Clear aligners, also known as invisible aligners, are orthodontic equipment designed to treat crooked or misaligned teeth. They are virtually unnoticeable and are a removable substitute for braces. Aligner trays are customized for every patient, depending on the extent of tooth misalignment (malocclusion). At Harper Dental, our experienced professionals will conduct a thorough dental exam to determine the best solution for you.
Who is a Candidate for Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners can be used on both teenagers and adults who suffer from misaligned teeth. It provides a solution for dental issues like: overbites, underbites, crowded teeth, crooked teeth, protruding teeth, gaps in teeth, and overlapping teeth. Older teens and adults are ideal candidates for clear aligners because their jaw growth has stopped.
How Do Clear Aligners Work?
Clear aligners are designed to steadily shift your teeth in their proper position. It pushes the body to adjust by remodeling the bone. A 3D impression of your teeth is used to create unique sets of clear aligners for each patient. When pressure is exerted on a tooth, the periodontal ligament around it is stretched at one end of the root and compressed on the other. Due to the body’s early attempts to heal, bone cells called osteoclasts and osteoblasts, are created. Osteoclasts break down the bone on the compressed end and osteoblasts stimulate bone growth on the stretched end. A customized treatment plan will launch the biochemical processes to steadily align your teeth. Patients are usually given a set of clear aligner trays that need to be changed every 7-14 days. Each new set of clear aligners move your teeth in gradual increments to eventually shift them into proper position.
Benefits of Clear Aligners
If you want to get your teeth aligned but do not wish to wear wires like traditional braces, clear aligners offer the perfect solution. Here are some of the benefits of these aligners:
Unnoticeable
Clear aligners are virtually invisible and also save you from wearing brackets and metal wires. Teenagers may feel self-conscious while wearing metal braces, which may lead to low self-confidence and anxiety. Clear aligners can bring back your smile and restore your self-esteem.
Convenient to Maintain Dental Hygiene
You can conveniently remove clear aligners for eating and brushing your teeth. You do not require special dental cleaning as you would be able to clean your teeth, gums, and tongue by taking your aligners off. Clear aligners can be cleaned separately, and you would be saved from the hassle of maneuvering your toothbrush near brackets and wires.
Ease in Eating
You can conveniently remove your clear aligners before meals, allowing you to eat all kinds of food items. In contrast, conventional braces affect your diet as they restrict the kinds of food you can eat due to the brackets and wires attached.
Short Treatment Time
If you have a busy life and do not have time for long-term treatment for misaligned teeth, consider opting for clear aligners. Their treatment time is half of that of traditional braces. The treatment period can vary between six months to two years, depending on the severity of your condition. If you are suffering from crowded or crooked teeth, clear aligners are an effective treatment method for you. Make sure you wear them for at least 20-22 hours a day for best results. To learn more about our services or to schedule a dental exam, contact us at Harper Dental by calling us at (479) 431-0280 today.