The doctors at Northern Virginia Orthodontics – Dr. Casagrande, Dr. Barcoma, Dr. Robb, and Dr. Itani have treated the most Invisalign patients in Virginia and rank as the #1 Invisalign providers nationwide.

NVO’s Invisalign Studio locations are exclusively designed to treat new and existing Invisalign patients, so NVO has a deep understanding of the process from consultation to the last months leading up to your new smile.

Yes! Invisalign aligners were FDA approved in 1998 to be sold and contain no BPA, BPS, latex, or gluten, so you can rest assured that your smile transformation will happen safely. If you are concerned about safety when it comes to Invisalign, discuss it with us and we can discuss any concerns you may have.

A large majority of patients report no difficulty with their speech while wearing Invisalign clear aligners. However, when you first get the aligners, you may notice a bit of an adjustment to get used to.

Invisalign is not shown to create long-term speech impediments. Before you know it, you will get used to the sensation.

Despite every case having a unique timeline, after you begin wearing your Invisalign aligners, you can start seeing changes and positive results within weeks. Regardless of how your smile is looking at the time, it’s important to continue to wear your aligners consistently as detailed in your treatment plan.

Luckily for you, Invisalign aligners are removable, so you don’t have to worry about restricting certain foods or changing the way you brush and take care of your teeth.

Simply pop out your aligners before eating and brushing, and you’re good to go. Just be sure to put them back in promptly after you’re finished for the best results.

Every case is different, so we make no guarantees that Invisalign will completely fix your specific condition. That is why we start with a consultation, so we can discuss how certain treatments can benefit you. If you have specific goals in mind, please feel free to discuss those with us during the consultation.

While we can not guarantee a smile, we can confidently say that Invisalign fixes many conditions, and we have seen incredible results and success stories. We will extensively discuss your treatment plan so that you are aware of the expectations.

When you change your aligners will depend entirely on the treatment plan we have in place. The doctors at NVO will tell you how often you should change to new aligners.

On average, you should expect to change your aligners weekly or once every two weeks.

Regardless of when you get new aligners, always clean your current set to avoid discoloration. We recommend keeping your old aligners, just in case you lose your current set. That way, you can wear your old aligners while you wait on your current aligner to be re-ordered. This will keep your teeth in position.

Teens have fun, busy schedules, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a beautiful smile too! If you have a teen you’d like to get started with an Invisalign treatment plan but you’re worried they won’t wear them properly, you can relax thanks to the blue dot placed on all teen aligners.

Just tell them to “Say Cheese!” and you can rest assured that your child’s smile transformation is on track. If you’d like to discuss other ways to ensure your child is keeping up with the treatment plan, speak with us and we can figure out a plan!

Invisalign clear aligners are made of a patented thermoplastic material called SmartTrack. The thin, clear, material was made just for Invisalign and fits comfortably over your teeth.

SmartTrack is special because it was only engineered for Invisalign and was determined the best plastic to use after testing 260 material compounds. Even though the plastic is extremely durable, it can still crack and break.

If you notice any cracks in your Invisalign, contact us quickly so that we can ensure you stay on track with your treatment plan.

Overall, no, Invisalign is not uncomfortable. However, when you get your first aligners and subsequent new aligners according to your treatment plan, you may experience minor, temporary, discomfort.

You shouldn’t worry, though, because a little discomfort shows that your teeth are moving gradually towards your desired final smile.

Because Invisalign is created based on your specific smile needs, the clear aligners will fit comfortably on your teeth. There are no wires or brackets to poke or irritate your gums, so you won’t have to worry about emergency visits to have them repaired.

As a bonus, the clear aligners are virtually invisible, so you won’t have to adjust to a new look. Chances are, your peers will have to do a double-take to even notice them.

Every smile is different and unique, so there isn’t an exact number. It all depends on the difficulty of your case, and how often you wear your aligners. On average, you can expect to wear your aligners for 12-18 months.

Generally speaking, that is faster than Braces, where we see an average of 2 years of wear. For a deeper look into Invisalign vs. Braces, visit the page here.

It’s important to follow the treatment plan that you and your treatment coordinator discuss. Otherwise, the process may take longer than you’d like. It’s best to avoid taking out your aligners outside of the recommended time, but if you have a specific life circumstance that prevents you from wearing them as directed, please discuss this with our doctors.

It is recommended to wear your aligners 20-22 hours per day, only taking them out while eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing. It may seem like a long time, but you get used to the feeling in your mouth quickly.

While the recommendation is 20-22 hours per day, we understand that special occasions will pop up like a date, wedding, or event. We encourage you to speak to your treatment coordinator or doctor if you have concerns about removing your aligners for more than the recommended timeframe.

It’s important to clean your aligners frequently as bacteria can build up and cause issues and discoloration. Every time you remove your aligners, regardless of time, rinse them. This will keep plaque and dried-up saliva at bay.

For a better clean, you can use antibacterial soap with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Don’t use toothpaste or colored and scented soaps, because they can leave a pesky residue on the aligners. We also recommend soaking your aligners once a day in Invisalign cleaning crystals.

If you’re skeptical or desire more credibility, it may help to know that over 10 million people, including more than 1.4 million teens, have used Invisalign clear aligners since they were founded by Align Technology, Inc in 1997.

To put that into perspective, that’s more people than the entire state of Virginia has! Now that’s a reason to smile. Regardless of how many have worn them, NVO would never recommend a product that we didn’t have confidence in.