Many adults want a straighter smile without the metal braces. Invisalign takes the guesswork out of the equation, using a series of custom clear aligners to move teeth gradually while staying virtually invisible.
Because the trays come out for meals and cleaning, treatment fits into work schedules and daily life far more easily than fixed appliances. That said, it still takes careful planning and regular checkups to keep tooth movement on track and your bite healthy. Understanding how the process works helps you decide if it’s the right fit. At Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics, Dr. Joanna Yu is a Top 1% Blue Diamond Invisalign provider, the highest tier Align Technology awards, and roughly 80% of our patients choose clear aligners. Aligner treatment is what our Portland and Windham team does best.
What Is Invisalign?
How Clear Aligners Work
Treatment starts with digital scans that map out a personalized plan from day one. Each aligner in the series is built to shift your teeth in small, controlled increments, and you wear each set for a set number of days before moving to the next.
Regular check-ins with Dr. Yu let our team track your progress and step in with adjustments if anything needs correcting.
Orthodontic Concerns Invisalign May Address
Invisalign frequently handles crowding, gaps between teeth, crooked teeth, several types of bite issues and cases where teeth have shifted after earlier orthodontic work. In experienced hands, aligners treat the large majority of cases, including complex bites and cases involving jaw surgery. What works best always comes down to your specific diagnosis, which Dr. Yu reviews with you directly.
Invisalign for Adults
Why Adults Choose Invisalign
For most adults, the appeal comes down to discretion. The aligners are barely noticeable in conversation, and being able to remove them for meals means no restrictions on what you eat. Brushing and flossing stay simple too, since there’s no hardware in the way. For working professionals and parents around Portland and Cape Elizabeth, that quiet convenience often makes all the difference.
Is Invisalign Suitable for Every Adult?
For the majority of adults, yes. With Dr. Yu’s Top 1% experience, clear aligners can treat most cases, including complex ones that some providers still send straight to braces. During your evaluation, she reviews how much tooth movement is needed, the complexity of your bite, your oral health and any existing dental work, then confirms the best approach for you. A proper orthodontic evaluation is the reliable way to know.
What Happens During an Invisalign Consultation?
Initial Evaluation
Expect a review of your dental and orthodontic history, a hands-on exam of your teeth and bite, and digital scans when they’re needed. This is also the time to talk through what you want your smile to look like and raise any concerns. Your first consultation is free.
Treatment Planning
From there, Dr. Yu confirms whether Invisalign makes sense, walks you through alternatives if it doesn’t, gives you a treatment length estimate, describes what results to expect and explains the retainer phase that follows.
Questions to Ask During the Consultation
A few worth asking: Does Invisalign fit your specific case? Roughly how long will treatment take? How often will you need to come in? Is there a chance any refinements will be needed? What does payment look like?
How to Choose an Experienced Invisalign Provider
Qualifications and Experience
Look for an orthodontist with formal specialty training, a strong history of adult Invisalign cases and ongoing education in clear aligner methods. Dr. Yu earned her dental degree with highest honors from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, completed her orthodontic specialty training at Tufts, and is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and the Maine Dental Association. Her Top 1% Blue Diamond status, the highest Invisalign tier, reflects the volume and range of aligner cases she treats every year.
Technology and Treatment Planning
Practices that have moved past traditional impressions in favor of digital scans, treatment simulations and customized planning tend to deliver a smoother experience with fewer surprises. That’s exactly how our Portland and Windham offices are set up.
Patient Experience
Beyond the clinical side, clear communication, honest pricing, a responsive care team and consistent follow-up visits go a long way toward making treatment feel manageable. As one adult patient, Nikki N., shared, she was very pleased with the care and service she received through the end of her treatment.
Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces for Adults
Here’s something many adults are surprised to learn: for most cases, clear aligners and braces are equally effective. In experienced hands, that holds true even for complex bites and cases involving jaw surgery. So the choice usually comes down to lifestyle and preference rather than one option being more capable than the other. Here’s a quick side-by-side:
| Invisalign | Traditional Braces | |
| Appearance | Clear and nearly invisible | Visible brackets and wires |
| Removable | Yes, for meals and cleaning | No, fixed in place |
| Food restrictions | Very few | Hard and sticky foods off-limits |
| Effectiveness | Equally effective for most cases | Equally effective for most cases |
| Cost at our practice | Same price as braces | Same price as Invisalign |
| Daily responsibility | Wear 20 to 22 hours per day | No wear-time tracking needed |
Advantages of Invisalign
Clear aligners win on appearance, removability, easier hygiene and flexibility around meals and events. For most patients, they deliver results on par with braces, which is a big reason roughly 80% of our patients choose them.
Advantages of Braces
Some patients simply prefer a fixed appliance they never have to think about removing or tracking. Braces stay put around the clock, so there’s no wear-time to remember. Both paths can reach the same destination.
Which Option Is Right?
Since both options are equally effective for most cases, it really comes down to your day-to-day lifestyle, what you’re hoping for and, ultimately, Dr. Yu’s recommendation after she sees your smile.
Invisalign Treatment Timeline
Factors Affecting Treatment Duration
How long treatment takes depends on the degree of crowding or spacing, bite correction needs, how many aligners the plan calls for, how consistently you wear them and whether refinements come into play.
Importance of Consistent Aligner Wear
Sticking to the recommended wear time each day, switching trays on schedule, showing up to appointments and keeping up good oral hygiene all directly affect how well treatment goes.
Invisalign Cost and Financing
What Determines Invisalign Cost?
Pricing reflects how complex the case is, how long treatment will run, how many aligners are needed and whether refinements are likely. One thing that won’t drive your decision here: choosing aligners over braces. We charge the same for Invisalign and braces, so you can pick based on what fits your life, not your budget.
Payment and Financing Options
We build our payment plans with your family’s budget in mind. Monthly payment plans and insurance coordination are available, so treatment stays affordable. Ask our team what options fit your situation when you come in.
Why a Consultation Is Important
No two smiles are alike, so an in-person evaluation is really the only way to get an accurate cost estimate and compare your options side by side.
Locations We Serve
Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics welcomes patients of all ages from across Greater Portland and the Lakes Region. Our two offices make it easy to find care close to home:
- Portland, ME (1601 Congress St., Portland, ME 04102)
- Windham, ME (744 Roosevelt Tr., Suite 101, Windham, ME 04062)
We also happily serve families from South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Cumberland, Gorham, Gray and New Gloucester, and the surrounding communities.
Ready to Start Your Smile Journey?
A free consultation with Dr. Yu is the best place to start, and eligible patients can begin treatment the same day. Call our Portland office at (207) 775-3456 or our Windham office at (207) 892-9909, or request a free consultation online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the top orthodontist near Windham for Invisalign consultations?
The top orthodontist for Invisalign is one with specialty training and a high volume of aligner cases. Dr. Joanna Yu is a Top 1% Blue Diamond Invisalign provider at Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics’ Windham office, the highest tier Align Technology awards. She uses digital scans and lays out your options clearly at every consultation.
Do orthodontists in Windham offer Invisalign for adults?
Yes. Dr. Yu treats adult Invisalign patients at both the Windham and Portland offices, and roughly 80% of our patients choose clear aligners. Eligibility depends on a full assessment of your teeth, bite and overall oral health.
Which Windham orthodontist is experienced with Invisalign for adults?
Dr. Joanna Yu leads Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics in Windham and holds Top 1% Blue Diamond Invisalign status, which reflects a strong track record with adult aligner cases, including complex ones. Every plan includes digital scans, personalized planning and regular progress checks.