Invisalign clear aligners can handle nearly all typical teeth-straightening issues.
Having crooked, crowded or gapped teeth can be embarrassing, sometimes painful and often uncomfortable. Generally speaking, when you speak to a dentist, he or she may recommend treating your orthodontic problem with years of uncomfortable and unattractive metal braces. This is the biggest distraction for patients to fix their teeth and enjoy a perfectly aligned smile but here at John W. Schulz, D.D.S., we want you to know there is a modern way to straighten teeth and even correct misaligned bites without the use of traditional braces. We use Invisalign®!
If you have gapped teeth, an overbite, underbite, open bite, crossbite or overly crowded teeth, Invisalign® may work for you! Call us at 415.731.9300 or request an appointment online to come into the San Francisco dental office of John W. Schulz, D.D.S.. We would love to be able to discuss an Invisalign® plan specific to you and get you well on your way to a beautiful straight smile!
The Invisalign Process
- Treatment Plan
We will thoroughly evaluate the condition of your teeth by visual inspection as well as taking precise radiographs. This will allow us to determine how to best position your teeth, step-by-step throughout the Invisalign process. - Custom Aligners
A high-tech Invisalign lab designs a series of clear Invisalign aligners based upon the exact requirements needed to treat your specific case. - Wear A New Aligner Every 2 Weeks
Depending on your specific situation, the exact time between changing aligners can vary but generally speaking, you will wear your aligners every day (about 20-22 hours a day) and start wearing the next set of aligners approximately every two weeks. - The Big Reveal
During the final days of wearing your last aligner, congratulations; you have now achieved the beautiful straight smile you were after! IT IS POSSIBLE. Call us at 415.731.9300 and let John W. Schulz, D.D.S. prove to you that Invisalign can work for you.
Treatment comparison chart, See how other treatment options stack up to Invisalign® treatment.
Merely choosing to transform your smile is a big step.
The next move is choosing the best way for you to do it. See why 6 million people have picked Invisalign clear aligners.
| Invisalign Clear Aligners | Other Clear Aligners | Traditional Braces | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifestyle | |||
| Easily removable for eating and drinking | ✓ | ✓ | • |
| No emergency visits for broken brackets and wires | ✓ | ✓ | • |
| Appearance | |||
| Virtually invisible | ✓ | ✓ | • |
| Hygiene | |||
| Easily removable, so you can keep brushing and flossing as usual | ✓ | ✓ | • |
| Material | |||
| Made from SmartTrack® material, for more predictable, controlled tooth movements1 | ✓ | • | • |
| Made from off-the-shelf plastic | • | ✓ | • |
| Made from traditional metal brackets and wires | • | • | ✓ |
| Comfort | |||
| Every aligner is trimmed based on each user's gum line for better comfort and appearance | ✓ | • | • |
| Tracking | |||
| Blue compliance indicator makes it easy to ensure teens wear aligners enough | ✓ | • | • |
| Payment | |||
| Covered by many orthodontic insurance plans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Backed by the Invisalign Teen Guarantee: if you’re unsatisfied with treatment within the first six months, you can switch to braces at no additional cost. | ✓ | • | • |
Invisalign to the Rescue
Invisalign® corrects many orthodontic issues without the hassles of traditional braces. This means no unattractive metal wire, no uncomfortable glued-on brackets and no annoying rubber bands that can leave your mouth sore. Invisalign® uses a series of clear and custom-fit removable aligners; we are able to straighten your teeth in no time. In most cases, Invisalign® treatment takes about a year.
Did we mention Invisalign® is removable?
Because the aligners used in the Invisalign® treatment process are removable, you can eat the foods you love to eat (steak, corn and bubble-gum don't mix well with traditional braces). Additionally, when you need to brush and floss, you don't have to buy special tooth brushes and flossers designed to fit between the wires and brackets of braces. The full course of treatment involves changing the Invisalign® aligners approximately every two weeks, moving your teeth into straighter position step-by-step, until you have a more beautiful smile.
How Long Does the Invisalign® Treatment Take?
As with every dental procedure, the current condition of your teeth will play a role in determining just how long treatment will take.
For best results, we recommend you wear your Invisalign® aligners for 20-22 hours per day throughout the entire treatment process. In most cases, adults can experience full treatment and a straight smile in as little as one year. For teens, the length of treatment is comparable to that of traditional braces.
The total time you wear your Invisalign® aligners will seem to fly by since you will be able to see your smile literally transform every time you change to the next set of aligners.
How Affordable is Invisalign?
The total cost of Invisalign® treatment is similar to that of traditional braces. Many dental insurance plans cover Invisalign® treatment just as they would with regular metal braces. Every unique case has many different factors that can all affect total treatment cost so it's extremely difficult to put a price tag on custom treatment plans.
John W. Schulz, D.D.S. can do all the leg-work for you and will check with your dental insurance provider to see just how much they will cover.
Call our office at 415.731.9300 or request an appointment and come in to be evaluated. Only then will we be able to quote an Invisalign® treatment plan, work with your insurance and talk about available payment options. We will make sure there is no guessing and you know how much your specific treatment will be. Most patients are amazed at just how affordable and easy it is to obtain a straighter smile!
Whiten Your Teeth While Straightening
