Clear Aligner treatment, also known as invisible braces, is a method of orthodontic treatment. It consists of a series of clear, custom-made removable aligners that sequentially move the teeth to improve aesthetic appearance and bite function.
Compared to traditional wires and brackets, clear aligners are comfortable, removable, and discreet.
Who would benefit from clear aligner treatment?
Evidence indicates that 3 out of 4 patients have a malocclusion. In addition, 3 out of 10 people are concerned by the look of their teeth, and 5 out of 10 people had been teased about their teeth previously.
Patients who have the following diseases would benefit from clear aligner treatment: misaligned teeth, deep overbite, large overjet, crossbite, open-bite, missing teeth, crowded teeth, unstable bite, mismatch of the upper and lower teeth when the arches are meshing together, excessive teeth grinding or clenching, temporomandibular joint pain and orofacial muscle pain or spasm.
Why does correcting malocclusion matter clinically?
Teeth crowding will continue over time. If it is not treated, it may lead to excessive tooth wearing, cause teeth sensitivity, gum recession, and abfractions at the gum line.
Overlapping of teeth on each other may lead to difficulty in cleaning teeth, which results in food trapping, tooth decay, swelling in gums, and bone loss in periodontal disease.
The crowding and misalignment can make the restoration very difficult and may lead to unsuccessful restoration. For example, when the teeth beside a gap are not straight with tilting toward each other, the gap between the tipped teeth could be too narrow for placing an implant crown.
Why ClearCorrect aligners?
Clear aligners are the preferred orthodontic treatment option over traditional wires and brackets because of the following advantages:
1) Nearly invisible appliances
The ClearCorrect aligners use a specially formulated, FDA-approved plastic containing a polyurethane resin. This high-quality material is stress-, stain-, and crack-resistant while providing excellent clarity, so they’re nearly invisible.
2) Safe and bioinert
The material is BPA-free, and it does not irritate the gum tissues in contact. Therefore, it is safe for use by everyone, including pregnant and nursing mothers.
3) Comfortable and removable
ClearCorrect plastic aligners apply gentle and gradual pressure on your teeth. Each aligner shifts your teeth no more than 0.3 millimeters at each stage of your treatment. Besides, their advanced design ensures a comfortable fit in your mouth without the irritation of metal braces and brackets.
4) No broken wires and loose brackets
Unlike traditional braces, ClearCorrect does not rely on wires and brackets to move teeth. Instead, it relies on custom-made removable aligners to straighten your teeth.
5) No dietary restrictions
Certain hard and chewy food will break the wires and loosen the brackets easily with the traditional wires and brackets. With ClearCorrect, the aligner trays are removed during eating, and so the trays will not be cracked or worn down.
6) No obstruction to brushing and flossing
The metal brackets and wires used with traditional braces make cleaning your teeth difficult and time-consuming. With ClearCorrect, you remove your clear aligner trays not only to eat and drink but also to brush and floss your teeth. It would be best if you rinse your mouth or brush your teeth before putting your aligners in, so ClearCorrect aligners can help you take better care of your teeth.
7) Controlled single-tooth movement
The computer program carefully and precisely predetermines the movement of each tooth. Each movement can be viewed virtually on the computer screen from the start to the end of the treatment. So, each rotation and movement of a tooth is precisely controlled by the trays during the process.
8) Fewer visits
Each aligner tray has a number printed on it so that the clinician and the patient know which tray should be worn first and which one is next. Patients can be given a set of trays to bring home to change according to the numbers on them without having to visit the office every month like the traditional wire and bracket orthodontic treatments.
9) Remote monitoring options
A patient can take photographs of the trays in the mouth to show to the clinician at the office how the progress is without having to be in the dental office for monitoring and adjustments.
How does clear aligner treatment work?
1) Record
First, the capture of the shape of the patient’s teeth with scans or impressions.
Take good intraoral and extraoral photographs of the arches, the bites, the smiles, and the faces from the front and the side.
2) Treatment setup
Based on the instructions from the dentist or orthodontist, ClearCorrect creates virtual models of the teeth, progressing from crooked to straight.
3) 3-D printed
Models are 3-D printed and used to create clear plastic aligners.
4) All day, all night
During your ClearCorrect treatment, you wear each of your aligners for at least 22 hours each day, removing them to eat, drink, and clean your teeth. Depending on your treatment plan, you wear each of your aligners for one to three weeks as your teeth slowly move into their ideal positions.
5) Monitor treatment progress
Keep an eye to make sure the trays fit nicely on the teeth every time.
Dr. Wong at Affinity Dental Care has over 30 years of orthodontic treatments for his patients. Call the office for a consultation.
