club™: Price vs. Value  

woman with Invisalign pointing to her smile

As Invisalign has risen in popularity, so have “do-it-yourself” clear aligner kits like Smile Direct Club™. It may be tempting to save money with these cheaper alternatives, but Invisalign is an investment worth making for several reasons:

  • When you’re responsible for creating your own aligners, there’s the risk of making a mistake and causing your teeth to move in different directions than intended. You might end up worsening your orthodontic problems and having to pay even more money to get them corrected by a professional instead.
  • You won’t have a dentist overseeing your progress every few weeks. If something goes wrong with your treatment, you might not notice until serious damage has been done.
  • If you have a question or concern, you’ll have to deal with a customer service rep who may not be qualified to help you. With Invisalign, all you have to do is call us, and we can provide you with the guidance you need.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Invisalign?

dental insurance form

Your dental insurance provider might cover Invisalign to some degree, but it depends on the details of your specific plan. For example, some plans cover orthodontic work at 50%, but only for patients under the age of 18. Others might only pay for traditional braces, not Invisalign. Our team will gladly help you review your policy and handle the claims filing process for you to ensure you’re getting the most out of your benefits.

Options for Making Invisalign Affordable

dental receptionist shaking a patient’s hand

At Morgan-Hill Dental Care, we offer other ways of helping patients afford Invisalign besides just insurance. Some of our financial options, which you can find on our New Patients page, include:

  • Traditional payment methods – We give a 5% courtesy when patients use cash, check, or debit card, and a 3% courtesy when patients use a credit card.
  • CareCredit – You can split up your treatment costs into monthly chunks with one of these low- to no-interest payment plans.

Invisalign FAQs

Invisalign in Gorham in case on blue background

Before you commit to Invisalign to straighten your smile, you want to be well informed about the treatment and what you can expect. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions that we receive about Invisalign. If you don’t see your question listed below, don’t worry. Our team would be happy to get you the information you’re looking for and set you up with a consultation where you can learn more. Just give us a call!

Does Invisalign Hurt?

No teeth straightening option leaves patients completely free of discomfort, but Invisalign is not painful. It’s smooth, plastic design makes it one of the most comfortable orthodontic treatments out there. When you first get Invisalign, there’s an adjustment period where you may experience slight soreness or discomfort, but this will go away as you become accustomed to the treatment. Invisalign works by gradually shifting your teeth with a series of aligners, so whenever you switch to a new set of aligners, you may experience some pressure, but this just indicates that the treatment is working! To reduce any soreness, over-the-counter medication or a cold compress can be used.

Can You Eat with Invisalign?

One of the greatest advantages of Invisalign is that you don’t need to cut any of your favorite foods out of your diet. Since your aligners are removeable, this makes it possible to eat and clean your teeth with ease. Just keep in mind that you need to remove your aligners before eating. Eating while wearing your Invisalign can damage your aligners and put unnecessary pressure on your teeth. Because of this, the only thing you should be consuming while wearing them is water.

Can You Get Invisalign After Braces?

In many cases, yes! Having braces in the past doesn’t affect your ability to get Invisalign. It all depends on the severity of your misalignment issues and whether or not Invisalign will be able to properly correct them. Braces are better able to correct more severe overbites, underbites, and crossbites than Invisalign. This is why many patients may elect for traditional braces instead. However, if your teeth have become crooked or misaligned years after you completed treatment with braces, Invisalign can usually help. During your initial consultation, it will be determined whether or not Invisalign is the best option for you.

Who is a Candidate for Invisalign?

There are several factors to consider when determining whether or not Invisalign is a good option. Age is the most significant one because the jaw and teeth are still constantly changing and growing from childhood to teen years. Invisalign can be used for any patient who has their full, permanent teeth, so teens can undergo this treatment at as young as 13 years old. It is also important that all patients wear their aligners at least 20 hours a day, so responsibility is a factor as well. Invisalign is able to correct crooked, gapped, and misaligned teeth, but some bite problems may be too severe and require traditional orthodontic treatment.