Invisalign in Irvine

Invisalign is a brand of clear aligners: thin, removable plastic trays custom made for your teeth. You wear a series of them, and each set moves your teeth a small step toward the planned position. At Sand Canyon Dental in Irvine, our dentists plan and check Invisalign treatment for adults and teens.

After an exam, your dentist plans how each tooth should move and orders a series of custom aligners. You wear each set as directed, then switch to the next one. Progress visits at our office on Sand Canyon Avenue confirm your teeth are moving as planned, and a retainer holds the result once treatment ends.

Invisalign works well for many cases of crowding, gaps, crooked teeth and mild to moderate bite problems in adults and in teens whose permanent teeth have come in. Some complex bites do better with braces. At your free consultation we check your teeth, bite and gum health and tell you honestly which option fits you.

It depends on how far your teeth need to move. According to Invisalign, treatment can be completed in as little as 6 months for simpler cases, and more involved cases take longer. Your dentist gives you a personal timeline at your consultation. Wearing your aligners as directed is the biggest factor in finishing on schedule.

Invisalign recommends wearing your aligners 20 to 22 hours a day. Take them out only to eat, to drink anything other than water, and to brush and floss, then put them right back in.

Every case is priced individually after an exam, based on how much your teeth need to move, the length of treatment, whether refinements are needed, and any dental work needed first. Invisalign says its treatment often costs about the same as traditional braces. At Sand Canyon Dental the consultation is free, you get $500 toward treatment when you start, and we explain the full cost and payment options before you commit.

Many PPO plans include orthodontic benefits that can be used for Invisalign, usually up to a lifetime maximum. Invisalign reports that plans with orthodontic coverage paid an average of about $1,772. We work with most PPO plans, including Delta Dental, and check your orthodontic benefits before you start. Patients without coverage can ask about our in-house plan and payment options.

Yes. Your first Invisalign visit costs nothing and has no obligation. We examine your teeth and bite, explain whether aligners or braces suit you, and give you a clear price. If you decide to start, $500 is credited toward your treatment. The credit applies to the patient-paid portion and can't be combined with other promotions.

Neither is better for everyone. Invisalign aligners are clear and removable, so eating, brushing and flossing stay simple, but they only work if you wear them consistently. Braces are fixed to the teeth and can handle some complex movements more easily. We recommend whichever will give you the best result.

Yes. Adults of any age can straighten their teeth with Invisalign as long as their teeth and gums are healthy. Because the aligners are clear and removable, they fit easily into work and social life, and our evening appointments until 7 PM on Mondays and Thursdays make progress visits easier to schedule.

Yes, once the permanent teeth have come in. Teens need to wear their aligners 20 to 22 hours a day, so we talk with parents and teens about the routine before starting. If braces would suit a teen's bite better, we will say so.

Yes. Teeth tend to drift back toward their old positions after any orthodontic treatment, so a retainer is part of every Invisalign plan. Your dentist will explain how often to wear it to keep your new smile in place.