Clear Aligners for Discreet Orthodontic Treatment
Many people want to straighten their teeth and achieve a better smile. However, many also don’t want to commit to braces for the full treatment time required. For many adults, this is a professional issue; those who interact frequently with clients or customers may be concerned about the impact of braces on their professional reputations.
Fortunately, it’s not necessary to give up on your dreams of a perfect smile because you can’t commit to braces. Another technology exists that can allow you to straighten your teeth invisibly. No one will even be able to tell that you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. They’ll just see your slowly improving smile.
Clear Aligners – Invisalign
This technology uses clear aligners, instead of brackets and wires, to straighten teeth. The aligners are made of a special clear plastic. They’re shells that fit around the outside of the teeth. A series of aligners is created, each one moving closer to the desired alignment of your teeth. By switching to a new aligner about every two weeks, the teeth are gradually shifted into the correct positions.
In order for clear aligners to effectively move teeth, they need to be worn nearly all of the time. The aligners are removed while eating and while brushing and flossing your teeth (the aligner should also be cleaned at this time). At all other times, the aligners should be worn. The total wearing time should be at least 22 hours every day.
Many Choices for Clear Aligners
Invisalign
The first brand of clear aligners was Invisalign. It’s been almost twenty years since Invisalign became available. This is still the most popular brand of clear aligners, offering those many years of experience in creating perfect smiles. There are several different types of Invisalign aligners available, and they can treat a wide range of different orthodontic problems. Invisalign has been a leader in creating new technologies, allowing cases to be treated with aligners that previously required braces.
ClearCorrect
There are also a few other choices available in clear aligners. Dr. AlJanabi offers ClearCorrect, another brand of clear aligners. Although slightly younger as a company, it has been in business for ten years, with a great track record of creating beautiful smiles. ClearCorrect has a slightly lower cost than Invisalign. For some patients, this is a significant concern. Some patients also report noticing that the ClearCorrect aligners are smoother, with less noticeable bumps and ridges than the Invisalign aligners.
Simpli5
Another option offered by Dr. AlJanabi is Simpli5. This brand of aligners is designed for those who need only minor to intermediate movements of the teeth. There are only five sets of aligners involved, so the treatment time is relatively quick, with treatment for most cases completed in six months or less. Another advantage of Simpli5 is that it is a very cost-effective option.
One type of patient who may want to choose Simpli5 is someone who had orthodontic treatment as a teen, but didn’t wear the prescribed retainers and experienced some slippage of the teeth. This is called “orthodontic relapse,” and it’s a very common reason for adults to seek orthodontic treatment.
How Should You Choose The Right Clear Aligners For You?
Which clear aligner is right for you depends on many factors, including your goals for your treatment, the current state of your tooth alignment, whether you’ve previously had orthodontic treatment, what your budget is, and more. In some cases, clear aligners will not provide as good a result as braces. You’ll need to discuss this issue with your orthodontist to determine which one would be the right choice for you. At your initial consultation, Dr. AlJanabi will let you know which options would work best in your case.