Aligners are plastic trays that surround your teeth in a similar fashion to certain dental retainers. They are durable, and designed to gradually move your teeth into the correct position.
Everyone wants a charming smile. Clear aligners are now one of the best options for people who want to enhance their smile. There are primarily two types viz. in-dental office aligners and at-home aligners. The former is usually ideal, as an in-house orthodontist follows up at every step. The latter are slightly more economical, but the treatment is planned and executed remotely, without supervision.
Yes, the aligners can close gaps between your teeth, move crooked teeth into the correct position, and address bite issues. The only thing aligners cannot do is address bite problems that the jawbone causes.
Aligners are removable, and can be taken out on a daily basis. In fact, you can easily take the aligners out while making an important presentation at work, or for a photo.
You need to keep the aligners in for around 22 hours per day. Wearing the aligners less frequently will prolong your overall treatment time.
No. You need to take your aligners out every time that you eat. This is true for all of your meals, and even for snacks. You may want to have just a few crackers or a piece of fruit, but you still need to remove them at that time. This is critical for preserving their structural integrity, and for ensuring that your treatment time is not accidentally delayed due to one of them breaking.
You can drink water while wearing the aligners, but must remove the aligners to drink all other beverages. If you drink something hot like coffee or tea, you will risk warping the shape of your aligners. Any change to their shape can be detrimental to your treatment plan. The change in shape will cause your teeth to not move in the proper direction.
You are most likely to wear each set for approximately two weeks. Once the aligners begin to feel loose, it is an indication that it is time to wear the next set in the series. Remember that the aligners are putting pressure on your teeth, in order to move them into position. If the aligners are too loose, the pressure will no longer be significant enough to do so.
No. You can switch the aligners by yourself, at home, but will need to visit us for check-ups throughout the treatment process.
Yes, as long as you keep them clean, they will be difficult to notice when you smile.
Do not eat or drink with them in the mouth, except while drinking plain water. Each time after you eat, brush your teeth and rinse your aligners in warm water. We can also provide you with specific cleaning supplies.