How to Find a Great Invisalign Dentist in New York
Over 4 million people in the United States wear braces. A quarter of them are adults.
But what do you do if you're an adult who isn't too keen on the idea of "train tracks"? Do you live with crooked teeth or is there another option?
Fortunately, with newfound dental technology, there are several alternatives to traditional braces. One very popular alternative is Invisalign, which allows you to straighten your teeth by wearing a series of trays.
In this article, we'll talk about how to find the best dentist for Invisalign in New York, or wherever you may live.
What is Invisalign?
In order to choose the best dentist or orthodontist to help you with your Invisalign journey, you need to understand what Invisalign actually is.
Instead of braces, Invisalign uses custom trays that look similar to those you may use to whiten your teeth. The dentist or orthodontist will create custom trays you'll switch out on a certain schedule.
The trays are made of a hard thermoplastic material that looks almost invisible on a patient's teeth. In most cases, you'll need to take them out to eat, but otherwise, the trays will be kept in both during the day and whilst you sleep.
A dentist or orthodontist will guide you through the process and help mold your teeth to how you want them to be.
Next, we'll discuss how to choose the best dental professional for your Invisalign needs.
Choose a Dentist or Orthodontist Who Has Experience with Invisalign
When choosing a dentist or orthodontist on your Invisalign journey, you'll need to choose someone who has had prior experience with Invisalign.
While the system itself isn't incredibly complex, you don't want to choose a dentist or orthodontist who is just now using it. Instead, you'll want someone who feels confident with the system and has done it many times before.
Use Invisalign's Site
Invisalign provides you with the information necessary to see if your dentist or orthodontist is certified to use Invisalign. The website will also tell you how much experience the individual has with Invisalign through a series of categories.
While the categories will tell you how much experience a practice has with Invisalign, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are experts. While you want someone with a fair amount of experience, you also want someone that provides good service and great patient results.
Look at Previous Patients' Results
You wouldn't want to get a tattoo if you had no idea what kind of work the tattoo artist did. Similarly, you wouldn't want to have orthodontic work done if you've never seen the work the practice has produced.
Just like cosmetic surgeons, most orthodontists or dentists will have "before" and "after" photos you can look at. Browse through the practice's photos and make sure you like the results they have provided patients with in the past.
Discuss Dentists and Orthodontists Who Do Invisalign in New York with Friends and Family
Friends and family can often give you great recommendations. If individuals you know have had Invisalign in the past, ask them who did their treatment. Discuss with them how satisfied they were and whether they felt as though their money was well spent.
A friend or family member is likely to give you more of an honest review than someone from the Internet. Internet reviews are often swayed due to incentives for positive reviews.
Negative reviews may also come about due to a personal issue with someone at the practice. They can also be outliers, which aren't representative of how most patients feel about their treatment.
Go to a Consultation
Before you commit to the Invisalign system, you should speak to a doctor in person. He or she can evaluate your dental issues and discuss a plan of action for you.
You should remember that before you decide to work with a dentist or orthodontist, you need to feel comfortable with them. They will be checking in on you several times throughout the course of your treatment. Your treatment can last for a year or longer, and therefore you'll need to ensure you have established a good rapport with the dentist or orthodontist.
Should I Choose a Dentist or an Orthodontist?
While some people may believe that orthodontists are the only people that can provide Invisalign effectively, this isn't the case any longer. Originally, only dentists provided treatment through Invisalign. However, orthodontists became preferred once the treatment advanced since they were already straightening teeth with old-fashioned braces.
But as technology continues to advance, both dentists and orthodontists can provide the treatment equally as well. There is no need to choose one over the other. Instead, you should focus on their end results, their reputation, whether you feel comfortable with them and the experience they have with the technology.
Am I a Good Candidate for Invisalign?
If you're looking for Invisalign in New York, you may be wondering if you're a good candidate for the system. Some people may even believe that you can only have your teeth straightened as a teen. However, this isn't the case, and almost anyone can benefit from Invisalign treatment.
A dentist or orthodontist in your area will be able to give you the final answer on whether or not you'll benefit from treatment with Invisalign.
If you're interested in receiving Invisalign treatment in the New York City area, contact us today. We can help you evaluate whether the system is for you.