Clear Aligners for Adults: Your Smile, Your Time with Wertz Orthodontics

Thinking About Straightening Your Smile as an Adult?

Maybe you've started noticing your front teeth on video calls. Maybe you wore braces as a teen, your retainer disappeared somewhere along the way, and your teeth have slowly drifted. Or maybe your child just finished treatment, and you're wondering, "What about me?"

You're in good company, and you have more options than you might think. Wertz Orthodontics has been creating smiles in Lebanon for more than 45 years.

Here’s the great news: Adult orthodontic treatment is designed to help you achieve a healthier, more confident smile while fitting comfortably into your lifestyle. With today’s advanced clear aligner technology, getting the smile you’ve always wanted can be easier and more convenient than ever. Let’s explore what aligners can do, how long treatment typically takes, and how easily they can fit into your everyday routine.

Are Clear Aligners for Adults a Good Option?

Absolutely! Adults can achieve beautiful, healthy smiles with clear aligners when their teeth, gums, and supporting bone are healthy. Teeth can move successfully at any age, which means it's never too late to enjoy the benefits of orthodontic treatment.

Clear aligners, sometimes called clear trays, are thin, custom-made plastic aligners that gradually guide your teeth into their ideal positions. They're comfortable, discreet, and removable, making eating, brushing, and flossing easy.

Adult treatment is simply tailored to your unique needs. Because your jaw has finished growing, tooth movement may take a little longer. Certain bite concerns may also benefit from additional treatments to achieve the best results.

Many adults have crowns, fillings, missing teeth, or a history of gum concerns. These are all factors we can plan around. We start by ensuring your teeth and gums are healthy and stable, creating a strong foundation for your new smile.

Why Adults Choose Orthodontic Treatment

Adults come to us for all kinds of reasons, and every one of them is a good one. Here are three of the most common.

Whether your goal is straighter teeth, better oral health, or greater confidence, we're excited to help you achieve the smile you've always wanted. Together, we'll create a personalized treatment plan designed to give you a healthier, more beautiful smile and the confidence to share it every day.

What Clear Aligners Can and Cannot Fix

Clear aligners can correct gapped, crowded, and crooked teeth, along with many overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites, according to the AAO.

A 2018 systematic review in Progress in Orthodontics found consistent evidence that Invisalign is a viable alternative to braces for mild to moderate problems in patients who have finished growing and don't need teeth removed. The review also found that aligners predictably level, tip, and rotate most teeth, with canines and premolars as the exception.

That's why some cases are still a better fit for braces, including large rotations of canines or premolars, severe bite problems, and cases that need extractions. Because we offer both, our recommendation is always based on what your smile needs.

Weighing your discreet options? Here's a quick side-by-side look at aligners and braces for adults.

How Long Does Aligner Treatment Take for Adults?

At Wertz Orthodontics, Invisalign patients typically go through 18 to 30 aligners over 9 to 15 months, switching to a new aligner every one to two weeks. Adults may land toward the longer end because adult bone remodels more slowly than a teen's, according to the AAO.

A small touch-up can finish faster, while a larger bite correction can take longer. Your timeline depends on how much movement you need, how consistently you wear your aligners, and whether your plan includes a final round of refinement aligners.

Refinement aligners are a normal, planned part of many cases. They fine-tune the last details so your new smile looks and feels just right.

The biggest thing you control is how long you wear them. The AAO recommends wearing aligners at least 22 hours a day, because they only move teeth while they're in.

Have more questions about the process? Our Invisalign FAQ covers aligner wear, care, and checkups.

Fitting Aligners Into Your Busy Week

Aligner checkups usually happen every six to twelve weeks, since you switch to new aligners at home. Our offices also offer evening appointment options, so staying on track doesn't mean rearranging your workday.

Expect an adjustment period of about a week. Mild pressure for the first few days with a new aligner is normal and usually fades quickly.

Coffee lovers, here's a tip. Aligners come out whenever you eat or drink anything besides water, so it's easiest to enjoy your coffee with breakfast and then pop your aligners back in.

Adult Clear Aligner Treatment in Lebanon, Robesonia, and Hershey

With all three of our offices conveniently located along Route 422, the Benjamin Franklin Highway, quality orthodontic care is always close to home. That makes it easy to choose the office that fits your day, whether it's closest to home, closest to work, or right on your way between the two.

We also offer evening appointment options. That can make treatment easier to fit around shifts at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, a commute toward Harrisburg or Reading, or a full family schedule.

Choosing the office that fits your routine makes each aligner checkup that much easier to keep up with.

What Happens Before Your First Aligner?

Getting started with clear aligners is simple, and a few important steps help set you up for a successful treatment experience.

With your aligners in place, you're officially on your way to a healthier, straighter smile!

Can Aligners Fix Teeth That Shifted After Braces?

Absolutely, yes. When teeth drift after braces, it's frequently mild to moderate crowding of the front teeth.

Some of these cases call for limited treatment that focuses only on the teeth that moved. An exam tells us whether that's an option for you.

Once your teeth are aligned, wearing your retainer as directed helps keep them that way. We'll make sure you have a retainer plan from the very beginning.

How Much Do Clear Aligners Cost for Adults?

The cost of clear aligners for adults depends on how complex your case is and how long treatment runs, so an exact fee requires an exam. At our practice, Invisalign is priced similarly to traditional braces, and we'll go over your fee and payment options before you start.

We offer extended monthly payment plans with no financing fees, accept major credit cards, and also offer Sunbit financing. Our team is happy to help with insurance claims and payment questions, too.

Insurance coverage varies. The AAO notes that dental plans with orthodontic coverage usually cover braces and clear aligners equally, but many plans don't include adult orthodontic benefits. It's worth checking your plan for an adult orthodontic benefit and its lifetime maximum.

Flexible spending account (FSA) and health savings account (HSA) funds can often be used toward orthodontic treatment as well. Check your plan's rules for the details.

Frequently Asked Questions