Clear Aligners Treatment - Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Many people may have misaligned tooth arrangement. Such people may feel the need for moving their teeth to position with the aid of some orthodontic devices. Clear aligner is one of them.

Clear aligners, which are an alternative to traditional braces, are designed in such a manner that it helps in guiding the teeth into their proper position. Just like the braces, clear aligners control tooth movement by using a gradual force, but without any metal wires or brackets.

The clear aligners are manufactured from strong plastic materials and are designed to perfectly fit into a person’s mouth. In cases where a series of aligners are necessary, then each aligner helps in moving the teeth in increments until the desired movement is achieved.

Clear aligners should be worn for at least 20 hours each day for desired results and maximum effectiveness. Each of these aligners should be worn for a period of three weeks before changing to the next one. The time for the completion of the treatment varies from person to person and mostly depends upon the severity of each case.

For some people, the treatment using clear aligner can be as short as three weeks, but for others it may take longer than six months. However, to sum up, the aligners offer treatment within a much shorter time span than the treatment offered by traditional braces.

Clear aligners are a better option for individuals who long for a straighter smile, but do not want to wear traditional metal braces. Clear aligners are easily removable and hence enable a person to brush and floss after meals. They are more comfortable and less likely to irritate the gums and cheeks of the person using them and also protect tooth wear from grinding.

Clear aligners help people with distorted tooth arrangement to achieve straight and uniform teeth. These aligners function by slowly shifting a person’s teeth at small intervals. Each new tray is designed to be very slightly closer to the ideal position of the person’s teeth. When a new aligner is placed within the person’s mouth it will be tight and as the teeth shift to fit into the new tray the older aligner stays no longer tight.

In order to get a personal clear aligner made, a person needs to consult with a Board Certified Orthodontist. It is important to find out whether he or she is an eligible candidate for clear aligners before beginning. Depending on the complexity of a person’s teeth arrangement and how perfectly he or she desires their teeth to be, some professionals might not be able to achieve this with aligners alone or it might be impossible to accomplish this with just aligners.

After the orthodontist finds the person as eligible for clear aligners, then a digital impression is taken of the person’s teeth. Sometimes a traditional impression can also be taken, but in most cases the orthodontist uses a digital system. After the impression is taken, it is the work of the orthodontist to design the aligners appropriately.

The orthodontist then designs the aligner to get to the desired result of the person concerned. Once the design is approved, then a 3D printing technology is used to fabricate the aligner. Once the clear aligner is ready, it can be worn by the person for adjusting the position of their teeth.

Clear aligners are preferred to traditional braces because of their better oral hygiene and for their ability to be removed for short period of times. However, the expenses for making a clear aligner are far more than traditional braces.