No matter where you go online, if you’re looking for orthodontic care, you will likely find advertisements for clear aligners. As a matter of fact, you may have noticed that there is a section dedicated to that very thing on this website. Dr. Leland and the team here at Leland Orthodontics want you to have every advantage of information when it comes to choosing your method of treatment, Invisalign or in-house clear aligners can be a great option and have several distinct advantages over traditional braces in many cases.
Often, you’re finding ads for a specific brand of clear aligners, namely, Invisalign. So you’re certainly aware that Invisalign is a very popular treatment option. Chances are, if you’re here, that means you’ve decided that you are, in fact, interested in treatment with clear aligners. But what you’re really wondering is: what is the difference between Invisalign vs in-house clear aligners? Well, that’s what this post is all about!
Differences between Invisalign & clear aligners
When we talk about clear aligner therapy (that’s CAT for short), we’re discussing exactly the same sort of treatment as with Invisalign. This means you’ll wear your aligners for generally 22 hours out of the day. But why aren’t we just saying Invisalign?
Well, it turns out that even though Invisalign is often used to refer to clear aligner therapy in general, it’s actually a specific product name. This is similar to terms such as Kleenex or Band-Aid, where one brand has become synonymous with the product itself. In fact, in some parts of the country, once you say, ‘I’d like a coke,’ you’re really just saying, ‘I’d like a soft drink.’ You then have to specify what sort of “coke” you’d actually prefer!
It’s easy to be confused by all of the technical terminology, marketing language, as well as trademarks and branding. You might be excused to imagine that Invisalign was the only clear aligner available! Of course, that isn’t the case, and it turns out that the differences between a major brand such as Invisalign and the clear aligners produced for you in-house here at Leland Orthodontics really aren’t related to the quality of care at all. When it comes down to it, for Invisalign, you’ll be paying for two things:
- All the great advantages of clear aligners, such as their low profile, ease of use, ability to be removed for mealtime and cleaning, etc.
- You’re paying for the brand name associated with Invisalign, as well as covering the costs of marketing across the world.
It doesn’t take long to realize that there are some pretty great advantages to choosing quality in-house aligners custom-made for you here at Leland Orthodontics! Why pay for the costs of marketing all across the United States and the world at large when you’re right here in Reno, the same as us? It doesn’t make much sense, does it?
How Do Clear Aligners Work?
To start with, you’ll come into Leland Orthodontics for a free consultation. Then, Dr. Leland and our skilled team will leverage the latest imaging technology to take a detailed scan of your teeth and jaw, at which point he will determine if clear aligners are right for you.
Clear aligners work in exactly the same way as a course of Invisalign treatment. That is to say; you’ll come into Leland Orthodontics, at which point Dr. Leland will take a detailed scan of your teeth and jaws using a powerful 3-D scanning tool. Using the power of the 3-D scanner, Dr. Leland will then be able to customize a course of treatment in which individually crafted aligning trays made of nearly invisible polyurethane plastic gently guide your teeth into the appropriate positions. The teeth find their way to the appropriate spot via the application of gentle, consistent pressure over time.
Aren’t aligners only for mild cases?
Wrong! While every smile is different, and there are cases in which traditional metal braces are more appropriate to unlock your best possible smile, clear aligners are much more flexible than many think when treating moderate to complex cases.
Invisalign has been around for over 20 years. Thousands of case studies of missing teeth, extractions, surgery, corrections of bad bites, and more have been successfully treated with Invisalign!
I’m cleared for aligners: now what?
Now Dr. Leland will print your first set of clear aligning trays, and your treatment can get started! He’s developed an individual treatment plan to ensure the best possible outcome for your treatment. After about two weeks, you’ll come back for a new set of aligners, making tiny micro-adjustments to your teeth, bringing them closer and closer to your perfect smile!
The process will repeat every two weeks, and after what generally runs from 9-15 months, you’ll be finished!
The choice is clear, Give us a call!
You’ve taken the time to learn about the differences between Invisalign and our in-house clear aligners. Now there’s just one thing to do – give us a call! Here at Leland Orthodontics of Reno, we’re proud to offer state-of-the-art orthodontic treatment, and that means fast, efficient, and effective clear aligner therapy.
Consultations are always free, so there’s nothing standing in the way of your new smile.
