What are clear aligners, and how do they work?
Basically, clear aligners are a series of plastic trays that fit over your teeth, and each tray is slightly different. Over time, the aligners apply controlled forces that gradually guide your teeth from their current positions toward the positions planned for your treatment.
How are clear aligners different from traditional braces?
With traditional braces, you have brackets attached to the teeth and an orthodontic wire that helps guide the teeth into their planned positions. The wire and brackets allow us to apply forces to individual teeth throughout treatment.
Clear aligners work a little differently. Each tray is shaped slightly differently based on the planned tooth movements. Depending on your treatment plan, you'll change to a new set of aligners on a schedule recommended by your provider.
Both braces and clear aligners can move teeth, but they do it in different ways. Which option is appropriate depends on your bite, the movements your teeth need, your treatment goals, and other individual factors.
How do you know if you are a good candidate for clear aligners?
At first glance, if you're not a dentist, you wouldn't necessarily know. Many patients can be candidates for clear aligners, but we need to evaluate your teeth, gums, bite, and the types of movements required before recommending treatment.
Some orthodontic problems can be treated effectively with aligners, while other cases may be better suited to braces or another orthodontic approach. It's definitely worth getting evaluated to find out which options may work for you.
How long does clear aligner treatment take?
This is one of the questions that I get all the time when it comes to braces, orthodontics, and aligners. The answer is that it depends on the person and how much movement your teeth need.
Some relatively minor cases may take several months, while more involved treatment can take a year or longer. Your treatment time also depends on how consistently you wear your aligners and how your teeth respond to the planned movements.
Clear aligners aren't automatically faster than traditional braces. The timeline for either treatment depends on the complexity of the case and the movements that need to be accomplished.
Do clear aligners hurt?
Here's what I tell most patients when they ask that. Clear aligners can make your teeth feel sore or tender, particularly when you first begin treatment or change to a new tray. That pressure is part of the process of moving the teeth.
Traditional braces can also cause temporary tooth soreness, and the brackets or wires may sometimes irritate the inside of the cheeks or lips while you're adapting to them.
Some patients find aligners easier to adapt to, while others do well with braces. Comfort is only one factor we consider when deciding which orthodontic treatment is appropriate.
How many hours a day should I wear clear aligners?
If you have clear aligners, you're going to need to wear them consistently. For many full-time clear aligner systems, patients are instructed to wear their trays around 20 to 22 hours per day, removing them primarily for eating, drinking certain beverages, and oral hygiene.
The exact wear schedule depends on the aligner system and the instructions from your provider. Following that schedule is important because inconsistent wear can interfere with planned tooth movement and may extend treatment.
When you put your aligners in, make sure they're seated properly. We may also give you tools such as aligner seaters or chewies to help the trays fit completely over the teeth when appropriate.
What can I eat and drink with clear aligners?
One of the conveniences of clear aligners is that you remove them for meals, so you generally don't have the same food restrictions associated with fixed braces.
Take your trays out before eating. Plain, cool or room-temperature water is generally the safest drink while the aligners are in. Other beverages may stain the trays or expose the teeth to sugar or acids underneath the aligners.
After eating or drinking, clean your teeth as appropriate before putting the trays back in. Then work on getting the aligners back in promptly so you can meet your recommended daily wear time.
How do I clean my aligners and teeth during treatment?
You clean your teeth much like you did before. Make sure you're brushing well and cleaning between your teeth regularly. I recommend regular floss when it's appropriate for you.
The aligners themselves can be rinsed with cool or lukewarm water and cleaned according to the manufacturer's and your provider's instructions. You can gently brush them with a soft toothbrush if recommended, but avoid hot water because heat can distort the plastic.
How much do clear aligners cost, and does insurance cover them?
The cost of clear aligners varies depending on the complexity and length of your treatment, the aligner system, and the dental or orthodontic office providing your care. Traditional braces and clear aligners may have similar costs in some cases, but that isn't always true.
Really, the deciding factor should be whether you're a good candidate and which treatment approach is appropriate for the tooth movements you need. There can be situations where traditional braces are better suited to certain movements, while clear aligners may work well for others.
When it comes to insurance, there's no uniform answer. Some dental plans provide orthodontic benefits, while others don't. Coverage may also have age restrictions, lifetime maximums, or other limitations.
The best thing to do is have your individual benefits checked so you can understand what your plan may contribute toward treatment.
What happens after clear aligner treatment is finished?
The process is similar to what happens after traditional braces. If you have attachments on your teeth, we'll remove them and polish the teeth as appropriate.
Then you'll transition into retention. Retainers help hold the teeth in their new positions after active orthodontic treatment. We'll give you instructions about which type of retainer you need and how often you should wear it.
How long will I have to wear my retainer?
Patients ask us all the time, "How long will I have to wear my retainer?" Teeth can shift throughout life, even years after orthodontic treatment is completed.
That's why long-term retainer wear is commonly recommended. Your schedule may change over time, but continuing to wear your retainer as directed can help maintain the position of your teeth.
Who may not be a good candidate for clear aligners?
Clear aligners require commitment because the trays are removable. If you aren't able or willing to wear them for the recommended amount of time each day, treatment may not progress as planned.
You also need to keep track of your trays, care for them properly, and change them according to your treatment schedule. For some patients, particularly those who know they'll have difficulty consistently wearing removable appliances, traditional braces may be easier to manage.
Candidacy also depends on your oral health and orthodontic needs. We'll evaluate your teeth, gums, bite, and treatment goals before determining whether clear aligners are appropriate.
What results can you expect from clear aligners?
The answer is a customized treatment plan that's designed for your individual orthodontic needs. We'll follow your progress and support you along the way, including helping with questions about wear, cleaning, fit, and any problems you experience during treatment.
The goal is to move your teeth toward their planned positions and improve your smile and bite based on the objectives established before treatment. Results vary depending on the individual case and how the teeth respond.
Want to learn more? Call Clackamas Smiles Family Dental at 503-786-3000 or email [email protected]. Our team is happy to answer your questions and help schedule your visit.
Advantages of Clear Aligners Over Metal Braces
No uncomfortable brackets or wires
With traditional metal braces, patients wear their orthodontic appliance directly on the surface of their teeth. With clear aligners, patients wear clear plastic aligners that sit over their teeth. This enables you to easily remove the aligners when eating and brushing. No wires or brackets also means not getting pinched or poked by the metal in your mouth.
Fewer office visits
Metal braces require constant readjustment and tightening over the course of a patient’s treatment that necessitates visiting an orthodontist. With clear aligners, Dr. Suess maps your treatment plan out from the beginning and creates a new aligner for each stage of care. As a clear aligners patient, you’ll simply replace the old aligner with the next one in the treatment plan to keep your orthodontic schedule on track. This eliminates the need for monthly readjustment and repair visits.
Eat what you want
Having the ability to remove your orthodontic appliance means never having to give up your favorite crunchy, hard, or sticky foods. Foods like popcorn, apples, candy, and hard pretzels that can stick to or damage metal braces usually need to be avoided during orthodontic treatment. Clear aligners patients can eat whatever they want.
Complete your treatment discreetly
Clear aligners blend into the natural color and complexion of a patient’s smile. Unlike metal braces that sharply stand out, clear aligner patients often have their treatment go unnoticed by most coworkers and classmates.