Glendale, Arizona

Invisalign for Adults in Glendale, AZ

It is never too late for a straighter smile. Dr. Turke and Dr. Dawson offer Invisalign clear aligner treatment for adults at every stage of life -- discreet, removable, and designed to fit around your professional and personal schedule. Most adult cases complete in 12 to 18 months.

Written by Richard Dawson, DMD ICOI Fellow Reviewed by John Turke, DMD DMD Updated April 2026
Both Doctors Invisalign Certified Dr. Turke leads cosmetic & orthodontic cases
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Why Adults Choose Invisalign Over Braces

Metal braces work -- but they come with trade-offs that matter a lot more once you are an adult. Here is why Invisalign is the preferred choice for the majority of adult orthodontic patients at SmileScience.

Virtually Invisible

Clear aligners are nearly undetectable in everyday conversation. In professional settings -- meetings, presentations, client-facing roles -- most people will never know you are straightening your teeth.

No Dietary Restrictions

Remove your aligners and eat whatever you like. No avoiding popcorn, apples, or hard bread. No food trapped in brackets. Just take them out, eat, brush, and put them back in.

Professional Life Compatibility

Important presentation, job interview, or first date? Remove the aligners for a few hours. Adult life has events that matter -- Invisalign accommodates them in a way fixed appliances simply cannot.

Comfort

Smooth BPA-free plastic with no brackets or wires means no metal irritation against cheeks and gums. Most adult Invisalign patients describe comfort as significantly better than their memories of braces.

Easy Oral Hygiene

Because aligners are fully removable, you brush and floss your teeth exactly as you normally would. No interdental brushes, no floss threaders, no navigating around brackets. Good oral hygiene is straightforward throughout treatment.

Preview Your Result First

ClinCheck 3D simulation lets you see a projection of how your teeth will look after treatment -- before any aligner is manufactured. Adults overwhelmingly prefer this level of transparency and planning before committing.

Common Adult Concerns Addressed with Invisalign

Crowding

Overlapping or rotated teeth are among the most common adult presentations and highly predictable with Invisalign. Even moderate crowding can typically be resolved without extraction for most adult patients, though this depends on jaw size and case specifics.

Spacing and Gaps

Gaps between teeth -- whether a single midline diastema or distributed spacing across multiple teeth -- can be closed reliably with clear aligners, often improving both appearance and the way gum tissue fits between teeth.

Overbite

A deep overbite -- where the upper front teeth excessively overlap the lower -- can be addressed with Invisalign, often using bite ramps built into the aligner design to gradually open the bite over the treatment course.

Underbite

Mild to moderate underbites where the lower teeth sit in front of the upper can be treated with Invisalign. More severe skeletal underbites may require additional appliances or, in some cases, a conversation about surgical options -- your doctor will be honest about the scope of what clear aligners can achieve for your specific bite.

Crossbite

Posterior or anterior crossbites -- where one or more upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth -- are treatable with Invisalign in many adult presentations. Addressing crossbites early avoids asymmetric jaw wear and associated TMJ strain over time.

Post-Braces Relapse

Teeth that have shifted after previous orthodontic treatment are one of the most common adult Invisalign cases we see. Because the correction is a refinement rather than a comprehensive realignment, these cases are often in the moderate range -- meaning a shorter timeline and lower cost than full-arch treatment.

Invisalign in Your 30s, 40s, 50s, and Beyond

One of the most common things adults say when they first come in is: "I think I'm probably too old for this." They are not. Teeth can be moved orthodontically at any age as long as the gums and bone are healthy. We treat adults across a wide age range -- from their mid-20s to their 60s -- and the treatment experience is essentially the same.

What does change with age is that gum health becomes more important as a prerequisite. Any active gum disease must be addressed before beginning Invisalign. Adults over 40 tend to have more complex restorative histories -- crowns, implants, bonding -- that must be accounted for in treatment planning. These factors are assessed at your consultation and never brushed aside.

Beyond candidacy, treatment itself is no harder or slower for older adults. Tooth movement timelines are comparable to younger patients in most cases. The finish line -- a straighter, healthier-looking smile -- is just as achievable at 52 as at 32.

Gum Health Is Required Before Invisalign

Orthodontic treatment -- whether braces or aligners -- moves teeth through bone. Doing this through infected or inflamed gum tissue can worsen gum disease, accelerate bone loss, and compromise the long-term result. This is why a clean bill of gum health is a prerequisite, not just a recommendation.

If we identify gingivitis or early periodontitis during your consultation, we will recommend addressing it first. For most patients this means a thorough cleaning and improved home care. More advanced gum issues may require a scaling and root planing appointment before treatment can begin.

This is actually a benefit of starting Invisalign: it motivates patients to achieve the best possible baseline oral health -- and patients who begin treatment with healthy gums maintain better gum health throughout treatment because aligners are removable and don't impede flossing.

Combining Invisalign with Cosmetic Work

Many adults use Invisalign as the first step in a broader smile transformation. The ideal sequence:

  1. 1
    Invisalign -- Align teeth first. Cosmetic work placed over crooked teeth will look and last better once the foundation is correct.
  2. 2
    Whitening -- Professional take-home whitening can often be done during treatment (aligners double as bleaching trays), or completed after your last aligner set.
  3. 3
    Veneers or bonding (if desired) -- Any cosmetic enhancements to shape, color, or minor size discrepancies are placed after alignment is final, on a stable foundation.
  4. 4
    Retainers -- Custom retainers maintain your result long-term. Wearing them as directed is the most important step for keeping everything in place.
Our patient with diastema that affected her speech, before and after Invisalign treatment. Smile Science Dental Spa - Glendale, AZ
Actual SmileScience patient. Diastema (gap) corrected with Invisalign. Individual results vary.

Adult Invisalign Treatment Timeline

  1. Day 1

    Digital scan, clinical exam, and ClinCheck simulation review. You leave knowing your estimated timeline, tier assignment, and exact fee -- before any commitment.

    Consultation + 3D Scan

  2. Aligner Delivery

    Weeks 2 to 3

    Your first set of aligners arrives. We walk through proper insertion, removal, and care. You leave with your case, cleaning supplies, and the first stages of your series.

  3. Months 3 to 6

    First visible changes begin. Progress appointments are 20 to 30 minutes every 6 to 10 weeks. We verify teeth are tracking correctly and provide the next aligner sets.

    Early Progress Checkups

  4. Treatment Completion + Retainers

    Months 12 to 18

    Final aligner stage completed. Refinements included if needed. Custom retainers provided. Optional whitening or cosmetic work can be layered in at the appropriate stage. Minor relapse cases may complete in 6 to 9 months; complex cases up to 24 months -- your ClinCheck plan shows the projected timeline before you begin.

22 Hours Per Day

Invisalign is effective when aligners are worn consistently -- approximately 22 hours per day. This leaves 2 hours for meals and oral hygiene. Most adults find that after the first week or two, they stop thinking about wear time because it becomes routine.

Common pitfalls to avoid:

  • Leaving aligners out during meals and forgetting to put them back in
  • Removing aligners for events and not tracking total daily wear time
  • Skipping aligner stages or rushing ahead before the full wear period
  • Drinking anything other than plain water with aligners in (staining and warping risk)

Adults who wear their aligners consistently typically complete treatment within the planned timeline and require minimal refinements. Inconsistent wear is the single most common cause of extended treatment time. Our team tracks your progress at every checkup and flags concerns early.

Virtual Refinements -- What They Are and What Is Included

After completing your initial series of aligners, some teeth may need further refinement -- additional movement that was not fully achieved in the first set. Invisalign calls this a refinement phase. A new scan is taken and an additional series of aligners is ordered to finalize your result.

At SmileScience, one round of refinements is included in the quoted Invisalign fee for comprehensive cases. There are no per-aligner charges and no surprise mid-treatment costs. If a second refinement round is needed for a complex case, that is discussed and quoted transparently before proceeding.

Refinements are a normal part of precision orthodontic treatment -- not a sign something went wrong. Tooth movement is biological and individual; occasional fine-tuning is expected and planned for.

Invisalign Cost for Adults

Adult Invisalign at SmileScience is priced at three fixed all-in tiers: $2,500 (Lite -- minor corrections), $4,499 (Moderate -- most common), or $5,999 (Comprehensive -- full arch). Most adult cases, including post-braces relapse, fall into the Moderate tier at $4,499. An exact tier assignment is provided after your free consultation and 3D scan.

Most insurance plans with orthodontic benefits apply toward Invisalign. FSA and HSA funds are fully eligible. Flexible financing is available through CareCredit, Cherry, Sunbit, and Proceed Finance -- many patients qualify for low- or no-interest monthly payment plans.

See Full Pricing Details

Medical Review & Evidence

Author: Richard Dawson, DMD, ICOI Fellow Medically Reviewed by: John Turke, DMD Last Updated: April 2026

Invisalign clear aligner therapy is supported by over 20 years of published clinical research and more than 15 million treated patients worldwide.

  • Invisalign achieves equivalent orthodontic outcomes to fixed appliances for mild-to-moderate crowding and spacing cases, per systematic review evidence.[1]
  • Patient-reported quality of life during Invisalign treatment is significantly higher than during fixed-appliance treatment, primarily due to comfort and aesthetics.[2]
  • iTero digital scanning eliminates traditional impression material and provides greater dimensional accuracy than alginate impressions for orthodontic models.[3]
  • ClinCheck treatment simulation enables clinicians to visualize and adjust tooth movement staging prior to aligner fabrication, improving treatment predictability.[4]
  1. Ke Y, et al. A comparison of treatment effectiveness between clear aligner and fixed appliance therapies. BMC Oral Health. 2019;19(1):24.
  2. Pacheco-Pereira C, et al. Factors associated with patient and parent satisfaction after orthodontic treatment. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2015;148(4):652–659.
  3. Wiranto MG, et al. Validity, reliability, and reproducibility of the iTero intraoral scanner to measure tooth dimensions. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2013;143(2):194–199.
  4. Kravitz ND, et al. How well does Invisalign work? A prospective clinical study evaluating the efficacy of tooth movement. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2009;135(1):27–35.

This page is reviewed periodically for clinical accuracy. Individual treatment outcomes vary. Consult your SmileScience provider for a personalized assessment.

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Adult Invisalign FAQ

There is no upper age limit for Invisalign. Healthy teeth can be moved orthodontically at any age. The key requirements are good gum health and adequate bone support -- both assessed at your consultation. Adults in their 50s and 60s successfully complete Invisalign treatment at SmileScience.

Yes -- and this is one of the most common adult Invisalign scenarios we see. Teeth tend to shift over time, especially if retainer wear was not consistent after original treatment. Invisalign is well-suited for adult relapse cases, and many of these corrections are in the moderate range with shorter timelines and lower cost than full comprehensive treatment.

Aligners are virtually invisible and removable for important events. Most adults find them easy to manage after the first week or two. You can remove them for presentations, client dinners, or occasions where you want to feel your best -- while still wearing them the recommended 22 hours on average.

Most adult Invisalign cases complete in 12 to 18 months. Minor corrections may be done in 6 to 9 months. Complex full-arch cases can take up to 24 months. Your ClinCheck treatment plan shows an estimated timeline before you commit.

Yes. Active gum disease must be resolved before beginning Invisalign. Moving teeth through infected or inflamed tissue can worsen the gum condition and compromise results. We assess periodontal health at your consultation and address any issues before starting your aligner series.

Take-home whitening can often be done during treatment -- aligners double as custom trays. We recommend completing alignment before veneers or bonding, so cosmetic work is placed based on the final tooth position. The ideal sequence is Invisalign, then whitening, then veneers or bonding if desired.

Aligners should be worn approximately 22 hours per day. They are removed for eating, drinking anything other than water, and brushing and flossing. Consistent wear keeps treatment on schedule and reduces the likelihood of needing additional aligner sets beyond what is planned.

Refinements are additional aligner sets ordered after your initial series to fine-tune positions that need further movement. One round is included in the SmileScience fee for comprehensive cases. They are a normal part of precision treatment planning and are accounted for in your quoted cost upfront.

Most dental plans with orthodontic benefits apply toward Invisalign just as they would to traditional braces. Orthodontic lifetime maximums typically range from $1,000 to $2,500. We verify your benefits before your consultation so you know your exact out-of-pocket cost before you decide.

No. Invisalign is appropriate for adults at any age provided teeth and supporting bone are healthy. We have treated patients in their 40s, 50s, and 60s successfully. The main clinical consideration for older adults is gum and bone health -- patients with controlled periodontitis are still candidates, though active periodontal disease must be treated before orthodontic treatment begins.

Progress check appointments at SmileScience are typically 20 -- 30 minutes every 6 -- 8 weeks. There are no emergency wire adjustments or bracket-breakage appointments. You change aligners on your own schedule at home every 1 -- 2 weeks per your treatment plan. Most professional patients find Invisalign significantly less disruptive than fixed appliances.

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Ready to Straighten Your Smile?

Book a free Invisalign consultation at SmileScience Dental Spa in Glendale, AZ. Dr. Turke or Dr. Dawson will scan your teeth, review your ClinCheck simulation, and give you an exact fee and timeline before you make any decision.