Ortho · Since 1987
Invisalign in Wilmington, NC
Invisalign moves teeth with a series of clear removable aligners. Adults choose it because nobody has to know it is happening.
About Invisalign
Each aligner is worn about 22 hours a day for a week or two, then swapped for the next. The sequence is planned digitally from a scan, so you see the projected end position before you start.
It handles crowding, spacing, and most bite issues that used to require brackets. Severe skeletal cases still do better with fixed appliances, and we will say so if that is what your scan shows.
How it works
- Complimentary consultationWe scan, look at the bite, and tell you whether aligners are the right tool.
- Digital treatment planYou see a simulation of the movement and the projected finish.
- Aligner seriesNew trays every one to two weeks, with short check-in visits along the way.
- RefinementMost cases get a short second series to fine-tune the finish.
- RetentionA retainer holds the result. Teeth move for life without one.
Recovery and aftercare
Wear the retainer. Every relapse case we see traces back to a retainer that lived in a drawer. Beyond that, clean the aligners daily and keep up your normal hygiene visits.
Cost and coverage
Invisalign is priced by case complexity and length. Many dental plans include an orthodontic benefit that applies to adults as well as children, and it is worth checking even if you assume you have none. The orthodontic consultation itself is complimentary.
You may be a candidate if
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Gaps you want closed
- A bite that has shifted since childhood orthodontics
- A teenager who will wear them
- Willingness to keep them in 22 hours a day
Invisalign by town
We see patients from across New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Onslow counties.
In their own words
Hear from Dr. Barry Frazelle
Dr. Frazelle on why the injection is nothing to dread, and a cheap whitening habit he gives patients.
Questions we get asked
How long does Invisalign take?
Simple cases finish in four to six months. Comprehensive cases usually run twelve to eighteen.
Can people tell I am wearing them?
At conversational distance, generally not. They are noticeable in close-up photographs and you take them out to eat.
Does it hurt?
There is pressure and tenderness for a day after each new aligner. It fades and it is milder than the tightening cycle of fixed braces.
What if I lose an aligner?
Go back to the previous one and call us. We will order a replacement or move you forward depending on where you are in the series.
Is it as good as braces?
For the great majority of adult cases, yes. Fixed braces still hold an advantage in complex bite correction, and we refer when that is the honest answer.
Invisalign
One trip. Everybody seen.
We block consecutive appointments so a family visit is one morning rather than three separate afternoons.
- General, cosmetic, orthodontic and surgical care under one roof
- Consecutive family scheduling on request
- Sealants and preventive care for children
- Most major dental plans accepted
Nervous child? Tell us before the appointment and we will slow the whole thing down.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
