Invisalign in North York

About the service

Invisalign is a brand of clear aligner. Aligners are thin trays made of clear plastic or acrylic, custom-shaped to your teeth, that look something like clear mouthguards. They are one way of straightening teeth other than braces.

Aligners come in a series. Worn full time, the series moves your teeth gradually toward their desired positions (a recommendation published in the ODA's patient magazine is 22 hours a day, explained below). Like braces and other orthodontic appliances, aligners rely on pressure on the teeth, which over a number of months or years can move them into the right position.

Ur Dental offers Invisalign at its Bathurst and Steeles clinic in North York.

When is Invisalign recommended?

The Ontario Dental Association (ODA) lists clear aligners and Invisalign among the orthodontic treatments that may be suggested, alone or combined with others, depending on the extent of the bite problem.

The ODA notes that crowded or crooked teeth are more difficult to keep clean and may be more prone to cavities and gum disease, and that a bad bite can make chewing hard and wear some teeth down.

Teeth can be moved at any age, and more adults are having orthodontic treatment. An orthodontist quoted in the ODA's patient magazine described Invisalign aligners as an alternative to braces for some of his teenage and adult patients. Whether it is right for you is decided by a dentist, or by an orthodontist if you are referred to one.

What happens before treatment starts?

An examination comes first. Before any treatment starts, the dentist reviews your medical history and any symptoms and examines your mouth. A thorough dental examination includes X-rays, and any existing dental problems need to be treated before a procedure is considered.

After the examination, the dentist goes over your treatment options with you, and you can always seek a second opinion on a proposed plan.

Is everyone a candidate for Invisalign?

Not always. The ODA notes that people with short or unhealthy tooth roots may not be good candidates for treatment that moves teeth. After a sports injury or accident, teeth and bone can also fuse together without causing any problem until someone tries to move the teeth. Only a dentist reviewing X-rays can confirm either.

Conditions such as osteoporosis or arthritis, and some medications, can have a negative effect on how a dental procedure turns out, so tell your dentist about your health and any medicines you take.

How do you wear Invisalign aligners?

Aligners work only while they are in your mouth. A recommendation published in the ODA's patient magazine is to wear them 22 hours a day and ideally to take them out only when you eat, when you brush your teeth and the aligners, and when you drink something other than water.

Leave them out for long periods and the teeth that were straightening move back to where they were. Because you can take aligners out, keeping to the daily-wear instructions you are given is your part of the treatment.

How long does Invisalign take, and how many visits?

Treatment time varies. According to the ODA, orthodontic treatment means regular visits over a period of months to years. How long yours takes depends on your age, the seriousness of the problem and the technique used, and adults generally need longer than children or teenagers.

After your examination, ask your dentist how many visits and how much time your treatment is likely to need.

Will my teeth feel sore during treatment?

The ODA's patient magazine attributes tooth discomfort during orthodontic treatment to an inflammatory process. The same source describes soreness after appointments for braces but does not describe discomfort with aligners, so ask your dentist what to expect with aligners and what to do if your teeth feel sore.

How do I look after my teeth during treatment?

The ODA says it is essential to keep up good oral hygiene throughout orthodontic treatment. Aligners have to come out for brushing and flossing, and the aligners themselves need brushing too.

Keep seeing your dentist regularly for cleanings and check-ups while your teeth are being straightened.

If a problem comes up during treatment, call the clinic during opening hours, listed further down this page. The ODA notes that a patient treated by a dentist licensed in Ontario can go back to that dentist to resolve any issues.

What happens when the aligners are finished?

You move on to a retainer. Retainers are essential once the active part of treatment (the aligners) ends: they help hold the teeth in their new position and stop them moving back. The ODA says retainers must be worn for life, because teeth can keep moving throughout your life after orthodontic treatment.

A retainer may be removable or fixed in place with orthodontic cement, and it must be worn as prescribed. The ODA's patient magazine describes full-time wear for a while, then night-time wear. A retainer that breaks or is lost needs to be replaced.

What are the risks and limitations of Invisalign?

The ODA's patient magazine advises starting orthodontic treatment only after a thorough assessment of its benefits and risks and a thorough discussion with your dentist. Ask about the risks in your own case.

The health factors under "Is everyone a candidate for Invisalign?" also apply here: the health of your tooth roots, teeth fused to bone after an injury, and conditions or medications that can affect the outcome negatively.

Some limitations are known in advance: aligners move teeth only while they are worn, teeth can keep moving after treatment ends, which is why retainers are needed for life, and in some cases permanent teeth may need to be removed as part of orthodontic treatment.

What are the alternatives to Invisalign?

There is usually more than one option, and the ODA says you should know what is available, why a particular option is recommended, and the benefits and risks of each.

Braces are another approach: brackets made of metal or tooth-coloured ceramic, with wires threaded through them that move the teeth and are adjusted from time to time. The Canadian Dental Association notes that braces today are smaller and less noticeable.

Ask your dentist which of these options could suit your bite.

Who provides Invisalign, and when is a referral made?

The ODA says your dentist may provide basic orthodontic treatment or refer you to an orthodontist. An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed post-graduate specialty training in orthodontics, and can also correct more complex conditions such as overbites and underbites, misaligned teeth and jaws, and crowding and spacing problems.

Orthodontics is one of the 11 dental specialties recognized by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO), and a dentist may not imply that they are a specialist without a specialty certificate. You can check whether any Ontario dentist is a general dentist or a certified specialist on the RCDSO's public register, Find a Dentist.

How are fees for Invisalign set?

This page does not list prices. The ODA publishes an annual Suggested Fee Guide of dental services, with codes and suggested fees, that dentists and plan providers may use as a reference. Dentists are not required to follow it: they set their own fees, which may be above or below the guide, and the RCDSO says they must tell you if they intend to charge more than it.

Fees reflect factors such as the complexity of the treatment, the time it takes, and the materials and specialized equipment used. The ODA notes that orthodontic appliances are among the items that involve a commercial laboratory charge in addition to the dentist's fee, and that the laboratory charge passed on to you is exactly what the laboratory charged.

After examining you, the dentist gives you an estimate before going ahead; costs can still change during treatment. The RCDSO says the estimate should include additional treatment such as a retainer for after the aligners, and that for complicated plans dentists should consider a written financial agreement setting out the total fee, laboratory fee, payment schedule and what happens if treatment stops.

A dental plan may not cover a treatment even when it is necessary. Your dentist can submit a pre-treatment form so the plan issues a predetermination of benefits: an advance statement of what it may cover, which is not a promise that it will.