Invisible Orthodontic Treatment in Costa Rica

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What is invisible orthodontics?

Invisible orthodontics is a type of orthodontic treatment whose objective is to offer esthetic appeal while correcting dental problems.

These clear aligners are custom-made for each patient using a digital treatment plan designed by an orthodontist who maps out the movement of the patient’s teeth depending on the patient’s objectives and diagnosis.

Each aligner is worn for 7 to 14 days, allowing teeth to move or shift. The number of aligners used by each patient varies depending on the patient’s objectives and the difficulty of the case.

Treatment with invisible orthodontics is a popular option due to the aesthetic advantages it offers. This type of treatment is innovative and can lessen treatment time when compared to traditional orthodontics.

Benefits and advantages

If you would like to begin orthodontic treatment but are not sure of which type of treatment is best for you, continue reading to learn about the benefits of invisible orthodontics so you can decide whether this is the best option for you. The benefits and advantages are as follows:

Greater comfort and ease of use. Thanks to their design, the invisible aligners can be removed for eating and drinking.
Custom-made. During treatment, the patient will receive a series of custom-made aligners that will move teeth to their correct position.
Improved dental hygiene. The aligners can be removed to perform dental hygiene. Once they are removed, the aligners are easy to clean.
Resolves dental issues. Whether it’s crooked or crowded teeth or bite problems, invisible orthodontic treatment provides a solution that is easy and less invasive.
Assists in preventing dental problems. The use of invisible aligners can prevent the formation of cavities, tooth loss, or any other condition associated with dental malocclusions.
Non-invasive evaluations. Invisible orthodontic treatment uses 3D scanning, which facilitates dental evaluations.
Discretion. The aligners are made of a transparent material which provides a discreet appearance during treatment.
Improved self-confidence. It has been shown that improving the appearance of a person’s teeth and having good oral health have a positive effect on self-confidence and self-esteem.

Decreased treatment duration. When treatment is carried out correctly, invisible orthodontic treatment can often be completed in a shorter amount of time.

Clear aligners or Brackets? Which is better?

Among the different types of orthodontic treatments, invisible aligners (commonly known as Invisalign) and brackets are the most commonly used and recommended. This is due to the advantages these treatments they provide to aligning teeth, closing interdental spaces and correcting malocclusions (abnormal alignment of teeth). However, which one is better?

Invisible aligners vs Brackets

Type of orthodontic treatment	Advantages
Invisible Aligners	Suitable for all types of orthodontic treatments. Ideal to treat very complicated dental conditions. They do not require cooperation from the patient. Satisfactory results are achieved. A variety of esthetic options are available, including conventional metal, ceramic, or self-ligating brackets.
Brackets	Suitable for all types of orthodontic treatments. Ideal to treat very complicated dental conditions. They do not require cooperation from the patient. Satisfactory results are achieved. A variety of esthetic options are available, including conventional metal, ceramic or self-ligating brackets.

Types of invisible orthodontic treatments: choose what’s best for you

When choosing an invisible orthodontic treatment, it is vital to understand which types are available and which is most recommended.

To begin with, it is important to clarify that when speaking about “types of invisible orthodontics,” we are actually referring to brands of clear aligners. Below are the clear aligner brands that are available at our clinic: Invisalign and Smartee.

Invisalign

Invisalign is a Brand of clear aligners used to treat orthodontic issues ranging from mild to severe cases. It is a less painful, more aesthetic alternative to traditional braces. Invisalign packages include:

Invisalign Express

Invisalign Express is the most recommended option for patients who have completed their orthodontic treatment, but who need to correct very mild relapses (teeth returning to their original position before treatment).

Duration: Up to three months, depending on the specialist’s recommendations.

Invisalign Lite

Unlike the previous version, Invisalign Lite can be used for approximately six (6) to eight (8) months. This treatment is an alternative for simple cases, such as minor crowding or tooth rotations.

Duration: Between 6 and 8 months.

Invisalign Moderate

Invisalign Moderate is used to treat cases that are considered moderately severe, such as crowding and tooth rotation. This provides an intermediate solution with a broad reach.

Duration: 8 to 10 months.

Invisalign Comprehensive

There are two reasons Invisalign Comprehensive is one of the most popular treatments: it provides an unlimited number of clear aligners during the treatment, and it is an excellent solution for patients who suffer from severe or complex orthodontic problems.

Duration: over 10 months.

Invisalign First

This Invisalign treatment option is specially for children aged 6 years and older. It is used to treat dental or skeletal issues during a child’s development until primary teeth are replaced by permanent teeth.

Duration: This varies depending on each case.

Smartee

Smartee is another fairly popular invisible orthodontics treatment which has an alignment system that can be used to treat diverse orthodontic problems: cross bite, open bite, mild or severe crowding, midline deviation, among others.

Smartee Ge

The Smartee Ge series offers several dental aligners alternatives, including starter aligners, additional aligner sets, and retainers, all according to the complexity of the case and the duration of the treatment. These include:

1 Mini (0-10 stages)
2 Lite (0-20 stages)
3 Express (0-35 stages)
4 Infiniti (unlimited)

Duration: Depends on the package needed by the patient

Smartee α and Smartee GS

These are the ideal alternative for severe orthodontic cases that require highly complex orthodontic treatment in which additional attachments must be incorporated into the aligners.

Duration: Over 10 months.
Schedule your appointment with an orthodontic specialist at Gil Dental Clinic.

What is the cost of invisible orthodontics?

In order to determine the price of an invisible orthodontic treatment, a complete evaluation and diagnosis are necessary to establish a treatment plan and the final cost. Factors that can affect the cost include the following:

Duration.
Previous treatments.
Brand or type of invisible orthodontics.
Number of aligners the patient requires.

Gil Dental Clinic provides a personalized evaluation and price estimate according to the type of invisible orthodontic treatment chosen.

How do I know if I am a candidate for clear aligners?

If you have problems with teeth alignment or bite issues, you might want to consider this type of treatment. Furthermore, aligners are the best option if you are looking for a discreet, esthetic, easy to use solution.

Are invisible aligners painful?

At the start of the treatment, a patient might experience discomfort due to the pressure exerted by the aligners on the teeth. This facilitates the movement of the teeth. The adjustment period will vary for each person, but the pressure usually decreases within three or four days.

What can I eat while using aligners?

You can eat practically any type of food you choose because these aligners can be removed before eating. Once you are finished eating and after brushing your teeth, you can put the aligners back in place.

What happens if I don’t use the aligners for a day?

Not using the aligners can affect the progress of your treatment, especially if you suspend their use frequently. It is recommended that you remove the clear aligners only at specific times (when eating or drinking) so that they are worn for the greater part of the day.

What happens when the treatment with clear aligners is suspended?

At the end of this treatment, the patient can choose to have a whitening, cleaning, or other dental procedure done. However, the most important thing to always wear the retainers in order to preserve the results of the treatment and to prevent the teeth from shifting back to their original positions.

Request an appointment and begin your treatment with invisible orthodontics.

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Written by: Grupo Dental Gil

Medically reviewed by: Dr. Natalia Vargas

Published on: March 8, 2026