Having snow-white straight teeth is not only about boasting a beautiful Hollywood smile. First of all, it means that you take care of your dental health. A straight smile without any crooked or overlapping teeth enhances prevention of gum disease, tooth loss, or decay. A family dentist in Albuquerque states that teeth must be aligned in a way that saves the gums and allows good cleaning access for people to practice excellent dental habits. However, not everybody likes the idea of having tons of metal in the mouth to straighten their teeth. This is when clear dental aligners enter the stage.
People who aim to have a confident and happy smile should probably know everything about braces in Albuquerque. Luckily, dentistry keeps developing and is ready to provide patients with new effective ways to gain the smile of their dream. Clear dental aligners are known to be a great alternative to traditional braces. They are a type of orthodontic treatment for improving crooked or misaligned teeth. Clear dental aligners seem to be completely invisible and are designed with the patient’s comfort in mind.
Aligner trays are produced individually, taking into account a person’s teeth misalignment. Can anyone use Invisalign braces? If you have some of these dental cases, then you should definitely consider this option:
As can be seen, clear aligners can cope with many different dental issues. However, a variety of types of braces make most people wondering what option to choose. To decide on whether to instal clear aligners to straighten teeth or not, you can have a look at a comparison table:
Invisible Braces |
Braces |
Treatment length | |
6-24 months depending on the severity of dental cases | 12-36 months depending on each patient’s case |
Option to remove | |
Yes | No |
Visits to the dentist office | |
First 2 weeks for getting a new set of aligners and then every three months | Every month |
Maintenance | |
Wearing about 22 hours per day, removing before eating, regular cleaning, and soaking. | Regular visits to the dentist office, avoiding particular foods |
Cleaning | |
Regular cleaning and flossing, brushing and soaking clear aligners | Regular cleaning and flossing with a specific floss threader |
Advantages | |
· Opportunity to remove for care and maintenance
· Almost invisible look · No related food restrictions · Comfortable and simple to wear · Professional look · Whitening during treatment |
· Lower prices in comparison to clear aligners
· Efficient even for severe dental cases · Numerous types of braces · Enhanced reliability · Nice rubber bands · Consistent treatment process due to permanent bonding |
Weaknesses | |
· Necessity to watch time always to wear aligners for 22 hours
· Aligners can be stained or discolored · Quite an expensive option · Easier to damage · Necessity to take aligners off before drinking and eating · Complex cases require additional braces |
· Apparent metal appliance
· Several food restrictions · Non-resistant to bacteria · Possible discomfort and irritation in month · Difficult to take care |
All in all, traditional braces and clear aligners have their benefits and drawbacks. Clear dental braces for adults will suit those who worry about a professional look, and regular braces will be a good choice for people with a limited budget.
Patients get the best clear dental aligners through the treatment process that usually involves the following steps.
Your beautiful and healthy smile begins with visiting cosmetic dentistry in Albuquerque. There you will get a consultation with an experienced specialist. The doctor examines your gums and takes a digital mouth scan. Then, based on it, the dentist develops a custom treatment plan. The best thing here is that you can see a digital preview of the new smile before invisible aligners are made.
Once the teeth impressions are made, a dentist sends the custom plan to a digital treatment facility. Technicians start with segmenting the teeth and cleaning apparent dirt. Then, they examine the patient’s dental arches to make sure that they fit well. Next, the gingiva is added. Overall, the specialists follow the dentist’s instructions within the entire process of preparing clear aligners. Then the technicians send a digital plan to the doctor so that he can check and approve it. Once agreed, the digital models are sent to a production facility where invisible aligners are made. Finally, they are transferred to the dentist and are ready to be delivered to the patient.
The person is expected to wear invisible orthodontic aligners about 22 hours per day to correct even moderate malalignment. The patient gets a new set of invisible aligners every 1-2 weeks. This way, teeth get into the right position step by step, according to the individual treatment plan. If you are wondering how much time it takes to straighten teeth, mind that it depends on the severity of the dental case. But in general, it takes from 6 to 24 months. Then, the specialists make a custom clear retainer from a mold of newly straightened teeth. Further, the patient must wear the retainers every night to prevent malocclusion.
While wearing invisible aligners, it is essential to do your best to preserve them. Look at a few tips that will help you achieve the best treatment results.
Do you have any other related questions? Find the answers in the FAQ list.
You will need a couple of weeks to get used to clear aligners in your mouth. Discomfort and sensitivity are typical for a few days after installment. Additionally, you can feel different while eating food and face speech difficulties.
The cost of invisible teeth straightening with clear dental aligners depends on many factors. First, the dentist will consider the brand of selected aligners, the necessary length of treatment, and the number of aligners. Only then can you learn the final price. Luckily, many dental offices have a “payment plan” option that allows patients to divide the payment into a few monthly installments.
Invisible orthodontic braces can be chosen as a great option by people with minor dental issues. However, more complex cases may require supplemental braces.
Dental aligners straighten one’s teeth by accurately moving them into a necessary position. Therefore, they help the patient to get a healthy and beautiful smile.
No, you need to wear aligners from 6 to 24 months depending on your particular case.
No matter what your choice between traditional and invisible braces will be, the most important thing is to have an experienced and attentive specialist by your side. Gallegos Family Dentistry is your guarantee of a successful result. A team of the best professionals has an impressive experience in invisible teeth straightening so that you can get the smile of your dream quickly and at a reasonable cost. To consult a dentist, schedule an appointment and learn all nuances about clear aligners for your specific case.