At our cosmetic dental office in Anchorage, we specialize in enhancing your smile with the latest in orthodontic technology. Invisalign is the ideal solution for those who want to straighten their teeth without the discomfort and appearance of traditional braces. Whether you are looking to improve your smile for personal confidence or functional reasons, Invisalign offers a discreet and effective treatment option that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle.

What Is Invisalign?

Introduced in 1999, Invisalign is a modern method for straightening teeth without metal brackets or wires. Instead, it uses clear, BPA-free plastic aligners in a specific computer-designed sequence. You will wear each aligner for 1-2 weeks to move your teeth a small amount, then switch to the next one in the sequence. When you finish the sequence of aligners, your teeth will be straight.

Invisalign-Logo

Benefits of Invisalign

More than 17 million people, including nearly 5 million teens, have had Invisalign since its introduction. Invisalign has become so popular because it offers many benefits.

Nearly Invisible Teeth Straightening

The clear plastic aligners are so discreet that people might not notice you’re wearing them, even if you’re having a close, face-to-face conversation. 

Removable Aligners

Invisalign aligners are also removable–you can take them out whenever you need to. This means removing them for eating and cleaning your teeth. You don’t have to give up any food, nor will you have to clean around metal brackets and wires. Plus, you can remove them whenever it’s convenient. Have a photo op or press event and are afraid the high-powered lights will make them show? Remove your aligners for the event. Or take them out when playing sports so you can wear your mouthguard. Just ensure you wear aligners 20-22 hours a day to keep your treatment on track.

A woman smiling showing the difference between Invisalign and braces

More Comfortable Treatment

Invisalign is more comfortable than traditional braces. It doesn’t have wires to poke you or brackets to scrape your cheeks. Plus, each time you move to a new aligner, you’ll experience less discomfort than from a tightening appointment with traditional braces. By dividing the movements into more steps, Invisalign uses less force at each step (more below). Less force means less soreness. 

Less Time at the Dentist

Invisalign isn’t just convenient because it’s removable–it’s convenient because you’ll spend less time at the dentist. First, you’ll make fewer visits to our dental office because you can go from one set of aligners to the next at home when it’s time. The visit will be shorter when you visit our office because we aren’t changing elastics or wires. We just give you a quick checkup and, if all looks good, your next few sets of aligners. 

Whiten Teeth While Straightening

With traditional braces, many people experience tooth staining. This can be because it’s hard to clean around braces. Sometimes, the place where the brackets bond can experience demineralization, leading to unattractive white spots on the teeth. 

However, with Invisalign, you won’t have to worry about problems related to brackets and wires. Instead, you can use your aligners as teeth-whitening trays to get a bright smile while straightening your teeth. 

Fast Treatment

Finally, Invisalign can be faster than traditional braces for some people. In most cases, Invisalign works about as quickly as conventional braces. However, if your teeth are responding well to the treatment, you can cut down your aligner wear from two weeks to one week–cutting your treatment time almost in half!

How Do Clear Braces Work?

Invisalign straightens your teeth using the same principles as traditional braces. Your body is constantly breaking down and rebuilding your bones. By applying consistent forces, orthodontics encourages the body to break down bone more on one side of the tooth and build it up on another, which allows the tooth to move, tilt, or rotate. 

The only difference is that traditional braces use brackets and wires to apply this force. Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners. Each aligner is slightly different, designed to move your teeth just a little bit at a time.

The Invisalign Process

Treatment time depends on how much tooth movement is needed. Most Anchorage Invisalign cases take 12–18 months, though some patients begin to see results in as little as 6 months. However, how long Invisalign takes will ultimately depend on the total number of aligners required, which is determined by the complexity of your case.

At Excellence in Dentistry, your journey begins with a precise 3D digital scan of your teeth. Using advanced Invisalign software, we map out your tooth movements and create a customized treatment plan tailored specifically to your smile goals. One of the most exciting parts for our patients is seeing the 3D preview of their future smile before treatment even begins.

Once your treatment plan is approved, it’s sent to the Invisalign lab, where your aligners are crafted. You’ll change aligners approximately every one to two weeks, depending on your case, but you’ll only need to visit our Anchorage office about every six weeks for progress checks and adjustments.

When treatment is complete, you’ll transition to wearing a retainer to preserve your results. Initially, retainers are worn as frequently as your aligners, then gradually tapered down to just nighttime wear to help ensure your smile stays beautifully aligned for years to come.

Common Invisalign Questions

Invisalign treatment in Anchorage typically ranges from $3,500 to $7,000, depending on case complexity. Many dental insurance plans that cover orthodontics may also partially cover Invisalign. Most dental offices will help you understand your benefits and offer payment plans or financing options to make treatment more manageable.

Some patients experience mild pressure or discomfort during the first few days of wearing a new set of aligners. However, this sensation usually fades quickly, and most Anchorage patients find Invisalign much more comfortable than traditional braces.

You’ll typically visit your Anchorage Invisalign provider every 6–8 weeks to monitor progress and receive your next sets of aligners.

Aligners must be removed when eating or drinking anything besides water. This keeps them clear, unstained, and free from damage. Always brush your teeth before putting them back in.

Invisalign is ideal for many adults and teens with mild to moderate issues like crowding, gaps, overbites, underbites, and crossbites. Schedule a consultation in Anchorage to find out if Invisalign is right for you.

Get Invisalign in Anchorage Today

A hassle-free, nearly invisible, and removable orthodontic treatment option should put a smile on your face! So, why the wait? Call us at (907) 349-0022 and reserve some time at the Anchorage dental office of Excellence in Dentistry today!