Everyone desires well-aligned straight teeth because they make you look attractive when you smile. Only a few people can have this gift, while others live with whatever they have or look for options to transform them. Do you belong to the last group of people? Your primary motivation can be a cosmetic enhancement, but it can do more than this and improve your oral health. If you have misaligned teeth, you can rectify them through modern clear braces like Invisalign. The jaws can feel more aligned; tooth injury risk decreases significantly, and so on. Plus, you can clean your teeth hassle-free after this treatment. And as you know, dental hygiene issues lead to gum disease and painful conditions. With this one treatment, you can prevent many of these challenges.
Overview of Invisalign
In this procedure, you get custom-fit clear aligner sets for use. The aligner trays tend to be transparent plastic, resting on your teeth without drawing much attention. Teens and adults can ditch traditional braces for this one. Your dentist or orthodontist will examine your dental health to determine its efficacy. They will need your teeth X-rays, images, and impressions. Once the aligners are ready, your dentist will guide you about their usage. Follow their instructions thoroughly. If you do, your teeth will align slowly and gradually into the desired position. The procedure can be 9 to 18 months long, based on a patient’s response. Continuous monitoring by your dentist will ensure you get the best result. As mentioned, the length of the treatment can be about one year, and some severe cases may need more time. Nevertheless, your dentist will give you an estimate.
At the same time, they may recommend you wear your braces for about 20 to 22 hours a day. You can remove them only when you eat, brush, and floss. Keeping your teeth and aligners properly clean is essential.
Invisalign cost and insurance coverage
How much does Invisalign cost in Woodbury? The average cost can vary from USD$3500 to 8000. Unfortunately, many insurance companies don’t cover this dental treatment expense because it comes under cosmetic dentistry. Still, it’s better to research your options well unless you find a proper solution to your budget issues. Discuss the cost with your orthodontist or dentist to figure out if they have any financing options. Or, it could be great if they designed payment plans to make the procedure more affordable. Conversely, you can keep looking at other avenues to arrange the fund.
Some experts believe Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) can help lower dental treatment expenses. FSAs are usually employer-owned accounts, but employees can use the funds. The savings account accumulates money from a small part of your salary and your employer’s contributions. You can use the funds to cover your approved medical bills. Your tax liability may also be less. However, the question remains – does it protect your Invisalign cost? As per the IRS, FSA funds can take care of the bills associated with dental procedures sought for treatment or prevention of disease. If it helps your oral health, the treatment can be eligible for funds. However, the challenge is cosmetic procedures cannot use these funds. So, what’s the option?
Interestingly, orthodontic treatments are still a grey area as they can be purely cosmetic or serve a medical necessity. So, it depends. You can learn about it after applying for approval. Suppose you have an underbite, overbite, or crowding issue. All these can lead to tooth decay. Invisalign can prevent this risk. At the same time, it can also rectify tooth misalignment to help you eat your meals smoothly. In these areas, opting for this specific treatment is primarily a medical necessity. Hence, there can be a chance to get approval. But it will be out of reach if the crowding or spacing issues are mild or moderate. After all, these may hamper your smile’s beauty but don’t threaten your dental health.
Another critical point is that you cannot use FSA funds to cover your Invisalign bills if your insurance carrier covers the entire cost. However, you can access the account to pay the balance amount, if any.
Expectations from Invisalign treatment
As usual, an initial discussion will happen with your dentist, who offers Invisalign services. They will examine your oral health and inform you whether this treatment can benefit you. When the treatment begins, you will receive your custom aligner trays, which you must wear daily for about 20 to 22 hours. The old sets will need replacement after every two weeks or as your dentist recommends. It’s necessary because your tooth would have moved a little. Based on your response to the treatment, the teeth will gradually get to their desired position in about a year or more. If you want to try this treatment, discuss all your dental issues and goals with your dentist. It will help them design a proper treatment for your needs.
Once you start wearing the aligners, you must take more care of dental hygiene. Regular teeth cleaning should become your habit. Aligner trays should also be clean to avoid bacteria and plaque issues. Some people become impatient and expect overnight changes in their teeth. Please have a realistic approach. Also, severely misaligned teeth may not benefit much from this treatment. Metal braces can be the only choice. So, if your dentist explains this, you must pay attention to them rather than having any assumptions.
Cosmetic dental treatments are also critical as any other dental procedure. While these may not have to do much with the functions of the teeth, cosmetic dental methods correct your smile to boost your confidence. These can make your daily teeth cleaning ritual more comfortable, ensuring maximum hygiene. If you have a budget, you may not need to think twice about it. In other situations, you will want to secure funds to pay the bill. As hinted earlier, look into all the resources to figure out how to lower your cost. Talk to your dentist also if they have any suggestions.