Straighter teeth without the brackets and wires. Longo Dentistry offers Invisalign clear aligners for teens and adults at our practice on Dundas Street in London, Ontario. If you have been putting off straightening your teeth because you did not want braces, this page explains how Invisalign works, who it is right for, and what it is like to be treated here. We will also tell you plainly when braces are the better tool.
Invisalign is a system of clear, removable aligners made from a smooth medical-grade plastic. Each aligner is custom-made from a digital scan of your teeth and moves them a small amount. You wear each set for about one to two weeks, then move to the next one in the series. Over the course of treatment, your teeth shift gradually into their planned position.
Because the aligners are clear, most people will not notice you are wearing them. Because they are removable, you take them out to eat, drink anything other than water, brush and floss. That is the main practical difference from braces: your daily routine stays almost the same.
Invisalign is the best-known brand of clear aligners, and it is the system we use at Longo Dentistry. There are other clear aligner products on the market, including mail-order kits. We do not recommend mail-order aligners because tooth movement without a dentist checking your gums, bone and bite can cause real damage that is expensive to fix.
Invisalign is a good fit for most adults and teens with mild to moderate crowding, spacing, or bite issues who can commit to wearing aligners 20 to 22 hours a day. It is a weaker fit for severe bite problems, large tooth rotations, and anyone who is not confident they will keep the aligners in.
You are likely a good candidate if:
You are likely a weaker candidate if:
None of these are automatic no’s. The only way to know is a consultation with a scan. We will tell you clearly which group you are in.
Both work. The honest answer is that the right choice depends on what your teeth need to do.
Invisalign is usually a strong option for crowding, spacing, mild to moderate overbite or underbite, teeth that have shifted after previous braces, and adults who want a discreet treatment. It is also easier to keep your teeth clean during treatment, which matters if you have had gum problems before.
Braces are still the better tool for some cases: severe crowding, large bite corrections, teeth that need to be rotated a lot or moved vertically, and patients who know they will struggle to wear aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day. Aligners only work while they are in your mouth. If you think you will forget them in a drawer, braces remove that risk because they do the work whether you remember or not.
At your consultation we will tell you which category you fall into. If braces are the better choice, we will say so.
Teenagers are some of our most frequent Invisalign patients. Invisalign Teen aligners include small compliance indicators that fade with wear, so parents and our team can see whether the aligners are being worn enough. They also allow for teeth that are still coming in.
The things to think about for a teen are the same as for an adult, plus one more: responsibility. A teen who is motivated to avoid braces will usually wear aligners well. A teen who is being pushed into it may not. We talk to the teen directly at the consultation, not only to the parent, because they are the one who has to wear them.
We do not publish prices online because two patients rarely need the same treatment. What we can tell you is what drives the cost, so the number you hear at your consultation makes sense:
We are a family practice, not an orthodontic clinic, which means the same team that does your cleanings and checkups also manages your aligners. Nothing gets lost between offices. Invisalign is one of our cosmetic dentistry services, and if you are also thinking about the shape or colour of your teeth, our veneers page explains when straightening first means fewer veneers or none at all.
We are at our office on Dundas Street in the east end of London, with parking, Saturday appointments and one weekday evening for people who cannot come in during the workday.
We accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan with direct billing for the services it covers, and we will check your private plan for orthodontic coverage before you commit to anything.
And we will tell you the truth about your case, including when Invisalign is not the answer.
Most Invisalign cases take 6 to 18 months. Simple crowding or spacing can be done in under a year; bite corrections take longer. Your treatment plan will show the expected number of aligners before you start.
You will feel pressure for a day or two each time you switch to a new aligner. Most people describe it as tightness rather than pain. It fades as the teeth settle.
20 to 22 hours a day. They come out only to eat, drink anything other than water, brush and floss. Wearing them less than that slows treatment and can cause the aligners to stop fitting.
No. Take the aligners out to eat and to drink anything hot, sugary or coloured. Water is fine. Brush or at least rinse before putting them back in.
Many private plans cover part of orthodontic treatment, often with a lifetime maximum and sometimes with an age limit. The Canadian Dental Care Plan does not currently cover orthodontics for most patients. Bring your plan details to your consultation and we will check.
Yes, when the teen is motivated. Invisalign Teen includes wear indicators and allows for erupting teeth. The main risk is compliance, so we talk with the teen directly about the commitment.
Yes. Teeth drift back if nothing holds them. Most patients wear a retainer nightly for the long term. This is true for braces too.
1221 Dundas Street, Unit 1, in Old East Village, London, Ontario. We have parking, Saturday appointments and one weekday evening. Call (519) 455-1221. While you are here, keeping up with cleanings during treatment matters: read how often you should get a dental cleaning.
Come in, get a scan, and hear an honest opinion about your case. Longo Dentistry, 1221 Dundas Street, Unit 1. Call (519) 455-1221 or book online. Saturday and evening appointments available.
