3737 E State Route 36, Decatur, IL, 62521
Custom clear aligners for a straighter smile
Invisalign moves teeth using a sequence of clear, removable trays, each one manufactured to fit your teeth at a specific stage of the plan. Every aligner applies gentle, controlled pressure that shifts teeth a fraction of a millimeter, and progressing through the series moves them steadily from where they are to where they should be. The trays are made from a nearly invisible thermoplastic with no brackets, no wires and no metal. Because they come out for eating and brushing, there are no dietary restrictions and cleaning your teeth stays completely normal throughout treatment.
Straightening is not only cosmetic. Crowded teeth trap plaque in places floss cannot reach effectively, which raises decay and gum disease risk. Gaps allow food packing and periodontal problems. An uneven bite concentrates chewing forces onto a few teeth, causing accelerated wear and sometimes jaw joint symptoms. Correcting alignment improves how your mouth functions, not just how it photographs.
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Which Alignment Problems Invisalign Can Correct
Clear aligners handle a broad range of cases: crowded teeth, gaps and spacing, overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, rotated teeth and relapse after previous orthodontic treatment where retainers stopped being worn.
Crowding
When there is not enough room in the arch for every tooth to sit properly, teeth overlap, rotate and press against one another. Crowded areas trap plaque in spaces a toothbrush and floss cannot reach effectively, which raises the risk of decay and gum disease over time. Invisalign creates space and guides crowded teeth into their correct positions across the course of treatment.
Spacing and Gaps
Gaps between teeth, whether one prominent space or several smaller ones spread across the arch, can be closed by gradually moving the adjacent teeth toward each other. Beyond appearance, closing gaps stops food from packing into the spaces, which is a common contributor to gum irritation and localized bone loss.
Overbite
An overbite is present when the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth vertically to an excessive degree. Deep overbites cause accelerated wear on the lower front teeth and can lead to jaw discomfort. Mild to moderate cases are corrected with Invisalign through planned movements that bring the bite into a healthier relationship.
Underbite
An underbite occurs when the lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth as the mouth closes. Left uncorrected, it places uneven stress on specific teeth and the jaw joints. Invisalign can address mild to moderate underbites, with candidacy depending on the underlying cause and the degree of discrepancy between the jaws.
Crossbite
A crossbite exists when some upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth rather than outside them during biting. This is one of the more consequential alignment problems to leave untreated, since it commonly produces uneven wear, gum recession and localized bone loss in the affected areas. Aligners reposition the teeth into proper overlap.
Open Bite
An open bite describes upper and lower front teeth that do not make contact even when the back teeth are fully closed. It interferes with biting into food and can affect speech clarity. Invisalign corrects open bites by guiding the front teeth into proper contact with one another.
Your Invisalign Journey, Start to Finish
Treatment is planned digitally in full before the first aligner is ever worn, which is why you can see the projected outcome in advance.
01
Consultation and Evaluation
We assess your bite, discuss your goals, and ensure your teeth and gums are healthy for treatment.
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02
Digital Records
A precise scan, along with digital X-rays and imaging, provides a complete view of your teeth, roots, and jaw.
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03
Custom Treatment Planning
Your case is mapped in 3D, showing step-by-step tooth movement and your projected final smile.
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04
Aligner Creation and Fitting
Your custom aligners are fabricated, attachments are placed if needed, and your first set is delivered with care instructions.
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05
Wearing Your Aligners
You switch aligners every 1–2 weeks, wearing them 20–22 hours daily while your teeth gradually shift into place.
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06
Monitoring and Final Results
You change to the next aligner on the prescribed schedule, usually every one to two weeks, wearing each set twenty to twenty two hours daily.
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Sealing the canal system
Periodic short appointments confirm teeth are tracking as planned. If anything is lagging, adjustments or refinement aligners get incorporated.
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Refinement and Retention
Once active movement is complete, refinement aligners perfect final details if needed, then retainers hold everything in the new position permanently.
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What Clear Aligner Treatment Offers
- Virtually invisible appearance, which matters for adults in client facing wor
- Fully removable, so you eat what you want and brush and floss normally
- No wires or brackets to irritate cheeks and lips or require emergency repairs
- Fewer office visits than traditional braces, with longer intervals between checks
- A digital treatment plan showing projected tooth movement before you commit
- Comfortable, gradual pressure rather than the tightening cycles of fixed appliances
- Better hygiene during treatment, because nothing is blocking your toothbrush or floss
- Doubles as a whitening tray in many cases once treatment is complete
Orthodontic Benefits, Payment and Financing
Invisalign sits in a useful position with insurance because many dental plans include a separate orthodontic benefit, often a lifetime maximum dollar amount rather than an annual one, which can apply to clear aligner treatment the same way it applies to braces. Some plans limit orthodontic coverage by age, so verification matters.
Decatur Dental Care accepts most PPO plans, is a Delta Dental provider, and files claims for our patients. We check your orthodontic benefit specifically during your consultation and give you a written estimate of what your plan contributes and what your portion will be. Because treatment extends over many months, CareCredit financing works particularly well for spreading the cost, and flexible spending or health savings accounts can typically be applied to orthodontic treatment. We accept cash, check, Visa, Mastercard and Discover.
See Your Projected Result Before You Commit to Anything
An Invisalign consultation includes a digital simulation of how your teeth would move and where they would finish. Call 217-423-2400 or request an appointment.
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