With a growing desire for perfect teeth and beautiful smiles, more and more people are opting to get braces. However, straightening your teeth does more than just give you a beautiful smile. While it is often the main reason why people choose to straighten their teeth, there is much more that goes on behind the scenes that will benefit your overall oral health. Straight teeth are easier to clean which helps prevent cavities, tooth decay and gum disease.
Are traditional braces my only options?
For a long time, traditional braces were the only option. They have been around since the 1800s and the technology behind them has continued to improve, making them the most popular orthodontic treatment. These types of braces are made of metal brackets and wires that are glued to the top of the teeth to straighten them. Each month the braces are adjusted, and treatment typically lasts about 2 years. Since the thought of wearing bulky metal braces can be unappealing to many, there are now other options available for straightening your teeth.
Introducing Invisalign and ClearCorrect Clear Aligners
Clear aligners such as Invisalign and ClearCorrect have been around from around 2000 as an alternative to traditional braces. They are composed of two clear plastic removable trays that the patient places over their teeth. The aligner trays are created with the help of x-rays and 3D digital imaging. The plastic trays are worn over the teeth for at least 20 hours a day. One of the most popular reasons why patients opt for clear aligners is because they are invisible and removable! It doesn’t interrupt eating and drinking habits because it can be removed for these activities. You won’t have to worry about getting food caught in the trays or avoiding your favorite foods such as popcorn, caramel, gum and sweets (in moderation of course). You also won’t have to deal with the pain caused by wires poking the sides of your mouth and gums. Additionally, treatment has a significantly shorter treatment period than traditional metal braces, generally 6 to 18 months. Some of the conditions we can treat are crowded teeth, overbites, underbites, crossbite, gap teeth, and open bites.
How does it work?
First, you have to schedule your Free Smile Assessment with Dr. Hoffenberg at TLC Dental. After your consultation, If he finds that clear aligners would be a good fit for you, he would take an accurate 3D scan using his iTero Element scanner. Then using the ClinCheck software, Dr. Hoffenberg will make any necessary adjustment to achieve your perfect smile. The best part of the whole process is that you can see your results before you even start actually wearing the actual physical clear aligners. Once your digital plan is finalized, the aligners are printed based on your customised specifications.
Advantages to Choosing Clear Aligners
- Aesthetically pleasing – Unlike traditional metal braces, clear braces are hardly noticeable
- Easy to remove – the aligners can be removed for short periods of time, like for instance, if it makes it easier to eat or drink something you like or when you are cleaning and flossing your teeth.
- Gentler on your gums – clear braces have no sharp edges that can cause discomfort.
- Faster results – While you could wear metal braces for 2 years or more, you typically only have to wear clear aligners from a year to a year and a half.
Overall, clear aligners are a great solution to a cosmetic problem. If you would like to learn more or need help weighing the different options, schedule your Free Smile Assessment with Dr. Hoffenberg today. At TLC Dental you’re able to enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your dentist is just as invested in your smile as you are.