Invisalign in Granada Hills

Why the DSD framework changes how Invisalign is planned

The Digital Smile Design protocol - the governing framework for every complex case at Viva Smile - treats tooth position as one variable in a larger designed outcome.

Here's why that matters for Invisalign. Veneers, bonding, and crown work are built around where the teeth currently sit. If alignment is off when restorations are placed, those restorations have to compensate for position rather than build on a corrected foundation. The result can look forced, wear unevenly, or need replacement sooner than it should.

When alignment is planned first - within the DSD framework - the orthodontic phase moves teeth toward a position the cosmetic phase already anticipates. Both phases are simulated together before anything is touched. You see where the case is going before Invisalign starts and before any cosmetic work begins.

This is a different process from getting Invisalign and then asking about veneers separately. The sequencing is designed at the outset, not assembled visit by visit.

The clinicians: Dr. Baghdasaryan and Dr. Hovsepyan

Invisalign cases at the Granada Hills location are handled by both clinicians, depending on the scope of the case and how it connects to other treatment.

Dr. Baghdasaryan plans his orthodontic cases in collaboration with the DSD Planning Center in Madrid - the same partnership that governs his full-arch implant and cosmetic cases. For combined orthodontic-cosmetic cases, the Planning Center coordinates the alignment and cosmetic phases as a single designed sequence. The endpoint of the orthodontic phase is determined by where the cosmetic phase needs to begin.

Dr. Hovsepyan is a member of the American Academy of Clear Aligners and handles Invisalign cases at the Granada Hills location. Patients who've worked with her describe clear explanations, options presented without pressure, and a willingness to assess cases that other providers have declined. One patient came in after two separate dentists told her Invisalign wasn't an option. Dr. Hovsepyan's assessment produced a different answer - and a path forward.

Which clinician handles your case depends on its scope. That's sorted during the consultation.

Two situations Invisalign in Granada Hills is right for

Situation 1: Alignment is the whole goal. Crowded teeth, a gap, an overbite, a crossbite - and cosmetic work isn't part of the picture. The clinician assesses the case, maps the aligner series, and sees treatment through from fitting to retainers. Straightforward and self-contained.

Situation 2: Alignment is the first phase of something larger. Teeth need to be in a different position before cosmetic work can be designed properly. Or the patient is considering veneers and the current tooth position would compromise the result. The DSD protocol maps the full picture - both phases - before either one starts. Invisalign gets the foundation right. The cosmetic work builds on it.

Most patients know which situation they're in before they arrive. Some discover it during the consultation. The assessment is set up to handle both.

What Invisalign can and can't correct

Conditions clear aligners handle well:

• Crowded teeth - overlap and misalignment caused by insufficient space in the jaw
• Gaps between teeth - spaces present since childhood or widened by tooth loss or shifting over time
• Mild to moderate overbite - upper front teeth extending too far over the lower
• Underbite - lower jaw protruding past the upper teeth
• Crossbite - some upper teeth sitting behind lower teeth when biting
• Open bite - upper and lower front teeth that don't make contact

What clear aligners don't handle as reliably: severe skeletal discrepancies, significant vertical bite changes, or tooth movements that exceed what aligners can produce on their own. When those cases come in, the honest answer is that Invisalign alone isn't the right tool - or that a hybrid approach makes more sense: an appliance phase using removable appliances, fixed appliances, functional appliances, or anchoring devices depending on what the case needs, to prepare the jaw or address specific alignment challenges first, followed by clear aligners for the remaining movement.

That's not a referral out. It's assessed and, where appropriate, handled in-house.

How the process works

Assessment

The first visit includes digital scans - no physical impressions - along with a clinical evaluation of bite, alignment, and overall dental condition. If the case involves both alignment and cosmetic work, Dr. Hovsepyan's orthodontic assessment and the DSD planning conversation happen in coordination. The scope of both phases is clear before either one is scheduled or priced.

Treatment simulation

Before any aligners are ordered, you see a digital simulation of how your teeth will move and where they'll end up. In combined cases, this orthodontic simulation is set against the DSD cosmetic plan. You can see both endpoints before anything is committed to.

Aligner fitting and attachments

Your first set of aligners is ready within two to three weeks. At the fitting visit, composite attachments are bonded to specific teeth - small tooth-colored buttons that give the aligners the grip needed for more precise movements. They're removed at the end of treatment. Aligners need to be worn 20 to 22 hours a day, removed only for eating, brushing, and flossing.

Check-in visits and virtual care

Progress is monitored every six to eight weeks. For patients who want to reduce the number of in-person appointments, the practice offers virtual care - a remote monitoring option where you receive a kit that includes a smartphone lens attachment, track your progress at home through the Invisalign app, and submit photos for the team to review. The team assesses how your teeth are tracking between visits and flags anything that needs attention before your next in-person appointment.

Not every check-in needs to be in-office. Virtual care handles the monitoring between key visits and means fewer trips without losing clinical oversight of how treatment is progressing.

Refinement and retainers

Toward the end of the aligner series, a refinement round is common - additional aligners that fine-tune the final position. Once treatment is complete, retainers maintain the result. Without them, teeth drift back toward where they started. Most patients wear retainers nightly long-term; specifics are covered when you're approaching the end of your course.

What Invisalign costs in Granada Hills

A full adult Invisalign course at Viva Smile Granada Hills is $5,500. Limited treatment - cases requiring less movement over a shorter period - is $2,750. Which applies to your case is confirmed at the consultation once the scope is clear.

Orthodontic coverage varies by plan. Viva Smile is in-network with Delta Dental PPO, which includes orthodontic benefits on many plans. Out-of-pocket costs for Delta PPO patients are confirmed before treatment starts. For patients without orthodontic coverage, financing is available through CareCredit and Cherry.

The dental exam used to assess candidacy is $150 and is covered at 100% by most PPO dental plans. For most prospective patients, the starting conversation costs nothing.

Who this isn't right for

Worth saying clearly.

If price is the primary deciding factor, there are Invisalign providers in the San Fernando Valley at lower price points. Treatment at Viva Smile is designed around outcome, not around being the most accessible option.

If you're looking for minimal time investment, clear aligners require 20 to 22 hours of daily wear and a treatment period of six to 24 months depending on complexity. Patients who don't follow through on wear time don't get the results they came in for. That's not a flaw in the treatment - it's how it works.

And if your case has complexity that goes beyond what clear aligners can accomplish - even with a preparatory appliance phase - the honest answer is that Invisalign isn't the right path. The assessment is clear about what the situation actually calls for.