Considering Invisalign? You might think that you need an orthodontist to get a course of Invisalign treatment. That’s not necessarily the case: Some dentists also specialize in offering Invisalign to their patients.
So, when searching for Invisalign near you, you should look for professionals that are declared Invisalign specialists. In the end, their training and experience with Invisalign is what will matter for a good outcome and a great smile.
So how do you find an Invisalign specialist near you?
Before You Begin, Ask: Is Invisalign Right for You?
Invisalign is a great way to straighten teeth. But it might not be the best way for you. Better to know now, before you waste time on a lengthy search for a specialist.
Invisalign is best for cases where:
- You need mild to moderate tooth movement (for example, for tooth gaps or crowded teeth, mild underbite, overbite, or crossbite)
- You can commit to having the aligner trays in for 22 hours a day
If you do not choose Invisalign, typical alternatives are traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, retainers, and/or headgear.
Finding an Invisalign Specialist: First Steps
First, you will want to find dentists in your area that specialize in Invisalign. We recommend using our Dentist Finder tool as a starting point.
If you can, limit your search to those professionals that offer Invisalign. This will save you time down the road.
It also helps to look at reviews for each office. A quick online search will provide reviews from websites like healthgrades.com, yelp.com, and many others. If you notice consistently strong reviews from happy patients, it’s usually a good indicator. However, if you notice a large number of complaints or negative reviews, that’s not a good sign. (A negative review or two is not necessarily bad—it’s almost impossible to have zero negative reviews, if the reviews are genuine!)
Once you have narrowed your search, get contact information for each office. Your next step will be to call one or more offices to arrange an initial consultation. (Note that the dentist you choose may wish to make the consultation part of a general consultation. He or she may also want to do their Invisalign consultation after a routine cleaning. Get clear on these details on your call.)
The Initial Consultation
Your dentist will be your partner in your Invisalign journey, overseeing each step. Therefore, it pays to find someone with whom you are comfortable. Consider asking these questions as you talk with the dentist:
- What are this office’s hours? Do they have drop-in hours if there is a problem?
- What experience does the dentist have with Invisalign? How many cases do they handle a year? How many years has he or she been offering Invisalign?
- Why did this dentist decide to offer Invisalign? What makes Invisalign a good treatment procedure, in his or her eyes?
- Will the office take your insurance to help cover the cost of Invisalign?
At the same time, the specialist will have some questions for you. You may want to think about some of the answers ahead of time:
- Why do you want to get Invisalign?
- Have you had braces or other teeth straighteners before?
- What are your specific problems? For example, do you have tooth crowding? A bad bite? Spaces or gaps between your teeth?
- Will you be able to wear the aligners for the necessary amount of time per day?
- Do you have any problems with, for example, tooth grinding in your sleep?
Answer these questions honestly, because the answers will help your dentist determine the right course of treatment for you. Working with an Invisalign specialist in an open and honest way will speed up your treatment and ensure a successful outcome.