Straighten your teeth discreetly — no metal brackets, no wires. Custom clear aligners designed for your smile, your lifestyle, and your goals.
Invisalign has transformed orthodontic treatment for adults and teens who want straighter teeth without the visibility or inconvenience of traditional metal braces. Using a series of custom-fabricated, virtually invisible clear aligners, Invisalign gradually moves teeth into their ideal positions — comfortably, discreetly, and on a timeline that fits your life.
At Charlottesville Dental Associates, we’ve been helping patients achieve healthier, more confident smiles for over 25 years. We approach Invisalign the same way we approach all of our care: with a thorough assessment, honest recommendations, and a treatment plan tailored to your specific goals and anatomy.
Our philosophy: Invisalign is a powerful tool — but it’s not right for every situation. During your consultation, we’ll give you an honest assessment of whether Invisalign is the best option for your case, what results you can realistically expect, and how long treatment is likely to take. We believe informed patients make better decisions.
Invisalign is effective for a wide range of alignment concerns. Here are the most common conditions we treat.
When teeth don’t have enough space in the jaw, they overlap and rotate. Crowding makes cleaning difficult and increases the risk of decay and gum disease. Invisalign gradually creates space and aligns crowded teeth.
Spaces between teeth can affect appearance, speech, and gum health. Invisalign closes gaps by moving teeth together gradually, creating a more uniform, healthy smile.
An overbite occurs when the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth excessively. Left untreated, overbites can cause jaw pain and uneven tooth wear. Invisalign can correct mild to moderate overbites.
An underbite occurs when the lower teeth protrude in front of the upper teeth. This can cause difficulty chewing and speaking. Invisalign can address mild underbites; more severe cases may require additional treatment.
A crossbite occurs when some upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth rather than outside. This can cause uneven wear and gum recession. Invisalign can correct crossbites by moving affected teeth into proper alignment.
Many adults who had braces as teenagers find their teeth have shifted over time, especially if retainer wear was inconsistent. Invisalign is an excellent option for retreatment, often with a shorter timeline than the original treatment.
Invisalign treatment begins with a digital scan of your teeth — no messy impressions. Using advanced 3D imaging technology, we create a precise digital model of your current tooth positions and map out the planned movements to achieve your final result. You can see a simulation of your projected outcome before treatment even begins.
Based on this digital plan, a series of custom clear aligners is fabricated specifically for your teeth. Each set of aligners is worn for approximately one to two weeks before progressing to the next set. Each new aligner is slightly different from the last, applying gentle, controlled pressure to move teeth incrementally toward their final positions.
Invisalign was designed with adults in mind. The virtually invisible aligners mean most people won’t notice you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment — important for professionals, public-facing roles, and anyone who simply doesn’t want metal braces as part of their daily appearance.
Because aligners are removable, there are no dietary restrictions. You eat what you want, brush and floss normally, and maintain your oral hygiene routine without the challenges that come with brackets and wires. Many of our adult Invisalign patients are surprised by how little the treatment disrupts their daily routine.
Invisalign Teen is specifically designed for younger patients whose teeth and jaws are still developing. It includes compliance indicators — small blue dots on the aligners that fade with wear — so parents and dentists can confirm the aligners are being worn as directed. Replacement aligners are included for those inevitably lost or damaged ones.
We serve teen patients from throughout the Charlottesville area — including Crozet, Waynesboro, Staunton, and Albemarle County — who want to straighten their teeth without the social impact of metal braces during their school years. Invisalign Teen delivers the same clinical results as traditional orthodontics for appropriate cases.
Invisalign addresses alignment — but many patients also want to improve the color, shape, or appearance of their teeth at the same time. At Charlottesville Dental Associates, we can coordinate Invisalign treatment with professional teeth whitening, dental bonding, or other cosmetic services to achieve a comprehensive smile transformation.
A common approach is to complete Invisalign first to establish ideal alignment, then follow with professional whitening using custom trays — which can be made from your final aligner impressions — to brighten the result. Bonding can address any minor chips or shape concerns after alignment is complete. The result is a smile that is both straight and beautifully finished.
Here’s exactly what happens at each stage of your Invisalign treatment at Charlottesville Dental Associates.
We examine your teeth, bite, and jaw, take digital scans, and discuss your goals. We’ll tell you honestly whether Invisalign is the right option for your case and what results you can expect.
Using your digital scans, we create a precise 3D treatment plan and a simulation of your projected final result. You’ll see your anticipated outcome before committing to treatment.
Your custom aligners arrive and we fit your first set. We show you how to insert and remove them, explain the wear schedule, and answer all your questions before you leave.
You visit us every 6–8 weeks so we can monitor your progress, provide your next sets of aligners, and make any adjustments needed to keep treatment on track.
After your final aligner, we fit you with a custom retainer to maintain your results. We provide guidance on retainer wear and schedule follow-up to confirm your smile stays where it should.
We bring over 25 years of dental experience, honest guidance, and genuine care to every Invisalign case we treat.
Our team has been providing comprehensive dental care in Charlottesville since before Invisalign existed. We bring that depth of experience to every orthodontic case we evaluate and treat.
We don’t recommend Invisalign for every patient. If traditional orthodontics or another approach would serve you better, we’ll tell you. Our goal is the right outcome — not the easiest sale.
We use digital intraoral scanning for precise impressions — no messy traditional molds. This produces more accurate aligners and allows us to show you a 3D simulation of your projected result.
Our practice has three experienced dentists, ensuring continuity of care and availability for your check-in appointments throughout your treatment timeline.
We can coordinate Invisalign with whitening, bonding, or other cosmetic services for a complete smile transformation — all under one roof, with one coordinated treatment plan.
We take the time to answer your questions, explain each step, and ensure you feel confident and comfortable throughout your Invisalign journey. We’re here for the long term — not just the appointment.
Invisalign treatment delivers results that go beyond a straighter smile. Here’s what our patients consistently report after completing treatment.
The most immediate and consistent result is renewed confidence. Patients who were self-conscious about crowding, gaps, or misalignment find themselves smiling more freely and naturally.
Straight teeth are significantly easier to clean. Patients often notice improvements in their gum health and a reduction in areas where plaque was previously difficult to remove.
Correcting alignment reduces uneven pressure on teeth and jaw joints. Many patients experience less jaw tension and more comfortable chewing after treatment is complete.
With consistent retainer wear after treatment, Invisalign results are permanent. We provide a custom retainer and guidance on how to maintain your new alignment for years to come.
Patients who combine Invisalign with whitening or bonding achieve a complete smile transformation. Alignment first, then cosmetic finishing — the most effective and lasting approach.
Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign patients consistently report that treatment had little impact on their daily lives — no food restrictions, no speech changes after the first few days, no discomfort from brackets.
“I’d been embarrassed about my crowded front teeth for years but couldn’t face the idea of metal braces at 38. Invisalign was the answer I didn’t know existed. The team at CDA walked me through everything, and 14 months later I have the smile I always wanted. I wish I’d done it sooner.”
“My daughter did Invisalign Teen here and the experience was fantastic. The compliance indicators were reassuring, and the team was great with her — patient, encouraging, and thorough. Her teeth look incredible and she’s so much more confident. Highly recommend for teens.”
“I had braces as a kid but stopped wearing my retainer and my teeth shifted back. CDA recommended Invisalign for retreatment and it was so much easier than I expected. Treatment took about 9 months and I followed it with whitening. The combination was worth every bit of it.”
Both Invisalign and traditional braces can achieve excellent results. The right choice depends on your specific case, lifestyle, and preferences.
| Factor | Invisalign | Traditional Braces |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Virtually invisible clear plastic | Visible metal brackets and wires |
| Removability | Removable for eating, brushing, flossing | Fixed — cannot be removed during treatment |
| Dietary Restrictions | None — remove aligners to eat anything | Avoid hard, sticky, chewy foods |
| Oral Hygiene | Normal brushing and flossing | Requires special tools to clean around brackets |
| Comfort | Smooth plastic — no sharp edges | Brackets and wires can irritate cheeks and gums |
| Office Visits | Every 6–8 weeks | Every 4–6 weeks for adjustments |
| Complex Cases | Mild to moderate complexity | Handles severe crowding and complex bites |
| Treatment Compliance | Requires discipline to wear 20–22 hrs/day | Fixed — no compliance required |
Not sure which is right for you? We’ll give you an honest recommendation based on your specific case during your consultation.
We work with most major insurance plans and offer flexible payment options to help make Invisalign treatment accessible.
Many PPO dental plans include orthodontic benefits that apply to Invisalign. We’ll verify your coverage and explain exactly what your plan covers before treatment begins.
We accept CareCredit, a healthcare credit card that offers flexible payment plans including interest-free options. Apply online or in our office.
We offer in-office payment plan options to spread the investment over the course of your treatment. Ask our team about available arrangements at your consultation.
Not sure what your insurance covers? Call us at (434) 296-8043 and our team will check your benefits before your consultation so you arrive fully informed.
The first step is a conversation. We’ll assess your teeth, discuss your goals, and give you an honest picture of what Invisalign can achieve for your specific case. No pressure — just clear information so you can make the right decision for your smile.