Invisalign in Bellevue, WA: A Clear Choice for a Better Smile
Thinking about straightening your teeth without the hassle of metal braces? You’re not alone. More and more teens and adults in Bellevue are choosing Invisalign — a modern, discreet way to achieve a confident smile. At Bellevue Azalea Dentistry, Dr. Uparika Sharma and our team are here to help you explore whether Invisalign is the right fit for your lifestyle and dental goals.
In this article, we’ll walk you through how Invisalign works, who it’s for, and what makes our approach unique.
What Is Invisalign and How Does It Work?
Invisalign® is a clear, comfortable alternative to traditional braces. Using a series of custom-made aligners crafted from SmartTrack® material, Invisalign gently guides your teeth into place over time — with most patients seeing full results in 12 to 18 months.
At your initial visit to our Bellevue dental office, we’ll use advanced 3D scanning technology to create a precise digital model of your teeth. From there, we map out your treatment plan and create a series of aligners customized just for you.
Each set is worn for 1–2 weeks, and you’ll gradually see your smile transform — without brackets, wires, or food restrictions.
Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces: What’s the Difference?
When weighing your options, here’s how Invisalign compares to metal braces:
Feature | Invisalign | Traditional Braces |
Appearance | Nearly invisible aligners | Noticeable metal brackets |
Comfort | Smooth, flexible material | May cause irritation |
Removability | Can be removed when eating/cleaning | Fixed until treatment ends |
Oral Hygiene | Easy to brush and floss | More challenging to clean |
Office Visits | Fewer appointments | Frequent wire adjustments |
Treatment Time | 12–18 months (average) | 18–36 months (varies) |
Invisalign for Teens and Adults
Whether you’re a student, a busy professional, or somewhere in between, Invisalign offers flexibility that fits your life.
For Teens:
Invisalign Teen includes extra features like built-in wear indicators and six free replacement trays — perfect for active, on-the-go lifestyles.
For Adults:
Many adults appreciate Invisalign’s discreet look and the freedom to remove aligners during meetings, meals, or social events. It’s a professional and convenient way to achieve the smile you’ve always wanted.
Is Invisalign Right for You?
Clear aligners are an excellent solution for a wide range of orthodontic issues, including:
- Mild to moderate overbites and underbites
- Crowded or gapped teeth
- Open bites or generally crooked teeth
If your case is more complex — such as severely rotated teeth or previous dental restorations like bridges — Dr. Sharma may recommend other orthodontic options, including ceramic or traditional braces. We’ll help you choose the best path forward during your consultation.
Invisalign Timeline, Cost, and Care Tips
How long does Invisalign take?
On average, Invisalign treatment lasts 12 to 18 months, depending on your specific alignment needs. You’ll need to wear your aligners 20–22 hours a day for best results.
How much does Invisalign cost in Bellevue?
Costs vary depending on your case complexity. While Invisalign may be slightly more expensive than traditional braces, many patients find the benefits well worth it. During your complimentary consultation, we’ll provide a transparent breakdown of costs, insurance coverage, and flexible payment options.
Tips for Invisalign success:
- Brush and floss after meals before wearing aligners
- Always store aligners in their case when not in use
- Wear your retainer after treatment to preserve your results
Why Choose Bellevue Azalea Dentistry?
At Bellevue Azalea Dentistry, we go beyond just straightening smiles. Dr. Uparika Sharma combines clinical expertise with a compassionate, patient-first approach to deliver outstanding results. Our office uses the latest dental technology to ensure precise, efficient care — and our friendly team is here to support you every step of the way.
“Invisalign can be life-changing for patients who’ve spent years hiding their smile. We love seeing the confidence that comes with every aligner change.”
— Dr. Uparika Sharma
Whether you’re searching for an Invisalign provider in Bellevue or exploring clear aligner options near Factoria, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan just for you.
Ready to Start Your Smile Journey?
If you’re ready to feel more confident about your smile — without the hassle of metal braces — Invisalign could be the perfect choice. Contact Bellevue Azalea Dentistry today at (425) 998-8109 to schedule your complimentary Invisalign consultation.
Let’s take the first step together toward a straighter, healthier smile.
Call today to schedule a consultation! (425) 998-8109
Call today to schedule a consultation!
(425) 998-8109
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between Invisalign and traditional braces?
Due to numerous reasons including aesthetics and dental hygiene, clear braces like Invisalign are preferred to traditional metal braces. However, Invisalign braces have a few shortcomings of their own. The pros and cons of both kinds of braces are compared and contrasted below:
- Applicability: Invisalign braces are mostly used for mild to moderate dental misalignments. Conversely, orthodontists prefer to use traditional metal braces for more complex issues like some more serious malocclusions and severe overcrowding.
- Aesthetics: Unlike the infamous metal wire braces, Invisalign braces are invisible. This makes all the difference to most people, as therapy with Invisalign is much less disruptive to patients` personal and social lives.
- Removability: Traditional metal braces remain screwed tightly into place until the end of the therapy. This poses a host of problems, including food particles sticking under the braces and the inability to brush or floss properly, predisposing the user to dental plaques. On the other hand, Invisalign braces can be removed when you eat, brush, floss, or for certain brief social appearances.
- Dentist Visits: With metal wire braces, patients have to visit their dentists frequently to have the wire tightened further. However, with Invisalign, the patient replaces his/her brace trays at regular intervals as instructed by their dentist, and visits the dentist much less frequently.
- Comfort: The process of tightening the metal wire brace by the dentist has been reported by patients as very painful. The wire also tends to cause dental abrasions and gum cuts. Invisalign eliminates most of these complaints.
- Cost: The traditional treatment is only slightly less expensive than the Invisalign treatment. Invisalign treatment cost depends on your healthcare provider and your particular dental needs.
- Duration of treatment: the average treatment duration with metal wire braces is anywhere between 18 months to 36 months. Whereas Invisalign therapy takes a much lesser duration of around 12 to 18 months to give spectacular results.
How successful are Invisalign treatments?
The success of therapy with Invisalign braces depends on a number of factors, including the expertise of the orthodontist, the complexity of the alignment issue, the commitment of the patient to the therapy, and the biological response of the patient`s mouth to treatment.
Invisalign is admittedly less effective for complex dental anomalies like more serious malocclusions and severe overcrowding. However, for the much more common mild to moderate issues like open bite, gap teeth, overbite, etc., Invisalign has produced reported success rates of up to 96% of patients (Dohealthwell.net). Carefully reviewed anecdotes from several dental clinics also show a high success rate for Invisalign therapy.
What are Invisalign attachments?
A small percentage of orthodontic patients with more complex dental issues may need Invisalign attachments to aid the treatment process. These attachments are basically small dots made of composite filling material that are bonded to teeth, to assist the Invisalign aligners in teeth movement. They are usually tooth-colored (inconspicuous) and are carefully placed at the center of the teeth where they function as an anchor to amplify the efforts of the brace.
Will I need to wear retainers after my successful Invisalign treatment?
With all orthodontic treatments, the risk of alignment relapse after successful completion of therapy is significant. Hence the need for retainers, which help to keep the aligned teeth in place and prevent relapse. However, unlike with metal wire braces where retainers are worn for most of the day after treatment, Invisalign users only need to wear retainers at night for a limited period after treatment.
How long does Invisalign therapy take?
The Invisalign Therapy takes between 12 to 18 months on average, depending on the severity of the patient`s dental misalignment and their willingness to keep the braces on for up to 22 hours daily. Failure to do so will lead to treatment extensions in order to reach the desired endpoint.
Reviewed By
Dr. Uparika Sharma
Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.)
Dr. Uparika Sharma brings over five years of hands-on experience in general and cosmetic dentistry. She leads patient care at Bellevue Azalea Dentistry, where she is known for her gentle approach and personalized treatment plans. Dr. Sharma earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree from the University of Washington and is an active member of the American Dental Association, reflecting her commitment to continued education and high standards of care.