What are clear aligners?
Clear aligners are a type of orthodontic treatment that reposition your teeth using a series of clear plastic trays. Your aligners encase all of your teeth in a thin, durable thermoplastic material that's specially fabricated for your particular alignment problems.
The aligners guide your teeth gradually where they need to go. You may also need small tooth-colored attachments (SmartForce® attachments) on certain teeth to help guide ideal movement.
Clear aligners are a very popular way to straighten teeth because it's all plastic (no metal), extremely comfortable, and nearly invisible.
What teeth problems can clear aligners treat?
Clear aligners can treat virtually all teeth positioning and alignment issues, including:
- Crowded teeth
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Open bite
- Crossbite
- Gap teeth
Tweens, teens, and adults can all use clear aligners with great success. In general, these discreet aligning braces can treat the same issues as traditional metal braces.
How often do I change out clear aligners?
You’ll get multiple clear aligner pairs at the beginning of your treatment. Generally, you’ll move to the next set of aligners every 1-2 weeks based on your straightening plan and your dental team’s advice.
Do I need to wear clear aligners all the time?
Not quite — you remove the aligners to eat, drink, brush, and floss. Generally, you’ll wear the aligners 20-22 hours a day. Wearing them for fewer hours could slow your progress.
How often do I need clear aligner appointments?
You’ll typically visit Dr. Kupelian and the team around once a month or every six weeks for a quick checkup. During your appointments, they assess your progress and make any adjustments necessary on your aligners.
How long will my clear aligner treatment take?
On average, most clear aligner patients wear their aligners for 12-18 months. Because your aligners are transparent, you’ll see results well before finishing your treatment. In fact, some patients start seeing results within weeks.
Do teeth move out of position after clear aligner treatment?
Teeth are sometimes stubborn and retain a memory. If you don’t take the right precautions, your teeth could start to shift back toward their old position after you complete treatment.
To avoid this problem, you can get clear retainers. Clear retainers show off your smile while keeping your teeth in their new optimized positions. Dr. Kupelian and the team can give you specific retainer guidelines for your needs.
If you are interested in clear aligners, call Armen Kupelian DDS, Inc. or use the online scheduler to set up your consultation now.
