Invisalign
Clear aligners for a straighter smile — discreetly.
Falls Church Invisalign specialist
A smile is one of our most natural and important expressions, so it matters that you feel confident sharing it. While a lucky few are born with near-perfect teeth, most people need some orthodontic help to get the straight smile they want.
Invisalign lets adults and teens straighten misaligned and crooked teeth discreetly, using a series of custom-designed, removable clear aligners (trays) — with none of the discomfort or inconvenience of traditional metal braces. At NOVA Dental Studio, cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael J. Paesani straightens teeth with Invisalign, swapping in a fresh set of aligners every week or two.
Book a Consultation →Why patients choose Invisalign in Virginia
Convenience
The aligners are removable, so your diet and lifestyle aren't disrupted — eat and drink whatever you like.
Discretion & comfort
Clear aligners are far less noticeable, and more comfortable, than traditional metal or ceramic braces.
Shorter treatment
Treatment is usually faster than with braces — many of Dr. Paesani's patients notice changes within just a few months.
Dental issues Invisalign frequently corrects
For the most part, clear aligners address almost all of the same issues traditionally treated with metal braces.
- An underbite
- An overbite
- Crooked teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- A crossbite
- Crowded teeth
- An open bite
For some complex cases, traditional braces deliver more effective results — Dr. Paesani will tell you honestly if a fixed set of braces is the better choice.
Eating, drinking and daily hygiene
Because you remove the aligners to eat, drink, brush and floss, you can still enjoy all the foods you love — and clean between your teeth with ordinary floss or easy flossers.
Traditional braces usually require special products to clean around wires and brackets, such as a threading floss or reusable floss threader and small interproximal brushes. None of those are needed with the Invisalign method.
Why professional care matters
Beware of mail-order aligners. Companies that ship clear aligners to your door can't match treatment supervised by a trained professional. Every dentist who offers Invisalign is specially trained on their use — and Dr. Paesani guides your treatment and reviews your progress at every step.
What to expect, step by step
1. Consultation
Dr. Paesani examines your mouth to confirm you're a good candidate, then takes detailed records — digital 3D X-rays, photos, and an iTero scan of your teeth.
2. Custom plan
Your plan and imaging are sent to the Invisalign Lab, where your custom aligners are created. This can take up to about four weeks.
3. Wear your trays
Each set is worn about one to two weeks, at least 22 hours a day. Every new set is slightly different, nudging your teeth closer to their final position.
4. Check-ins
Return every couple of months so Dr. Paesani can confirm your teeth are moving into place as expected.
5. Duration
Treatment typically runs from a year to 18 months, across roughly 20 to 50 sets of aligners, depending on your case.
6. Retainer
Once you finish, you'll wear a retainer as prescribed — otherwise teeth gradually drift back toward their old positions.
Aligners only work if you wear them about 22 hours a day. Skip the hours and your teeth won't move — and the next set won't fit properly.
Keeping your aligners clean and clear
Keep them clean
Every morning, evening and after meals, remove your aligners to brush and floss, then gently brush and rinse the trays. Buildup causes decay and makes trays more visible.
Water only
Remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything but clear water, or you may stain them.
Clean before reinserting
Brush after eating or drinking so debris isn't trapped against your teeth beneath the aligners.
Floss daily
Flossing prevents the plaque and food buildup that erodes enamel and can transfer onto your trays.
There's also an Invisalign cleaning system available — ask Dr. Paesani about it at your appointment.
Chewies, attachments & rubber bands
The best results come when your trays seat firmly against your teeth. A few tools help achieve that snug fit.
Chewies are small, cylindrical cushions you bite up and down on a few times a day — and each time you reinsert your aligners. If you notice air gaps between the tray and your teeth, the fit is off; chewies help seat the tray so it can move your teeth, keeping treatment on schedule.
Attachments are tiny tooth-colored bumps made from composite filling material, bonded to teeth to give the aligners extra grip for trickier movements like rotation, extrusion or intrusion. They can be round, rectangular, triangular or square depending on the goal, aren't needed on every tooth, are shade-matched to blend in, and are simply buffed off when no longer needed.
For an overbite or underbite, rubber bands add force to align the jaws. Since clear trays have no hooks, Dr. Paesani bonds small tooth-colored "buttons" near the gumline (or shapes a hook into the tray) to hold them. Wear the bands as prescribed, change them out twice a day, and remove them to eat.
What Invisalign costs
Your cost depends on your specific case. At your initial consultation, Dr. Paesani examines the health of your mouth and the condition of your teeth, then gives you a treatment cost. If you have dental insurance, check whether it covers Invisalign before your consultation to see if it's a viable option.
(703) 237-7725Schedule Your Consultation →
Frequently asked questions
Each case is unique, but treatment usually runs from about a year to 18 months, wearing roughly 20 to 50 sets of aligners.
At least 22 hours a day — remove them only to eat, drink, brush and floss. Wearing them less means your teeth won't move as planned.
They're very discreet but not 100% invisible. Most people won't notice you're wearing them, and there are no metal brackets or wires.
Sometimes — check your dental plan before your consultation to find out whether Invisalign is covered.