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Teeth Straightening

Cosmetic Dentistry

Clear aligners – a new way to straighten

February 26 2021

Clear aligners are a great solution for correcting mild to moderately crowded or incorrectly spaced teeth. They have grown in popularity over the years due to their subtleness and speed with correction. If you think back to your teen years, how many of your friends had metal braces? maybe you did too. However, technology has advanced, and clear aligners are a great alternative option that can help turn a crooked smile straight.

Benefits of clear aligners

The main benefit of these aligners is the fact they are almost completely invisible. This makes them a great option for professionals who want to straighten teeth without making it obvious. It can also help with self-conscious teens who want to subtly straighten their teeth without the appearance of braces. Another great benefit is the fact that they can be removed. So, if you have an event, meeting or want to indulge in your favourite food – you can enjoy without the worry of fixed braces. Plus, food won’t get stuck like with metal brackets. Another benefit is that clear aligners allow for easier brushing and flossing since they’re removed for cleaning. And, because aligners don’t have brackets or wires that can loosen, they may require fewer repairs and fewer visits to the dentist.

How do they work?

Transparent aligner systems consist of a series of clear plastic aligners (or ‘trays’) that fit snugly over the teeth. These trays are custom-made for each patient from dental scans or impressions. Then, every two weeks new trays are fitted, and bit by bit they shift the teeth to the desired position. Typically, treatment with aligners takes between 9 and 18 months. Something to be mindful of is cleaning teeth well after eating, as food left in the trays can cause infection. Another thing to consider is willpower, having removable trays means you are in control of when you’re wearing them. So, if you lack willpower fixed braces could be the better choice!

Who is suitable for clear aligners?

If your natural teeth are in a healthy condition, then you should be suitable for clear aligners. However, your dentist will always do a detailed dental health analysis on you to be sure prior to starting treatment. Also, there is no age limit on when you can start clear aligner treatment.

Invisible aligners can fix a variety of problems such as:

• Gaps between your front teeth
• Gaps between other front teeth
• Rotated front teeth
• Sticking out or ‘buck’ front teeth
• Rotated teeth
• Crooked front teeth

Not all aligners are the same. Only Invisalign clear aligners are made of SmartTrack material. This makes them more comfortable to wear and easier to put on and take off and they’re invisible!