Why Adults Near Baltimore Choose Invisalign

If you have wanted straighter teeth for years but could not picture yourself in metal braces at work, you are the adult Invisalign was made for. Clear aligners straighten teeth with a series of custom, removable trays instead of brackets and wires, and they are barely noticeable when you wear them. At Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS in Timonium, an Elite Invisalign Provider with more than 35 years in practice, the first question is often whether it is too late. For most adults, it is not.

This article is for grown-ups who put straightening off: what changed since braces were the only option, why adults choose to do it now, what treatment asks of you, and how to pay for it. For a day-by-day picture of wearing aligners, read how clear aligners fit into real life.

Why so many adults waited

Most adults who never straightened their teeth had a good reason at the time. Braces were expensive, they were seen as something for teenagers, and brackets cemented to the teeth were hard to hide in a meeting, a photo or a first conversation with someone new. Some people had braces as a teenager, stopped wearing a retainer and watched their teeth drift back over the years.

None of those reasons makes treatment any less possible later in life. Teeth can move at any age, which is exactly why they shift when nothing holds them in place. What has changed is how visible, how comfortable and how disruptive straightening has to be.

What makes Invisalign the modern path

The old path was brackets, wires and tightening. The modern path is a planned series of clear aligners, each one making a small, controlled movement toward the finished position.

Clear, removable aligners instead of brackets

Each Invisalign aligner is a smooth, custom-fitted tray made of a BPA-free clear material. There is nothing cemented to your teeth and nothing to irritate your cheeks the way brackets can. Because the aligners are clear, most people you talk to will not notice you are in treatment.

You take the aligners out to eat, drink and clean your teeth. That means no list of foods to avoid, and brushing and flossing stay the same as they are now. For many adults that is the deciding difference: treatment fits around a working life instead of the other way round.

A 3D scan instead of a mouthful of impression putty

Invisalign treatment at the Timonium office starts with the iTero Element scanner, which builds a quick, comfortable 3D picture of your teeth. That digital model is what your series of aligners is planned from. You can read more about the scanner and the rest of the office’s equipment on the dental technology page.

A plan with a clear rhythm

Invisalign works on a simple rhythm, and the numbers come from the practice’s own Invisalign page:

• Each set of aligners is worn for about two weeks before you move to the next.
• Aligners are worn at least 22 hours a day, and out only to eat, drink and clean.
• A full case typically takes 18 to 24 months, depending on how much your teeth need to move.

Smaller corrections can be handled with Invisalign Express, a shorter option for minor movements. The right choice depends on your teeth, which is what the first visit is for.

Why adults straighten their teeth now

For many adults the reason is appearance, and it is a perfectly good one: a smile you no longer think twice about in photos or meetings. There are practical reasons too.

Straight teeth are easier to keep clean

Teeth that overlap or twist leave tight corners where plaque and bacteria collect, and a toothbrush and floss cannot always reach them. Straighter, more even teeth are easier to clean well every day, which matters more with every year you keep them.

Your bite affects how your teeth wear

Invisalign is not only cosmetic. When the upper and lower teeth meet correctly, the pressure of chewing is spread evenly across them, which means less wear and less breakage over time. Signs such as jaw discomfort, TMJ disorder or grinding can hint at a bite problem, and your bite is evaluated before anything is recommended. The orthodontics page explains how bite problems are assessed at the Timonium office.

Teeth that have shifted since your teens

If you had braces as a teenager and your teeth have moved back, clear aligners are a common way to put them where they belong again, without going through brackets a second time. Afterwards, the key is keeping them there.

Is Invisalign right for your teeth?

Invisalign can address crowded or crooked teeth, gaps between teeth and many bite problems. Whether it suits your case is a question only an examination can answer, because what looks similar in the mirror can call for a different approach once your bite has been checked.

Invisalign is one of several ways to straighten teeth at the practice, so the goal is the quickest, safest path to your smile rather than one treatment for everyone:

• Invisalign or Invisalign Express for most crowding, spacing and many bite corrections.
• Metal braces for complex work, and usually the most economical option.
• Instant orthodontics, where veneers, bonding, crowns or tooth and gum reshaping change how straight your teeth look in as little as one or two visits, without moving them.
• AcceleDent Aura, a mouthpiece used for 20 minutes a day that can speed up tooth movement and shorten treatment.

For a closer look at which problem suits which option, read Invisalign treatment options and what they treat. If you are choosing for a teenager rather than for yourself, Invisalign Teen uses aligners designed for teens.

What treatment asks of you

Clear aligners give you freedom that braces do not, and that freedom comes with one responsibility: wearing them. Aligners only move teeth while they are in your mouth, so the 22-hour guideline is what keeps treatment on schedule. A few habits make it easy:

• Keep your aligner case with you, so the aligners go straight back in after a meal.
• Brush before you put the aligners back in, so food is not held against your teeth.
• Move to each new set on schedule, about every two weeks.

Once treatment is finished, a retainer keeps your teeth where they have been moved.

Paying for Invisalign as an adult

The cost depends on how much your teeth need to move and how long treatment takes, which is why it is set after your consultation rather than quoted in advance. Several ways to pay make it easier to start:

• In-office monthly payments for Invisalign, after a down payment.
• Dental insurance: the practice is out of network with all insurance companies. You pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim for you so your plan can reimburse you. HSA and flex plans are welcome.
• CareCredit: no-interest financing options for up to 12 months.
• Cherry: payment plans from 3 to 24 months.

The financing page explains each option in full.

Frequently asked questions

Am I too old for Invisalign?

Most adults are not. Teeth can be moved at any age, and clear aligners are widely used by adults for exactly the reasons above. Your teeth and gums are checked at your consultation before anything is recommended.

How long does Invisalign take for adults?

A full Invisalign case typically takes 18 to 24 months, depending on how much your teeth need to move. Invisalign Express is a shorter option for minor corrections.

Will people notice I am wearing aligners?

Aligners are clear and barely noticeable, which is why so many adults choose them over brackets. You can also take them out for a meal or an important photo, as long as you still wear them at least 22 hours a day.

My teeth moved after braces as a teenager. Can Invisalign fix that?

Often, yes. Clear aligners are a common way to correct teeth that have shifted back after earlier treatment. Your consultation confirms whether it suits your case.

Start your Invisalign consultation in Timonium

The first step is a consultation with Dr. Haywood, who will look at your teeth and bite and explain which option suits you, how long it is likely to take and what it will cost. Adults come to the Timonium office from Hunt Valley, Towson and Baltimore for Invisalign.

Request an appointment online or call (410) 453-9399. The office is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093. To learn more about the dentist behind your treatment, meet Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS.