Invisalign Treatment: Orthodontist vs Dentist Pros and Cons

Understanding Invisalign Treatment

Invisalign is a popular clear aligner system that helps straighten teeth without metal braces. It uses a series of custom-made, clear plastic aligners that fit over your teeth and apply light pressure to move them into place gradually.

Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible, which makes them an appealing choice aesthetically over traditional metal braces. They are also removable, allowing you to eat, drink, brush and floss easily during treatment.

Invisalign Treatment Process

The Invisalign process typically follows these steps:

• Consultation appointment to determine if you are a good candidate
• Impressions or scans taken of your teeth
• Custom aligners manufactured and mapped out into treatment plan
• New set of aligners to wear every 1-2 weeks for duration of treatment
• Follow-up appointments to monitor progress
• Average treatment time is 12-18 months

Benefits of Invisalign

Some benefits of Invisalign include:

• Clear and removable - hard to notice you are straightening your teeth
• More comfortable than braces with no brackets or wires
• Ability to brush and floss normally
• Shorter treatment times for less complex cases
• Speak clearly without impediment from wires
• Eat whatever foods you want

Comparing Orthodontists vs Dentists for Invisalign

When considering Invisalign treatment, you can choose to receive care from either an orthodontist or general dentist. Both are qualified to provide Invisalign, but there are some key differences in their education and experience.

Orthodontist Training

After completing 4 years of dental school, orthodontists invest an additional 2-3 years in an orthodontic residency program. This intensive training focuses entirely on diagnosing, preventing and treating irregularities of the teeth and jaw.

As experts in correcting misaligned teeth and jaws, orthodontists are uniquely qualified to create specialized treatment plans and safely move teeth into proper alignment. All orthodontists meet strict specialty certification benchmarks too.

Dentist Training

General dentists receive 4 years of dental school education encompassing all aspects of dentistry - including some orthodontic training. However, they do not complete the intensive residency program in orthodontics like orthodontists do.

Some dentists pursue additional education and training to offer orthodontic treatments like Invisalign in their dental practices. Without the 3 years focused solely on orthodontics, their qualifications are typically not at the advanced level of an orthodontist.

Evaluating Complexity of Your Case

For mild to moderate malocclusion or crowding issues, dentists and orthodontists are both well-equipped to provide Invisalign treatment. However, more complex cases often benefit from the expertise of an orthodontist.

Factors like significant crowding or spacing, overbite or underbite issues, jaw alignment problems, and cases involving both adult and childhood teeth tend to require an orthodontists specialized skills.

Invisalign Treatment from a Dentist vs Orthodontist

What are the key differences you can expect receiving Invisalign treatment from a dentist compared to an orthodontist?

1. Extensive Orthodontic Experience

Having completed an orthodontic residency, orthodontists are uniquely skilled in realigning teeth and jaws. Most orthodontists use a variety of systems like traditional braces, clear aligners and retainers to straighten teeth.

This extensive hands-on expertise with all types of orthodontic treatments allows orthodontists to create highly customized Invisalign treatment plans tailored to each patients unique orthodontic needs.

2. Ability to Treat Complex Cases

Thanks to their advanced specialty training, orthodontists are able to treat more complex cases beyond the scope of a general dentists skills. These include issues like severe crowding or spacing, overbites and underbites, and cases involving a mix of adult and childhood teeth.

Orthodontists have the experience needed to determine the appropriate treatment plan for complex orthodontic issues. This helps ensure the best possible outcome from Invisalign treatment.

3. More Precise Invisalign Treatment Plans

Creating a successful Invisalign treatment plan requires mapping out very precise tooth movements over multiple stages. This level of planning is second nature to orthodontists given their extensive focus on tooth alignment.

Orthodontists are able to design very precise, customized Invisalign treatment plans thanks to their advanced education. This helps maximize results while minimizing treatment time and the number of aligners required.

4. Improved Comfort and Efficiency

From a comfort standpoint, orthodontists tend to provide a smoother Invisalign treatment experience by staging tooth movements in manageable increments. They also have lots of small tricks to make aligners more comfortable and treatment more efficient.

Their deep knowledge of orthodontic principles and mechanics allows them to set up seamless transitions between each set of Invisalign aligners. This helps avoid issues like excess pressure points or emergence of unwanted gaps between certain teeth.

5. Shorter Treatment Times

In general, orthodontists are able to achieve desired treatment results in fewer aligners over a shorter timeframe. Cases treated by a general dentists often require more aligners and longer treatment durations to reach the desired outcome.

This difference highlights the specialized skills and planning expertise that orthodontists possess. Their precision treatment plans help patients finish faster, which is always an advantage.

What is the Cost Difference?

Cost is often a primary factor when deciding between orthodontists and dentists for Invisalign treatment. Overall, you can expect to pay more to have an orthodontist oversee your treatment.

Orthodontist Invisalign Cost

The typical price range for Invisalign under the care of an orthodontist is $3,500 to $8,000. The cost varies based on these key factors:

• Number of aligners required
• Length of treatment plan
• Complexity of your case
• Geographic location and orthodontist rates

More complex cases requiring more aligners over an extended timeframe fall at the higher end of that cost range when treated by an orthodontist.

Dentist Invisalign Cost

Invisalign pricing is typically 15-30% lower when the aligners are provided by a general dentist rather than an orthodontist. The typical dentist price ranges from $2,500 to $6,500 for Invisalign treatment.

Dentists tend to have lower fees across the board for all procedures compared to orthodontists. However, costs can still add up quickly for tricky cases or poor treatment planning requiring many additional aligners.

Which is the Better Option for You?

When weighing the decision of doing Invisalign with a dentist or orthodontist, consider your specific orthodontic needs along with factors like cost and convenience.

Consider Invisalign from an Orthodontist If:

• Your case is complex - severe crowding, spacing or bite issues
• You want to finish fast with minimal aligners
• You have a mix of adult and childhood teeth
• You expect to need other orthodontic treatments after
• Precision planning is a priority over cost

Consider Invisalign from a Dentist If:

• You have mild to moderate alignment issues
• Your regular dentist offers

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.