Invisalign® Clear Aligners in Pine Beach, NJ

We examine your teeth and gums, discuss what you want changed, and take a digital scan of your mouth, no impression trays or putty. If there is untreated decay or gum inflammation, that is dealt with first; aligners move teeth, they do not fix underlying problems.

The scan is used to map the movement of each tooth in sequence. Before you commit, you see a simulation of the projected result and an estimate of how long it will take. This is the point to ask questions, it is far easier to adjust the plan now than midway through.

Each set is worn for roughly one to two weeks before you move to the next. Some patients need small tooth-coloured attachments bonded to a few teeth to give the aligners something to grip; they are removed at the end.

You will come in periodically so we can confirm the teeth are tracking to plan and hand over the next stage of aligners. Visits are short and there are no wires to tighten.

Teeth drift back toward their original positions if nothing holds them. A retainer at the end is not optional; it is what makes the result permanent. This is the single most common reason adults end up needing treatment a second time.

Invisalign is priced by case, because a small amount of movement costs less than a full correction. The main factors are how far your teeth need to travel, how many sets of aligners that takes, and how long treatment lasts. After your digital scan we give you the full figure in writing before you start, with no surprises partway through. Our financial options page explains how payment works.

Many dental plans include an orthodontic benefit that applies to clear aligners, and treatment can usually be paid for from an FSA or HSA. Plans differ, so our front desk checks your specific coverage and tells you what it includes before you decide. Financing is set out on our financial options page, and it is worth asking about current special offers when you book.

Clear aligners work well for crowded or overlapping teeth, gaps, teeth that shifted back after childhood braces, and mild to moderate overbite, underbite or crossbite. Severe bite problems, large rotations and significant root movement can be beyond what aligners do predictably, and braces or an orthodontist referral may suit you better. Dr. Medlenov tells you honestly at the consultation which group your case falls into.

Treatment starts with an exam and a digital scan, with no putty impressions. You see a simulation of the projected result and an estimated timeline before committing. Each set of aligners is worn for roughly one to two weeks, sometimes with small tooth-coloured attachments for grip. Short check-ins confirm your teeth are tracking to plan, and a retainer at the end keeps the result in place.

Most adult cases take somewhere between six and eighteen months. Minor crowding or relapse after childhood braces can finish at the shorter end, while bite correction takes longer. Your projected timeline comes from your own scan rather than an average. Wear time decides whether you hit it: aligners need to be in for twenty to twenty-two hours a day, out only for meals and brushing.

Both straighten teeth. Aligners are close to invisible, come out for meals and make brushing and flossing easier, and they feel tight for a day or so with each new set. Braces cannot be removed, so they work whether or not you are motivated, and they still handle the most severe cases more predictably. Our Invisalign vs braces guide compares them in more depth.

Most patients describe each new set of aligners as feeling tight or full for a day or two before it eases off. That pressure is a sign the teeth are moving, and it rarely interferes with work or daily life. There are no brackets to rub the cheeks and no wires to tighten. Speech can feel slightly different for the first day or two while your tongue adjusts.

Yes. Teeth drift back toward their original positions if nothing holds them, so a retainer at the end of treatment is not optional. It is what makes the result last, and skipping it is the most common reason adults end up needing treatment a second time. Many patients also finish with professional whitening once their teeth are straight.