Welcome to our FAQ page, dedicated to answering all your questions about our dental services. Whether you’re a new patient looking for information about our practice or a returning patient seeking clarity on specific treatments, we’ve got you covered. With our team of experienced and compassionate dental professionals, we aim to provide comprehensive answers that will help you make informed decisions about your oral health. Explore the diverse range of questions tackled below and discover how we can assist you in achieving a healthy and radiant smile.
Am I a candidate for Invisalign?
To determine if a patient can use Invisalign to correct their alignment and bite issues, thorough diagnostics must be obtained. NuClear Smiles offers free evaluations which include the necessary diagnostics. Invisalign is only as capable as the doctor designing the plan and the patient’s willingness and ability to adhere to the plan. 99% of all orthodontic issues can be effectively treated with Invisalign removable aligner therapy, but only if you begin with a very experienced specialist and great diagnostics to develop an effective plan. In the vast majority of cases, if you’re healthy and committed to the process of orthodontic treatment of any kind, you are a candidate for Invisalign.
How many hours a day do I need to wear Invisalign?
To be effective, you need to think of Invisalign as braces, you have the privilege of removing, to eat, drink and brush without restrictions! With that said, aligners must be worn 20-22 hours a day. If you do not wear your aligners for more than 4 hours in a row, you will lose 12 hours of progress.
When do I remove the Invisalign
Aligners only need to be removed when eating, drinking (anything but water) and when you brush.
What if I need teeth pulled?
No Problem! In most cases tooth extraction is not needed, but, sometimes that will be the only way we can make enough room to straighten very crooked teeth into a healthier, more pleasing smile. Dr. Moles is a Diamond plus provider with Invisalign! He has the experience needed to effectively treat complicated cases! Dr. Moles has even treated patients who required jaw surgery with Invisalign!
What is IPR?
Great question! IPR stands for Interproximal Reduction (that’s a couple of BIG words, hence the common acronym) – as complicated as the name sounds, it is actually a very simple procedure! When teeth are crowded, but not crowded enough to warrant tooth extraction, orthodontists use a very thin strip of diamond sandpaper to floss between the contacts of the teeth where they are so tight they can’t pass by each other. This thins the width of teeth very slightly (approximately .1mm) or about the thickness of a piece of paper, allowing them to get in line! Rest assured this procedure has been used in Orthodontics for decades and has proven to be very safe and minimally invasive. You won’t feel it! Dr.Moles elects to perform this procedure by hand to ensure accuracy and with pre-measured strips to avoid overdoing it! Just say no to the dreaded drill other providers elect to use.
My dentist says they do Invisalign, why should I seek treatment from a specialist?
An Orthodontist is a dentist. A dentist who elected to specialize only in Orthodontics. Dr. Moles is an Orthodontist who elected to specialize further in aligner therapy! It doesn’t get more precise than that! Invisalign aligner therapy requires extensive experience to be able to effectively address complicated issues with tooth alignment, even if you are already an Orthodontist, using aligner therapy is very different from using fixed braces as a tool to achieve great results. Dr.Moles has spent the better part of 20 years perfecting his skill set with Invisalign. In short, experience matters! NuClear Smiles will coordinate with your dentist as it is very important that we work together as a care team for you. It is also important that you continue to see your dentist every 6 months for your cleanings and exams! Remember, Dr. Moles is only in charge of your tooth alignment, he leaves the rest of your oral care up to your dentist, they’re the experts on general oral health!
Will I need retainers when I am done? For how long?
YES! Any time teeth are moved, whether with braces or Invisalign, you must retain the results. Retainers are made from a heavier plastic but look just like your Invisalign aligners. Unlike aligners, retainers are not designed to move your teeth, but to act as a reminder to hold them in place. Therefore, you only wear retainers half the time you need to wear your aligners, primarily while sleeping. Many studies have been conducted over the decades since Orthodontics became mainstream, they have determined that to keep your teeth as straight as possible as you age, retainers are needed, at least part time. Everything on your body ages, your teeth are no exception. The first full year after treatment, it is recommended that you wear retainers every night. After 1 year of stabilization, you may try wearing them less. Your body will let you know how much is enough. The key indicator is how tight they feel when you put them in. Too tight and painful means you need more wear time. Most patients can reduce wear time to every other night, or 2-3 times per week. For life. Most adults benefit from wearing their retainers every night to protect their teeth from stress clenching or grinding. Retention is a lifetime effort, your retainers won’t last a lifetime. It is recommended that you replace your retainers at least every 2 years. Consider investing in the Vivera retainer program! Your consultant can explain this program further at your initial evaluation.
Can kids be treated with Invisalign?
YES! In fact, our little ones are some of our best patients! Traditionally children are seen by an orthodontist for an initial screening around the age of 7. Most children do not require early intervention, in most cases, the children are put into our growth and development cycle, where we monitor their dental development (For FREE) to determine when the appropriate time may be to treat, if at all! If they do present with a need for early intervention, Dr. Moles will assess what that may require. The most common intervention is a palatal expander, or strategic removal of baby teeth to assist with the eruption of adult teeth due at a later time. Think of early intervention as laying a foundation. The rest of the house will be built when all the adult teeth erupt into the mouth. In many cases, the staged care eliminates the need for further adolescent treatment! If your child requires staged care, Dr. Moles will use traditional orthodontic methods, but instead of braces, he uses the Invisalign 1st product offered by Invisalign to straighten the adult teeth that are present, which is typically the front 4 teeth, upper and lower, and the 6 year old molars. Then, just like traditional staged care, your child will be given a retainer to wear at night until all the adult teeth arrive. This often requires the retainer to be refitted a couple times while we wait, those revisions are included in the stage 1 fees. Once your child is ready to pursue stage 2, new fees will be presented.
What if my child or teenager fails to comply with the treatment?
Rest assured, we have your back with the Invisalign teen guarantee! Anytime in the first 6 months of treatment, should you decide that your child or teen can’t handle the responsibility of wearing the Invisalign, we will place traditional braces for no additional charge! After 6 months, there is a small fee to cover the cost of the braces ($500-$800) depending on if metal or ceramic braces are chosen. We treat to happy!
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes! Several in fact! You may elect to use our in house interest free payment plan (up to 18 months) Our in house extended payment plan (up to 32 months with interest) or apply for CareCredit or Lending Point for longer plans (up to 60 months) – A soft credit check may be required for all payment plans.
Do you offer discounts?
Sure do! Active duty Military, Fire and Police (and their children or spouses) Professional (Dental professionals and Aestheticians), Multi family member discounts and pay in full discounts! We also offer discounts to HCPS employees and their children as well as periodic special offers throughout the year to everyone!
Do you accept dental Insurance?
NuClear Smiles participates (in network) with most plans in the area. We accept the assignment of benefit from all PPO dental plans. We are not in network with Medicaid or any HMO or DHMO plans. Participants in those plans must go in network to receive benefits. See the list of In network participation on our financial page.