Invisalign is an innovative approach to orthodontic treatment that does away with the metal brackets and wires of traditional braces and instead uses a series of clear plastic aligners to gently reposition your teeth over time. Most patients are familiar with the Invisalign system, but not as many know about Invisalign Express. Here are answers to some of the questions you might have.
What is Invisalign Express?
According to Invisalign, the average treatment time with their aligners is 12 to 18 months. Invisalign Express shortens that treatment time to as little as six months. The caveat? Not every patient is a fit for this system. When you come into our office to meet with one of our doctors for a consultation, we’ll let you know if Invisalign Express is an option for you or if you’d be better served by a more traditional Invisalign treatment plan.
What is the difference between Invisalign and Invisalign Express?
A typical, or “full,” Invisalign treatment usually requires anywhere from 20 to 30 aligners in order to correct your bite and straighten your teeth. Invisalign Express uses 10 aligners or less. Other than this, Invisalign and Invisalign Express are the same—we perform the same kinds of treatment planning, your aligners will be exactly the same, and they work the same way.
Is Invisalign Express safe?
This is an excellent question! You may have heard stories about people who tried to rush through their aligners on their own to speed up their Invisalign treatment and ended up causing damage to their teeth and gums. Invisalign Express isn’t attempting to perform 18 months of treatment in six months’ time—it’s a system specifically designed for minor orthodontic issues that don’t require lengthy treatment.
Is Invisalign Express less expensive than Invisalign?
Yes, because there’s a shorter treatment time and fewer aligners needed, Invisalign Express costs less than the standard Invisalign system.
Am I a candidate for Invisalign Express?
As you might guess by the treatment time and the number of aligners, Invisalign Express is designed for patients who have minor orthodontic issues that can be corrected quickly. More severe bite issues need to be treated with the traditional Invisalign system. Invisalign Express is a popular treatment option for patients who had braces when they were younger and didn’t wear their retainers, causing some of their crowding and spacing issues to return.
That’s disappointing. Is there another way for me to speed up my Invisalign treatment?
Yes! At Metrowest Prosthodontics, we offer Propel Orthodontics, a unique treatment that safely accelerates the movements of your teeth. Patients who use Propel Orthodontics with Invisalign can shorten their time in aligners, sometimes even achieving their results in half the time. This means that with Propel, the length of your treatment could possibly be similar to that of Invisalign Express, even if you need the standard number of aligners.
Learn More About Invisalign Express
If you’d like to learn more about Invisalign Express, contact us today at 508-620-6622 to schedule a consultation.