The New Dawn of Orthodontic Treatment: Clear Teeth Aligners

Any teenager or adult that needs to go in for orthodontic treatment these days has one question on their mind: what sort of impression will they give out in their social circle if they have a metal mouth?

Orthodontic treatment to correct teeth alignment is generally associated with traditional metal braces. But thanks to technology advancements in orthodontics, teeth alignment can now be corrected using clear teeth aligners.

Invisible teeth aligners are custom made plastic mouthpieces which fit tightly over your teeth and guide them into the correct place. They are custom-made for you after an initial 3D scan of your teeth. These scans are done at the beginning of your treatment and you are handed a new set of teeth aligners every fortnight to help shift your teeth into a straighter position. It’s important to note that the course of treatment for these clear aligners may vary depending on your initial teeth position.

Teeth aligners are suited for people who don’t need complex orthodontic treatment. You can take care of problems like crowded teeth, the spacing between teeth and bite problems with teeth aligners.

Advantages of Clear Teeth Aligners

• The benefits of choosing teeth aligners over braces are many; one of the top ones being the invisibility. Since the aligners are made of clear plastic, they’re almost invisible and more aesthetically pleasing than traditional braces that consist of wires and braces.
• The other advantage is that there are very less dietary restrictions with teeth aligners. You can eat whatever you want when you take them out. The only requirement is cleaning your thoroughly before placing them on.
• There are less chances of food getting stuck in your aligners like they would in your braces since you can remove them before every meal and clean them conveniently.
• The teeth straightening process is also shorter as compared to metal braces. While traditional metal braces take around 24 months or more, aligners take 10-12 months on an average.

Who is the Right Candidate for Teeth Aligners?

Older teens and adults can generally choose teeth aligners as their form of orthodontic treatment, but the eligibility depends on each unique case. It’s best to consult your orthodontist about the course you want your orthodontic treatment to take.

It is recommended that kids don’t opt for teeth aligners since they are still growing, which means their jaw will also grow. This can cause problems in customizing the teeth aligners that need to be changed every 2 weeks.

Clear teeth aligners come in many different brands — Invisalign is the most popular one, followed by Clear Correct. Other brands of clear teeth aligners are Inman Aligner and SmileStyler.

Clearcorrect vs Invisalign – what to choose? This is the most common dilemma that patients face. So, here’s a comparative analysis to help you choose:

Every form of orthodontic treatment has its own benefits and each one of them requires constant efforts to ensure optimum oral health. A little dedication and you will gain the most confident and beautiful smile.

Dr. Satish Pai is an orthodontist and an Ivy League trained dentist who has and has served as a faculty at Columbia University. He believes that a perfect smile not only makes a person look great but feel great. As the founder of Putnam Orthodontics and a Partner at Rome Orthodontics, he is dedicated to providing the best orthodontic treatments to his patients. He also writes to educate people about everything orthodontics and the importance of correctly aligned teeth along with good oral health. In his free time, you can find him golfing, doing yoga or surfing, and spending time with his family.