Invisalign Touch-Up · San Luis Obispo & Arroyo Grande
Had braces years ago, and things have moved?
It happens to almost everyone who stops wearing a retainer. Most of the time it’s a short course of clear aligners, not another two years.
San Luis Obispo 805.544.3223 · Arroyo Grande 805.489.4625
The problem
You’re not the only one this happened to.
Teeth drift. They drift after braces, they drift with age, and the lower front teeth are usually where you notice it first, in a photograph, or the day you find the retainer in a drawer and it won’t go in any more.
Nobody wants to pay twice for the same teeth. That’s the real hesitation, and it’s fair.
When a touch-up is enough, and when it isn’t.
A short course usually works when
The movement is limited to the front teeth, the bite itself hasn’t changed much, and the roots are healthy.
It won’t be enough when
The bite has shifted as well as the alignment, or when there’s more movement to do than aligners can manage in a short run. Then you’re looking at a full course of treatment, and we’ll say so rather than sell you a short one that doesn’t finish the job.
Which one you’re looking at is visible on the scan at the first visit.
What it involves
A short run, and a straight answer about how short.
The scan
Under two minutes, no putty. You see the current position and the planned finish.
The plan
Limited-treatment aligner courses are quoted separately from comprehensive treatment. What you’d need is decided by the case, not by a package.
The visits
Few, and short.
The retainer
Included, and this time it’s the whole point. Retention →
Afterwards
This time, keep the retainer.
The first course of retainers is included in your fee, along with the check afterwards. After that it’s a night-time habit for as long as you want the result to hold, that isn’t a sales line, it’s just how teeth behave.
If you lose one or break one, we replace it.
Cost
Quoted in writing, before you decide.
The whole fee comes at the consultation, in writing. Interest-free monthly payments are standard, with a discount for paying in full at the start. We verify your insurance benefits and file the claims, orthodontic coverage is usually a lifetime maximum, so if you used some of it as a teenager we’ll tell you what’s left.
Touch-up FAQs.
How long does a touch-up take?
Much less than a full course. The honest answer depends on how far things have moved, and you’ll get a real number at the consultation rather than a range from a website.
Will people notice I’m wearing them?
Most patients tell us people don’t unless they mention it.
Is it my fault for not wearing the retainer?
It’s what happens to most people. It’s fixable.
Could I just order aligners online instead?
You could. Nobody examines you, nobody takes an X-ray, and nobody is watching what the roots are doing. Here an orthodontist plans it, checks it, and is responsible for the finish.
