Benefits of Clear Aligners: A Detailed Guide

At Cedarbrook Dental, we proudly provide our patients with comprehensive care, from general and preventive dentistry designed to help you maintain good oral health to cosmetic, restorative, and orthodontic treatments. One of our most popular treatments that provides patients with preventative, general, and cosmetic oral health benefits is teeth straightening with clear aligners. 

What Are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are a popular orthodontic treatment alternative to traditional braces. Instead of using metal wires, brackets, and rubber bands to straighten teeth and correct bite problems, they use a system of custom-designed aligner trays made of smooth, clear plastic. 

Aligner trays are designed to fit snugly over each arch of teeth and exert gentle pressure on the teeth in very specific directions and angles. Over time, this gentle pressure gradually shifts the teeth into their desired locations, orientations, and alignment. 

The aligner trays come in a series of graduated top and bottom sets. Patients wear each set of trays 22 hours per day for about two weeks per set. Once they have worn all sets of aligner trays in their treatment system, their teeth will be properly aligned. 

What Orthodontic Issues Can Clear Aligners Address?

Clear aligners can address a wide array of orthodontic issues, including mild to moderate cases of:

• Crooked teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Malocclusion (abnormal bite)
  
  • Crossbite
  • Open bite
  • Overbite
  • Underbite

The Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontic treatment offers several invaluable benefits to patients. Of course, a straighter smile is more balanced and symmetrical, improving your overall aesthetic appearance. However, the benefits extend beyond cosmetics; orthodontic treatment also improves oral health because straighter, less crowded teeth are easier to keep clean. This reduces your risk of tooth decay, cavities, and periodontal disease. Straighter teeth and a properly aligned bite are also more comfortable, helping to prevent and address problems such as temporomandibular joint disorder and bruxism.

The Benefits of Clear Aligners for Orthodontic Treatment

When weighing your orthodontic treatment options, there are lots of reasons to choose clear aligners for teeth straightening, including the following benefits:

Discreet

Unlike traditional metal braces that are highly visible, using a system of metal wires, brackets, and rubber bands to straighten the teeth, treatment with clear aligners is virtually invisible. So, you can straighten your smile without the world knowing. 

Comfortable

Clear aligner trays are also made of a smooth BPA-free, Phthalate-free, latex-free, and gluten-free material that is one of the safest commercially available materials. This means patients don't get any sores or discomfort on their soft tissues. Compare this to the experience with metal braces that can chafe against the tongue, lips, and cheeks. 

No Dietary Restrictions

Clear aligner trays are designed to be removed during meals. So, patients can continue eating all of their favorite foods throughout treatment. With metal braces, you typically need to avoid foods that are hard, sticky, or too chewy. 

No Lifestyle Limitations

It's perfectly safe to continue participating in your favorite athletic and sporting activities, as clear aligners pose no danger to your soft tissues. 

Easy Oral Hygiene

It's also much simpler to maintain oral hygiene during treatment with clear aligners than it is during treatment with metal braces. With clear aligners, you can simply remove your trays to brush and floss like normal and rinse your aligners to make sure they stay clean. With metal braces, you need a variety of special tools to maintain your oral hygiene. 

See Your Results Before Treatment Begins

The average treatment with clear aligners takes about 12 to 18 months, and patients begin seeing noticeable results within the first two to three months of treatment. Despite this, you can see your targeted treatment results before you even begin treatment. Since clear aligner orthodontics uses computer-aided design and manufacturing technology to create individual treatment systems, treatment software provides a complete, visual model of your treatment plan, allowing you to see what your smile will look like once you've worn all of your aligner trays. 

Are Clear Aligners the Right Orthodontic Treatment for You?

When determining whether or not clear aligners are right for you, you should consider the advantages of clear aligners along with any potential drawbacks.

For some patients, the fact that clear aligners are removable is seen as a drawback because it requires patients to be responsible, making sure they wear their aligner trays for at least 20 to 22 hours each day. For some patients, especially younger children, straightening teeth with clear aligners isn't the best option for this reason. 

Additionally, clear aligner trays are best designed to address minor to moderate orthodontic issues. More complex cases might be better corrected with other types of orthodontic appliances such as palatal expanders, traditional braces, ceramic braces, or lingual braces. Our experienced dentists can help you determine if clear aligners are the best treatment option to meet your needs, lifestyle, and preferences. 

Get a Straighter, Healthier Smile With Clear Aligners in Gig Harbor

If your teeth are crooked or crowded or you are dealing with the painful symptoms of malocclusion, we encourage you to explore your orthodontic treatment options. Our dentists at Cedarbrook Dental can provide you with a variety of options to straighten your smile while improving your oral health. To learn more about the benefits of orthodontic treatment with clear aligners, we welcome you to contact our dental office in Gig Harbor today. 

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