What are aligners?
Clear aligners are also called invisible braces or clear aligners. These are dental devices that are very thin and transparent, made of plastic, and appear in the form of trays.
It works like any other metal braces with brackets. On wearing correctly, it applies pressure on the teeth, which moves them in the desired direction.
Need for aligners
Irregularly positioned teeth and teeth having spaces can make people socially conscious while smiling. Here, clear aligners can help treat these conditions, which can boost confidence in people by removing those spaces and making the teeth look straighter and even.
Crooked and overlapped teeth can also be a concern when maintaining basic hygiene like brushing and cleaning. It might cause issues in oral health, like cavities or defects in the gum. Aligners can be an accepted choice of treatment in such cases.
There is a general hesitancy of wearing metal braces with aligners coming into the market. This is because braces are comparatively difficult to maintain, don’t look aesthetically pleasing, and require multiple and long dentist visits.
When do aligners work best?
Mild to moderate gaps in between the teeth
Crooked teeth
Other minor abnormalities in tooth contact
However, aligners might not be the best solution for everyone. In some cases where the gaps are more, or the teeth seem very badly positioned, dental braces might be required to correct it. However, your dentist will be the right person to guide you in finding the right solution to your dental issues.
Guidelines to be followed for wearing clear aligners
Aligners are designed according to the size and shape of your teeth and fit the mouth well. You need to have a fixed habit of wearing aligners, as advised by your dentist. Some of the common methods to follow are: –
Wear each set of aligners for 7-14 days (about 2 weeks), according to the brand and the type of aligners you’re wearing.
Wear each aligner for at least 22 hours a day for best results.
You must remove aligners when you’re eating, drinking, brushing and flossing.
Consult your dentist for follow-up appointments regarding wearing new sets or if you have any concerns while wearing your aligners.
Some aligner companies provide the necessary equipment for placing it and removing it easily. There are fewer chances of aligners breaking if these are followed regularly.
Process of getting a perfect smile with clear aligners
The very first appointment is a check-up, where a discussion regarding the treatment plan is held.
While planning the treatment, there are some necessary requirements for certain records like x-rays, dental photographs and 3-D scanning.
After analyzing all the reports, the concerned aligner company provides the dentist with a digital preview, which determines how a person will look after the completion of the treatment. Also, a general idea is made up of how many aligner sets will be required to complete the treatment and what the overall duration of the treatment will be.
Once the digital preview is approved mutually by the dentist and the patient, the dentist can begin delivering the aligners to the patient. The treatment is supposed to be continued as per the plan, and it generally takes six months – 18 months (about 1 and a half years), depending on the case, to get the desired smile.
Factors affecting the cost of aligners
No. of sets required – The overall cost of the treatment increases with the no. of aligner sets the patient must wear.
The difficulty of the case – The more difficult the case is, the longer and more complex the treatment will be, and hence, the cost might increase.
Experience of the dentist – The more qualified and trained the dentist is, the higher his quotation will be.
Area of the clinic – The clinic’s location also determines the cost of clear aligners treatment. Dentists who practice in posh areas tend to charge more as compared to dentists who run their clinics in rural areas. The reason is that in high-cost areas, dentists need to cover higher operational expenses of the latest technology that they use.
The company of the aligner – Different brands of aligners are available in the market. Good-quality aligners use durable raw materials for their fabrication. Hence, they last long, are easy to use, and provide desired results in less time. The reputed aligner brands generally cost more than local brands.
Summary
To conclude, aligners are the best choice for beautifying the smile by straightening the teeth and closing all the evident gaps. Although some complex cases are not a good fit for aligners, your dentist will be the best person to guide you to see if they are applicable for your case or not. Your dentist will also give you all the necessary guidelines for its usage, the details of the treatment process and its duration.
