Do you want to know the secret to a straighter smile? It’s not what you think. The age-old solution to straightening teeth, metal braces, has lost its charm.
With continuous research and innovation going on in the dental industry, professionals have crafted an effective, non-invasive, and fast-acting solution for all those suffering from crooked teeth. Lo and behold, it’s clear aligners! Also known as teeth aligners, invisible braces, and clear braces, these trendy devices align teeth correctly in a hidden and comfortable way.
Adults and kids who want to fix their teeth without it being too evident can highly benefit from clear aligner treatment. However, one common doubt that comes to everyone’s mind is, “Do clear aligners give as good results as metal braces?” Read on to know the answer!
What Teeth Issues Can Clear Aligners Help Correct?
Most individuals suffer from minor or major tooth alignment and bite problems. These go unnoticed for years as they do not cause any inconvenience till the later stages of life.
Crowding: When your dental arch is too small for all the teeth to fit correctly, causing them to overlap with each other.
Spacing: When all your teeth do not erupt, or your dental arch is too wide causing gaps to occur between teeth. These gaps are also called diastema and affect the overall appearance of the person.
Overbite: When your upper front teeth are positioned too ahead of your lower front teeth after closing the mouth.
Underbite: When your lower front teeth are positioned too ahead of your upper front teeth after closing the mouth.
Crossbite: When some of your upper teeth sit inside some of your lower teeth after closing the mouth.
Open bite: When there is a prominent space present between your upper and lower teeth after closing the mouth.
How Do Clear Aligners Work?
Clear aligners are custom-designed, thin, transparent plastic trays that fit perfectly well over the teeth, very much similar to a mouth guard. The plastic material used to make these devices is BPA-free and safe for the body. They are flexible and smooth to feel. The process of designing these aligners involves the use of a 3D virtual setup in the initial stages of planning.
The 3D virtual setup helps to determine how many sets of aligners a patient will need during the entire span of their treatment. Additionally, it gives the patient a picture of their future smile before even starting the treatment. Once the treatment begins, the patient wears each set of aligners for 1-2 weeks, 20-22 hours a day or as directed by the dentist, before moving on to the next set. These customized sets of aligners move the teeth slowly to the desired position by applying gentle pressure over time. After the treatment ends, the patient may have to wear retainers to prevent the teeth from shifting back to their old position.
Some Important Do’s and Don’ts of Clear Aligners
Take Out Your Aligners before Eating. If you call yourself a ‘food lover’, then aligners are the best form of treatment for you. You are free to eat all your favourite foods. However, as they are very light and comfortable, one might even forget they have them on. Train yourself to remove them before eating anything, especially hard nuts, coloured drinks and foods, to avoid any permanent damage to the aligners.
Rinse Your Aligners Regularly. After removing your aligners or before putting them back on, clean them well with a soft-bristled brush and cold water.
Rinse Your Mouth. Always rinse your mouth before putting aligners on, especially after you eat anything. Doing this will prevent food particles from getting stuck between your aligner and teeth, which can cause tooth decay.
Wear Your Aligners As Told. Make sure you wear your aligners for 20-22 hours every day to have your dream smile! If you don’t follow this, your treatment time will increase, and you may not achieve the results you wanted.
Do Store Them Safely. When not in use, store your aligners safely in the box they came in. If left lying around carelessly, they can get misplaced or damaged.
Do Handle Them with Care. While putting in your aligners, handle them one at a time. Avoid handling both together as there are chances of them slipping, getting compressed and damaged.
Don’t Touch Your Aligners Constantly. During the initial phase of the treatment, your aligner might feel a bit uncomfortable. This can make you want to touch them constantly. Avoid doing this, as it can distort your aligners.
Don’t Use Colorful and Harsh Cleaning Products. If you use colourful and harsh soaps and liquids to clean your aligners, the tint from the soap can get transferred onto the aligners and affect their transparency. In addition, the strong chemicals from the soap can also damage the quality of your aligners.
Don’t Chew Gum or Smoke Tobacco. Chewing gum has the potential to alter the shape of your aligners and attract bacteria and food particles due to its sticky nature. Tobacco in any form can discolour aligners permanently. Quit or avoid both habits to protect your aligners.
Don’t Fix Any Issue by Yourself. If your aligner is not fitting properly or you face any other issue with it, don’t try to fix it yourself. Consult your orthodontist immediately.
Don’t Have Hot Food and Drinks. If you consume hot foods and drinks, the heat can distort and affect the fitting of your aligners for good. Always remember to remove your aligners before consuming anything hot.
Keeping the above in mind, aligners are a great choice for those who want to discreetly align their teeth. Consult your dentist today and talk to them about getting aligner treatment!
