Whether you are an adult or a teenager, a clear aligner might be just the thing if you and your dentist decide that you only need a minimal alignment or straightening of your teeth. Clear aligners are designed especially for minimal alignment issues and can help give you back your confidence and beautiful smile.
Clear aligners are devices that your orthodontist can make in order to help straighten your teeth. Although the devices are sometimes referred to as "Invisalign," the first major provider, a number of companies now provide quality clear aligners.
Similar to their metallic predecessors (braces and brackets), clear aligners incrementally reposition teeth to make a better fit in your mouth, improve your smile and most importantly, perfect your bite. Your bite is the way your teeth fit and work together. When your bite does not match up, this could lead to unnecessary loss of tooth structure, which could lead to more problems down the line.
Similar to braces, clear aligner treatment has three distinct phases.
Your orthodontist will perform a thorough examination of your mouth and teeth. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, your orthodontist will take numerous X-rays, measurements, impressions, photographs and possibly even digital scans. All this information will help your orthodontist develop a clear aligner treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and treatment goals. Once they have created your specific treatment plan, a series of aligners (plastic replicas of your teeth) will be made just for you.
This will be the longest phase of the treatment. WebMD says that the length of treatment depends on how much your teeth need to be re-positioned or rotated. Treatment, on average, takes between 10 and 24 months. This time may be significantly reduced, however, if you are an adult who had braces as a child. During this treatment time, you will visit your orthodontist about every two weeks or so to get a new set of aligners. When you have completed your course of treatment with the aligners, you will graduate to phase three.
Once your teeth have achieved the desired positioning, your orthodontist will allow you to discontinue use of the clear aligners. Do not be surprised if you have to wear a retainer for a period of time. Your orthodontist just wants to give your teeth a chance to prove they are solid in their new positions.
But here is the best part ...
Once the retainer is off, all you have to do is keep up regular appointments with your dentist and orthodontist and enjoy your new smile!
If your dentist has referred you to an orthodontist for teeth straightening, be sure you ask about clear aligners. Easy to use, removable and similar in price to alternative straighteners, clear aligners have much to offer!
Are you considering clear aligners in the Astoria area? Get more information at https://astoriadentalspa.com.
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