People wearing clear aligners are roaming around in Chicago, but you might not have noticed them! Clear aligners have emerged as an innovative orthodontic treatment option, providing a unique combination of comfort, effectiveness, and nearly invisible design that traditional braces cannot match.
Whether you’re thinking about getting them yourself or just curious about advancements in dental technology, keep reading to learn more about how clear aligners work to help you achieve a great smile with confidence.
How Do Clear Aligners Work?
If you’ve been considering orthodontic treatment, you may have come across clear aligners as an option. These aligners are known for being transparent and gentle on your teeth. But how exactly do they work?
At Aligner Experts, we start the treatment with a clinical examination followed by digital scans of your teeth and jaws with Casee to create a personalized treatment plan. Custom aligner trays are then crafted to gently guide your teeth into the desired position; each tray is worn for 1 to 2 weeks. The smooth material ensures comfort, and the gradual progression ensures precise alignment without causing discomfort or irritation to your gums or cheeks.
As you progress through your treatment, you will wear each aligner tray for a specific amount of time, usually about 1 to 2 weeks. Each aligner in the series is slightly different from the previous one, allowing for gradual movement of your teeth. This process ensures that your teeth are shifting in the right direction and at the right pace.
How Long Does Clear Aligners Take To Work
After wearing an aligner for the prescribed period, your teeth will have moved slightly closer to their final position. You will then move on to the next aligner tray in the series, which will continue the process of gently guiding your teeth into alignment. This cycle continues until your teeth are fully straightened and your smile is significantly improved.
The duration of treatment with clear aligners can vary depending on the complexity of your case and the specific goals you want to achieve. On average, treatment with Aligner Experts can be completed in as little as five months. However, it’s important to consult with your doctor to get a more accurate estimate of the time needed for your specific situation.
The Clear Aligner Treatment Process
Ever wondered how clear aligners work their magic on your smile? Let’s understand the step-by-step process that will help you have a perfectly aligned and confident grin.
- Initiating Your Aligner Journey with Aligner Experts: Introducing your teeth to your dentist during the first visit for a comprehensive examination of oral health, bite assessment, and evaluation of malalignment severity.
- Precision Scanning of Your Oral Landscape: Utilizing digital scans with Casee to understand the severity of misalignment.
- Creating customized treatment plan: Based on the scans and examination, we create a customized treatment plan, considering your convenience and priorities and providing a digital preview of the anticipated post-treatment smile.
- Fabrication of Customized Aligners: Upon approval of the treatment preview, your teeth impressions are sent to the lab for the creation of personalized aligner trays.
- Delivery of Aligners: We call the patient to check and provide our special aligner bag, which contains the aligner, aligner case, Casee, and a hygiene kit. Our aligner specialists guide the patients about wearing each aligner for at least one week and 22 hours a day, progressing to a new tray every 1 to 2 weeks.
- Aligner Maintenance and Adjustments: Receiving instructions from your dentist on aligner care, hygiene, and maintenance. Periodic dental clinic visits and virtual check-ins through the DentalMonitoring app ensure treatment progress evaluation and adjustments if needed.
- Securing the Results: Upon achieving the desired position, we recommend the patient to get a retainer to prevent teeth from reverting and minimize the risk of relapse if required.
Clear Aligners: Before and After
Clear aligners gained immense popularity over the years due to their effectiveness in providing impressive results with minimal disruption to the wearer’s lifestyle. One of the most compelling aspects of clear aligners is the remarkable transformations they can achieve.
The use of digital impressions, such as Casee at Aligner Experts marks a significant advancement in comparing the before and after treatment results. It also helps to keep track of the progress of the entire treatment.
Unlike traditional uncomfortable impressions, digital impressions generate precise scans of teeth and gums, minimizing patient anxiety with a quick and comfortable process. This technology enhances treatment precision, reduces appointment times, and contributes to our specialists’ overall efficiency in treatment planning.
How to Use Clear Aligners Correctly
Using clear aligners is simple, but it’s important to adhere to the guidelines to maximize their effectiveness. Here are detailed instructions on how to use clear aligners correctly:
- Wear them as instructed: It’s important to wear your clear aligners for the recommended amount of time each day. Typically, this is 20-22 hours per day, only removing them for eating, drinking, and oral hygiene routines. Remember, consistency is key to achieving optimal results.
- Clean them regularly: To maintain good oral hygiene and prolong the lifespan of your clear aligners, it’s essential to clean them properly. Rinse them with lukewarm water before placing them back in your mouth, and brush them gently with a soft toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Avoid using hot water or abrasive cleaners, as they can damage the aligners.
- Avoid staining foods and beverages: Certain foods and beverages, such as coffee, tea, red wine, and any highly pigmented foods, can cause your clear aligners to become discolored or stained. It’s best to avoid consuming these substances while wearing your aligners to prevent unwanted discoloration.
- Store them properly: When you’re not wearing your clear aligners, it’s important to store them in their designated case to protect them from damage, loss, or exposure to bacteria. Never wrap them in a tissue or leave them exposed on a surface, as this can cause them to become warped or contaminated.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Clear Aligners
While using clear aligners is generally straightforward, there are a few common mistakes that you should avoid to ensure the best results.
Firstly, skipping or intentionally forgetting to wear your aligner trays can significantly impede progress. Remember to wear them consistently, as recommended by your dental professional.
Secondly, make sure to clean your aligners properly using our special hygiene kit to prevent bacteria, plaque, and odors from building up. Follow the cleaning instructions to keep your aligners fresh and your mouth healthy.
Lastly, resist the temptation to take your aligners out for too long. Not wearing them for the recommended time each day can delay your progress and make the treatment less effective.
How Long Do I Wear Clear Aligners?
The recommended duration for wearing clear aligners each day is typically 20 to 22 hours. Consistent wear is important to ensure that your teeth continuously move in the desired direction. On average, the treatment with clear aligners can take anywhere from several weeks to a couple of months. This timeframe includes wearing multiple sets of aligners throughout the treatment process.
How to Find a Clear Aligner That is Right for You?
Choosing the right clear aligner for your dental needs involves considering various factors. It is important to weigh the cost of the aligner and the complexity of your dental issue. Consulting with an orthodontic professional can also provide valuable guidance and ensure that you make an informed decision. Aligner Experts provides clear aligners and offers the opportunity to book a consultation, allowing you to receive personalized advice and find the clear aligner that best suits your dental needs.
