Everyone knows that looking after your teeth is an incredibly important task that one must attend to. While we’re not here to reiterate the importance of teeth brushing, visiting your dentist and/or Orthodontist, coupled with basic teeth maintenance, is incredibly important to your health.

So if you’re a stickler for healthy gums and a good smile, but perhaps want to fix minor (or major) flaws with your teeth and/or smile, there’s a little industry secret that is changing smiles forever: Invisalign. 

If you had shonky teeth growing up – bucked, crooked, misaligned, overbite – you’ll know the pain (and embarrassment) of having to go down the path of wired braces to fix any dental problems.

Whilst wired braces are important and have their place in the orthodontic world, they hurt, they were cumbersome, and above all, unsightly. 

Enter, Invisalign.

Invisalign

Google ‘Invisalign’ and you will spiral down a rabbit hole of success cases, genuine praise and utter disbelief in just how good, seamless and affordable Invisalign can be.

How could these clear aligners (as they are called), which are completely discreet and unnoticeable, change your teeth and smile in such a short amount of time? And without the pain, hassle and fuss of a wired metal brace that those with bad teeth grew accustomed to?

Leading the Invisalign revolution here in Melbourne, Lavrin and Lawrence Orthodontics in Melbourne’s CBD are specialists in those looking to enter the world of Invisalign.  

As soon as you enter the doors of L&L Orthodontics, all preconceived notions you might have had of Orthodontists – you know, a little stuffy, a little old and a little scary – dissipate. L&L is a testament to the fact that modern, hip and inviting Orthodontists do exist. Walking into its light-filled waiting room, you’ll hear current pop songs playing on the radio, you’ll be welcomed by the friendly staff members and you can even help yourself to a coffee or tea whilst you wait. 

But we digress.

An initial consultation at L&L is hassle-free, pain-free and worry-free. After a thorough review and check-up from Dr. Lavrin himself, it will be determined whether Invisalign would be a suitable treatment for your teeth, and if so, which plan will suffice. 

There are three types of Invisalign treatment options, including Invisalign Express, for patients who need minor adjustments in a short amount of time; Invisalign Lite, for patients who need minor straightening or correction; and Invisalign Comprehensive, the full Invisalign treatment, much like you would have with braces.

After your plan is determined, your treatment will commence six weeks after your initial consult. Tiny, invisible rivets may be added to your teeth to help the realignment of your teeth (together with the clear aligners), and within the space of one hour, you will be completely fitted with your new Invisalign clear aligners by the friendly staff at L&L, as well as given a box of clear aligners for the number of weeks determined by your Orthodontists.

Orthodontics has come a long way in recent years, and Invisalign is one of the breakthroughs that is really changing dentistry. Of course, technology plays a big part in the success of Invisalign, so we were surprised when the team at L&L said that they monitor all Invisalign journeys via the Home Monitoring App – no need for a fortnightly visit to the Orthodontist!

The Home Monitoring App works seamlessly on your iPhone or Android, and it is basically an app that will take photos of the progress of your journey, together with the help of the ‘Scan Box’ – the device that assists you in taking correct imagery of your teeth for your Orthodontist to review.

If all looks good, every week or fortnight, you will be told to either move forward with your next set of Invisalign aligners or you will be told to remain on your current set of aligners if things aren’t looking as they should.

How much does Invisalign cost?

The cost of Invisalign depends on the plan that is determined for you. Generally speaking, Invisalign costs can range between $1,800 to $9,500, depending on the complexity of the problem.

How effective is Invisalign treatment?

Invisalign isn’t a new service and has been around since the early 2000s. Some Orthodontists, like L&L,  are registered Black Diamond Invisalign experts which recognises the experience they have of using Invisalign aligners. Invisalign can be suitable for children, teens and adults, and in each case, they’re comfortable to wear because they’re custom made to the shape of your teeth and jaws.

The perfect fit is achieved by technological means, such as the iTero Intraoral Digital scanner, which guarantees an accurate 3D scan of your teeth from which to create your custom aligners. This custom-fit also means they’re effective and can achieve results faster than many traditional orthodontic appliances.

Benefits of Invisalign treatment

There are many benefits to Invisalign treatment, such as:

  • Discreet – Invisalign aligners are made of thin, clear plastic so they are almost invisible. They are great for people who are concerned about their appearance during treatment.
  • Hygienic – It’s easy to keep up with your teeth cleaning routine if you’re having Invisalign treatment.
  • Comfortable – Invisalign aligners are customised to the shape of your teeth and jaws so are comfortable to wear. They also have no metal or pokey wires to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.

Do clear aligners hurt?

While the process of re-aligning your teeth does come with some level of discomfort at first, Invisalign clear aligners do not hurt. The most uncomfortable moments you may face when using Invisalign comes when switching from one set of aligners to the next, as your teeth have spent some time slowly moving and growing used to them. After the first day of a new set, you’ll hardly notice any difference.

Final thoughts?

Ultimately, if you decide to venture down the process of Invisalign, you’ll soon come to find it to be super hassle-free, friendly and welcoming as opposed to traditional means of orthodontics.

To find out more and to book your consultation, head to landlortho.com.au

Disclaimer: the writer of this article received a discounted treatment in order to carry out this review