Introducing Impressions | A New Alternative to Invisalign

You’ve heard of braces. You’ve heard of Invisalign. But now it’s time to introduce you to the new kid on the block! Blue Ridge Orthodontics is proud to introduce BRO Impressions, an exciting new treatment that combines Invisalign technology with the convenience of your home.

What exactly is Impressions and why should I care?

Impressions is an at-home take on traditional Invisalign. Check out the info below and learn more:

1 out of 5 orthodontic patients is over the age of 18  

Invisalign uses attachments to guide teeth into place with a combination of in-office and at-home treatment    Impressions uses clear, Invisalign aligners – changed weekly at home – to move teeth into alignment without attachments on the teeth

Infographic for clear aligner orthodontic treatment Impressions in Asheville

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What Exactly is Impressions & Why Should I Care?

Do you have an overbite or some other malocclusion that leaves you feeling self-conscious about your smile? If you’d rather not deal with traditional braces, and Invisalign is a bit out of your price range, we’re happy to introduce a revolutionary orthodontic treatment: Impressions!

BRO’s Impressions is an at-home take on traditional Invisalign. Check out the info below to learn more about this incredibly convenient method of achieving your dream smile.

Did You Know…

  • 1 out of every 5 orthodontic patients in North Carolina is over the age of 18.
  • 30% of our patients at Blue Ridge Orthodontics prefer clear aligners over traditional metal braces.

Impressions vs. Invisalign – What’s the Difference?

Do you know anyone who has gotten Invisalign before? Blue Ridge Orthodontics has been ranked among the top 1% of Invisalign providers in the country for the last 2 years. With the traditional aligners, Invisalign uses attachments that guide your teeth into their proper places.

Since aligners can be removed to eat and brush, this orthodontic treatment is more convenient than traditional metal braces. However, Invisalign patients are still required to come into the office for several check-ups over the course of their treatment.

With Impressions, you’ll receive clear aligners that will be changed on a weekly basis in order to move your teeth into proper alignment. This treatment doesn’t require any attachments on the teeth, such as with traditional Invisalign. Additionally, the in-office time required for this form of treatment is very minimal. Patients will come in for their initial scan, a refinement scan and possibly a retainer appointment (depending on the type of retainer that you choose) – and that’s it!

What Can Impressions Treat?

Our Impressions can be used to treat the following:

  • Crowding of teeth
  • Spacing of teeth
  • Over bites
  • Under bites

How Long Does This Type of Treatment Take?

Incredibly, our Impressions program requires an average of 9 months to correct mild to moderate orthodontic issues. How does this compare to traditional metal braces and Invisalign?

  • Metal braces typically take 24 months (on average) to correct moderate to severe orthodontic issues.
  • Traditional Invisalign requires an average of 18 months to correct moderate to severe orthodontic issues.

How Much Does Impressions Cost Compared to Invisalign?

The cost for at-home, clear aligner treatment with our Impressions program is 50% the cost of traditional Invisalign in Western North Carolina. That means you save a lot on your clear aligner orthodontic treatment. On top of that, your dental insurance – if you have it – also comes into play. Depending on the type of insurance a patient has, anywhere from $500 to $1,500 can be covered. When you add 50% in savings to your insurance benefits, that’s a significant difference. With Impressions, we’re offering top-of-the-line orthodontic treatment at a much more accessible price.

If you have more cost and financing questions, please click here.

Appointments

While traditional Invisalign requires regularly scheduled appointments, Impressions only requires three:

  1. Your Consult: During your complimentary consultation, we’ll scan your smile with our state-of-the art Itero scanner and determine whether or not Impressions is a good treatment fit for you.
  2. Your Refinement Appointment: If Impressions is the right treatment for you, your entire set of aligners will be sent to your home. Halfway through the treatment, you’ll stop by our office for a check-in.
  3. The Retainer Appointment: Congratulations, this is the final step! As with any orthodontic treatment, you’ll need to use a retainer in order to  keep your teeth in their newly straightened places. You can order Vivera retainers, which look like Invisalign trays, or we can give you the free house-made set.

Of course, we are always here for you if you need us. Though the major benefit of Impressions is saving the time and money you’d otherwise spend on trips to our office, you can add appointments if you need them. There is a clinical consultation fee associated with each added appointment. Also, if at any point in your treatment, you decide you’d prefer the full Invisalign process, you are welcome to make the switch.

Home Routine

About six weeks after your consultation appointment, your new aligners will arrive in the mail. They’ll come with an instruction manual and are marked with the number in which they will be worn, for example “1 of 25”. You will also receive cases for trays and “chews.”

via GIPHY

After reading the manual (we promise we won’t bore you – it’s short with fun illustrations!) you can open the aligner #1 bag and “seat” the aligners.

To seat the aligners, you:

  1. Look for the markings that distinguish Upper “U” from Lower “L”
  2. Using even pressure, put the aligners in place like you would vampire fangs for Halloween
  3. Place chewies between your top and bottom teeth and bite down
  4. Make sure the aligners are tightly on your teeth without gaps

Like with traditional Invisalign, you’ll wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day. You take the aligners out to eat and drink anything besides water. It’s also important to brush your teeth and aligners before putting them back in.

Conclusion

We are extremely excited to finally introduce Impressions and the added flexibility this treatment offers busy adults and teens! Impressions costs about half of what traditional Invisalign or braces do, and aligners are still made with Invisalign’s highest quality material. You also can upgrade to our comprehensive Invisalign treatment at any point.

If you are interested in learning more, please fill out the form on the bottom of our Impressions page or give us a call at 828-585-6045. As always, you can join the party on Facebook or follow along on Instagram!