Clear Aligners
Clear aligners, like Invisalign, straighten your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It’s virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you’re straightening your teeth.
Clearly Different
The aligner system combines advanced 3-D computer graphics technology with 100-year-old science of orthodontics. Aligners are designed to move your teeth in small steps to the desired final position prescribed by your orthodontist. Each aligner is precisely calibrated and manufactured to fit your mouth at each stage of the treatment plan.
Your first step is to visit our office to determine if clear aligners are right for you. After that a 3-D scan is sent to the aligners company and Dr. Shaw will design the prefect treatment plan for you. Sometimes with as few as 5 aligners will be needed. Each aligner is worn for one to two weeks and only taken out to eat, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually – week-by-week until the final alignment prescribed is attained. Then you’ll be smiling like you never have before!
To ensure the best possible results, an orthodontist who has been trained and certified by Align Technology should diagnose and treat using aligners. Clear aligners are occasionally intended for children, yet is often a great option for teens and adults. Only an orthodontist can determine if this treatment is an effective option for you. To see if aligners can help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted, contact us to make an appointment.
Clear Aligner FAQs
You must wear your aligners for up to 22 hours daily. You may remove them for eating, drinking and regular oral hygiene.
No. Unlike braces, you may eat whatever you like as long as you remove the aligners before eating. Prior to placing the aligners back on, it is important to brush your teeth and the aligners after you eat.
Like any orthodontic treatment, there is a short adjustment period. The more you speak with the aligners in, the quicker you will adjust.
There will be some pressure and minor discomfort for a day or two after each initial insertion. This is a sign that your teeth are moving sequentially into their final position.
It is recommended that you remove your aligners prior to chewing gum as the gum will stick to the aligners.
We discourage smoking with aligners as the cigarette smoke will tend to discolor them.
Brushing them with toothpaste will keep them fresh and clean.
Regular office visits are far less frequent than traditional metal braces. One of the advantages of the aligner treatment is fewer office visits, which works well for busy people.
All orthodontic patients are instructed to wear their retainers at night indefinitely. Sleeping with your retainers in at night will ensure a healthy bite and maintain the new position of your teeth.
Treatment time varies depending on the severity of the misaligned teeth. Treatment time can be shorter than traditional braces, between six and 18 months.
Yes it does, but there are limitations based on age, and development of the primary/permanent teeth present. We would be happy to see if clear aligners are right for your kid.
