When most people think of Invisalign, they think of it as an option for teens and young adults who want to get straighter teeth without going through the process of traditional braces. And while Invisalign can certainly be used for those purposes and perhaps is most often used for those purposes, this does not mean that it is not a viable option for seniors, too. While many people who have gone through a large portion of their lives with crooked teeth might be content to simply have crooked teeth for the rest of their lives, if you are a senior and you are interested in getting straighter teeth, Invisalign may be an option for you. Here is some information about Invisalign for seniors.
Will Invisalign Work?
One of the reasons that many adults, of any age, believe that they are beyond the help of braces and Invisalign, is because they have been told that as adults, their teeth are fully set in their jaws and can no longer move, and that teenagers, on the other hand, still have malleable enough jaws and teeth, that they can move their teeth and have them reset to a nice, perfect straightness.
The truth is that with the right pressure, you can straighten you teeth at any age. The mechanism is exactly the same. As you put pressure on the teeth, they will slowly, but surely, start to move. As you put in new aligners that give you even more pressure on your teeth, they will continue to move. Whether you have relatively straight teeth already and just want to put a few of your teeth into a more optimal position, or all of your teeth are very crooked and you need a full treatment, Invisalign for seniors is definitely an option for you.
In reality, it is never too late to change the straightness of your teeth. One of the biggest benefits of choosing Invisalign is that unlike braces, which can attract a lot of attention, you can get your teeth straighter, with a mechanism that just about no one is going to notice.
Instead of metal braces, Invisalign uses a series of plastic aligning trays, similar to the retainers given to those who complete braces treatment or the trays used in home teeth whitening treatments. Most people wear each set of trays for two weeks, switching in a new tray. How many sets of trays you need and how long your treatment will actually take will depend entirely on you, your teeth, and your orthodontist.
One of the most common reasons that Invisalign treatment takes longer than anticipated is because the patients are not compliant with the instructions of their orthodontist. If, for example, you do not wear your Invisalign for at least twenty-two hours a day, your treatment is going to take much longer than it would if you did follow those instructions. When you take out your aligners, your teeth will naturally start drifting back to their original position. While taking your aligners out for an hour to eat a meal or a few minutes to clean the aligner is not that big of a deal, if you do not put the aligners right back in, you will not only not be making progress, you can actually be regressing. Your aligners then have to do all of the work they have already done, in addition to doing the additional work they were supposed to do.
What Is the Cost of Invisalign for Seniors?
Your Invisalign cost out of pocket is going to depend on whether or not you have a dental plan. If you are retired, you might not have a robust dental plan anymore and whether or not your plan in general covers treatments like Invisalign or braces is usually up in the air. While these are very common treatments for adolescents and young adults, this is not a very common treatment for seniors, so it simply may not be included in your plan. That said, if it is not included, it is important to note that Invisalign treatment is generally going to be in between $4000 and $8000, depending on the length of treatment.
Some seniors wonder if they can get a discount if they only want their upper or lower teeth straightened, but the truth is that the cost will be the same whether you want both rows straightened or whether you only want on jaw straightened. Before you commit to Invisalign for seniors, ask about a payment plan that might make this treatment more affordable.
Is Invisalign for Seniors a Viable Option for Me?
If you want straighter teeth, Invisalign is a great option for you. Many orthodontists, including Drs. Gemmi and Middleberg, have extensive experience providing Invisalign treatments to adults. This treatment is far from being regulated just to teenagers and young adults. Many offices may actually see more patients over the age of fifty for Invisalign treatments than they see young people. This is because many older people have the means and the credit to actually get this treatment.
If you have always wanted straighter teeth, it is never too late to get those teeth. You can see great cosmetic results with Invisalign, and because it requires none of the brackets and wires that come with traditional braces, it is a much more discrete way to get your teeth straightened. You can get the straighter teeth, without having to worry about the aesthetics of braces at your older age!
