Straightening your teeth doesn’t have to mean years of metal brackets and adjustment appointments. At Loftus Dental, our team offers Invisalign as a discreet, effective alternative for patients who want real results without the hardware. Adults and teens alike use clear aligners to correct crowding, spacing, and bite issues without the visibility or lifestyle restrictions that come with traditional braces. Our team brings over 40 years of patient care to every case, which means you’re getting an experienced eye on your alignment from the very first visit. Tell us what’s bothering you about your teeth, and we’ll give you a straightforward assessment of what clear aligner treatment can do.
Understanding Invisalign
Invisalign is an FDA-cleared orthodontic treatment that uses a series of removable, custom-fitted clear trays to move your teeth into better alignment. Each tray is designed to apply light, targeted pressure to specific teeth, nudging them gradually into their correct positions. You swap to a new tray every one to two weeks, following a sequence that was planned out in full before your first tray was ever made.
Unlike fixed braces, the trays come out completely for eating and oral hygiene, so there are no dietary restrictions and no complicated cleaning routines. The system is suitable for a wide range of alignment issues, including crowding, spacing, overbites, underbites, and crossbites. It’s FDA-cleared for teens and adults, and it’s one of the most clinically documented clear aligner options available.
Benefits Of Invisalign
Your Invisalign Treatment, Step by Step
Scanning Your Teeth and Assessing Your Alignment
Every Invisalign case at our practice begins the same way, with a thorough look at your teeth, bite, and overall oral health. Our team uses in-practice intraoral scanners and digital imaging to capture a detailed, three-dimensional picture of your mouth. That data tells us exactly what we’re working with and whether Invisalign is the right approach for your specific alignment needs.
Mapping Out Your Tooth Movement in Detail
With your scan complete, our team gets to work building a treatment plan that accounts for every tooth that needs to move. Each aligner in your series is calculated to reposition specific teeth by a precise amount, stage by stage. Before any trays are produced, you’ll review a digital preview of the full sequence so you know exactly what the plan looks like.
Receiving Your Aligners and Starting Treatment
Your custom aligners are made to fit your teeth only, and our team takes time at your fitting appointment to make sure you feel confident using them. We cover daily wear time, how to remove and reinsert them properly, and how to know it’s time to move to the next tray. Getting these basics right from the start makes a real difference in how smoothly your treatment goes.
Keeping Your Aligners Clean and Your Treatment on Track
Clean aligners and clean teeth go hand in hand throughout treatment. Rinse your trays every time you take them out, brush them gently with a soft-bristled brush, and never expose them to hot water or hot beverages. Maintaining good oral hygiene between wears is just as critical, since buildup on your teeth affects both your dental health and how well each tray performs.
Wrapping Up Treatment and Moving Into the Retention Phase
Completing your last aligner set is a significant milestone, but the work isn’t quite finished. Our team does a final review of your results to verify your teeth have reached their intended positions. At that point we fit you for a custom retainer, walk you through a long-term wear schedule, and make sure you have everything needed to keep your alignment stable going forward.
Why Choose Us For Invisalign
Getting Invisalign through a general dentist who already knows your dental history is a genuine advantage. Our team has been treating patients in the Black Hills for over 40 years, and that experience shapes how we approach every case, including how your bite, gum health, and any existing restorations factor into your tooth movement. Before recommending Invisalign, we assess your full oral health picture, because alignment work built on a compromised foundation rarely holds.
We use intraoral scanners and in-practice CT imaging to plan treatment with accuracy from the start, no guesswork and no physical molds. Our team is candid about what Invisalign can and can’t accomplish for your case. If a different approach would produce better results, we’ll say so. Patients consistently describe our approach as straightforward and pressure-free. We lay out the options, answer your questions honestly, and let you make the call. That standard has defined our practice for decades.
FAQs
How much is Invisalign?
Invisalign costs vary based on the complexity of your alignment needs and how long treatment will take. The most accurate estimate comes after an in-person assessment, once our team has reviewed your scan and outlined your options. We’re happy to walk you through the details at your consultation.
How does Invisalign work?
Invisalign uses a planned series of clear plastic aligners, each one incrementally repositioning your teeth according to a pre-set sequence. Mild pressure is applied to targeted teeth at each stage, moving them by small amounts until the full correction is achieved. You transition to a new set every one to two weeks as your teeth respond to each tray.
How long does Invisalign take?
Treatment length depends on the degree of correction needed and how reliably you wear your aligners each day. Straightforward cases have been completed in around six months, while more involved corrections can take up to 18 months or more. Consistent daily wear is the most controllable factor in keeping your treatment on schedule.
Can Invisalign fix an overbite?
Invisalign is effective for a range of bite corrections, including overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites, though outcomes depend on severity. During your consultation, our team will assess your bite and give you an honest read on what Invisalign can realistically achieve in your case. Some situations call for a combined approach, and we’ll tell you upfront if that applies to you.
Does Invisalign hurt?
A new set of aligners can cause mild pressure or soreness for a day or two as your teeth begin adjusting. This is expected and typically resolves quickly on its own. If discomfort lingers, over-the-counter pain relievers are usually sufficient, and most patients find that sensitivity decreases as they move further into treatment.
Your Straighter Smile Starts With One Invisalign Consultation
Most people are surprised by how simple the first step is, a single visit and a digital scan that gives you a concrete look at what’s possible. Our team at Loftus Dental is ready to build a plan around your actual teeth, not a generic template. We see patients across all stages of treatment, from those just exploring their options to those ready to get started right away, and we meet you exactly where you are.
If you have dental concerns beyond alignment, our team can address those at the same practice without sending you elsewhere. That kind of comprehensive care under one visit saves you time and keeps your treatment connected. Appointments are available at our Rapid City practice, and getting here is easy with directions available on Google Maps. See what current and former patients have to say about their experience by checking our Google reviews. To schedule your Invisalign consultation, reach us at 605.341.4521.
