Do you wish to get your misaligned teeth straightened, but the thought of wearing metal braces always puts you off? Don’t worry; we have the perfect solution for you at NorthStar Dental Care. Thanks to clear braces, or Invisalign clear aligners, you can get your teeth straightened comfortably and conveniently, without anyone noticing!
What are Clear Braces?
Clear braces are a modern, revolutionary orthodontic treatment option based on removable aligners. These tray-like aligners are made from a flexible, transparent polymeric material and worn over the teeth. Unlike the traditional braces that remain fixed to the teeth throughout treatment duration, clear braces can be removed anytime.
How do Clear Braces work?
Our dentists will provide you with a set of numbered removable aligners – one for each jaw. You will be asked to wear each aligner set for about 14 days. Afterward, you should switch to the next set of aligners. Each aligner set is designed to push your teeth towards optimal alignment and occlusion gradually. You will notice that each aligner set slowly brings you one step closer to your dream smile.
What is the Process of Getting Clear Braces?
The process of designing clear braces for every patient requires clinical expertise and detailed planning. Some of the steps involved in getting clear braces include:
- Treatment Planning – during your initial appointment, our dentists will perform a thorough clinical examination, examine the x-ray images, and study models of your teeth. This is done to identify the underlying cause of your problem and to prepare a customized treatment plan to fix it.
- Fabricating the Aligner Trays – in the next phase, we will take digital impressions of your teeth, then be fed into special software. This software allows us to design a set of aligners that will gradually move your teeth into proper alignment. The software also allows us to visualize what your teeth will look like once your treatment is complete. Once the aligners have been designed, they will be fabricated using 3D printing technology.
- Wearing your Aligners – once you receive your aligners, you will be asked to wear each aligner set for about two weeks, for at least 22 hours each day for about two weeks. After 14 days, you should switch to the next aligner set.
- Treatment Retention – once you have worn through all your aligner sets and your teeth have been optimally aligned, we will give you removable or fixed retainers. The purpose of providing retainers is to consolidate your treatment and ensure that your teeth do not move back to their previous positions.
What are the Benefits of Clear Braces?
Clear braces offer various benefits over the traditional fixed metal braces:
- Comfort and Convenience – clear aligners offer superior comfort and convenience than fixed braces, as they cause less pain and discomfort compared to fixed metal braces.
- Esthetics – clear braces are made of transparent materials. Hence, they are virtually invisible when worn and won’t affect your facial esthetics. Therefore, you can wear them to business meetings or even on a date without anyone noticing that you are wearing braces.
- No Dietary Limitation – braces wearers are often instructed not to eat sticky and hard foods as they can result in the dislodgment of their bracelets. This problem is eliminated with clear braces as you can simply remove them while eating and wear them back on once you are done.
- Improved Oral Hygiene – braces wearers often complain of difficulty to clean their teeth, especially the interdental regions because of the hindrance caused by the brackets. On the other hand, clear braces are removable; you can easily take them off while brushing and flossing. Hence, they allow you to maintain optimal oral hygiene, thereby reducing the likelihood of dental infections, bad breath, and tooth cavities.
How to Look After Clear Braces?
Here are a few things that you need to take care of while wearing clear braces:
- Whenever you remove your braces, put them in water or a denture cleaning solution
- Always wash your aligners with lukewarm water. Using boiling water for washing your clear braces may result in their warpage and failure to fit on your teeth.
- Whenever you remove your aligners for eating, remove your aligners. Once you have finished eating, wash them in lukewarm water and then wear them back on.
Clear braces offer a convenient and less conspicuous alternative to fixed metal braces. If you have been holding off your orthodontic treatment because you don’t want to wear fixed braces, now is your chance to get your smile back. So, book an appointment with us at NorthStar Dental Care today and let us give you a smile that you genuinely deserve.
Nazareth dentist, Marwan Bassil, DMD, practices a full scope of general and cosmetic dentistry in Nazareth, PA, with expertise including inlays onlays, root canals, crowns, bridges, and teeth whitening, sleep apnea treatment, veneers, Invisalign, and clear braces. Dr. Bassil can correct a wide variety of so-called permanent cosmetic dental problems, and can literally redesign your smile. Currently accepting new patients and serving the areas of Bethlehem, Middletown, William Penn Manor, Wind Gap, North Hampton, Bath, and Tadmor.
