A sparkling white smile where the teeth are perfectly aligned are a symbol of health, wealth and youth. We all want such a smile and there are different ways of obtaining it.
If you teeth are not perfectly aligned, you could visit an orthodontist, which can put you on a treatment plan that includes braces, but let us be real, they are ugly. For around two years of your life you will need to walk around with these metal tracks and wires in your mouth. There is an alternative – aligners.
Aligners are clear orthodontic devices, which have been successfully being used to give people that super smile. Teenagers and adults are the target group for these devices. Children should rather not be treated with aligners, as the treatment with these orthodontic devices are just too difficult. Also, people with overcrowding or spacing issues, even severe under bites, overbites or cross bites should rather opt for braces. Aligners can be useful for those with mild or moderately crowded teeth or those that have minor spacing problems.
Unlike braces, allow your teeth to move and pushed into place, whereas aligners are a bit different. These tight-fitting custom-made retainers slip over your teeth. And since they are removable, it makes it easy for you to brush your teeth, or floss and even eat. Plus, these devices do not have the discomfort which is normally associated with traditional braces.
The treatment process of aligners
During the length of your treatment plan, your dentist or orthodontist will provide you with several versions of aligners. These aligners are clear, removable trays that fit over the teeth to straighten them. Which you will need to wear for at least 20 hours a day, each day until the treatment is completed. But during the treatment you will need new devices that are just slightly different, allowing enough movement to take place.
These orthodontic devices are made of a clear acrylic or plastic material and they are meant to fit snuggly over your teeth. You remove them before you eat, brush your teeth or floss your teeth.
The length of the treatment with aligners
The length of the treatment will be determined by the amount of teeth you have to needs realignment. Normally the treatment with aligners take around 10 to 24 months. Nevertheless, as mentioned, if you have crooked teeth, be patient, it will take a bit longer.
If you had braces before as a child or a teen, and over the years, your teeth have moved a bit, using aligners as an adult will only require roughly 10 weeks of your time. This should be enough time to get your teeth back into position, as then the braces came off.
There is also the risk that you might not wear them as instructed. Remember, its 20 hours a day for around 24 months. This can mean that your treatment time will have to be extended.
Possible problems with invisible aligners
The first issue with these devices are that they can be pricey when compared to normal metal braces. The cost can also creep up higher if you lose them and you need to replace them to complete your treatment.
Although treatment prices for aligners are normally set by the individual dentist or orthodontist, they can be more expensive than braces. If a patient fails to wear the trays properly, or loses them, additional costs may be incurred if new trays or impressions of a patient’s teeth are needed.
What is worse is though these devises are not attached to your teeth, they might not be as effective as braces. You will need to discuss your individual case with your dentist, which will advise you on your best route.
These invisible aligners can also be the cause of you developing cavities. That is since once you wear them they seal off our teeth from the rest of your mouth and the saliva that is meant to help protect your teeth against bacteria. If you are wearing these devices and they are not clean, or you are not keeping your teeth clean, you can start to develop cavities.
In addition, these removable aligners can, and will most likely impact your speaking voice. In the beginning, you will have to get used to the change, and just remember that it is temporary. Once the alignment is complete, the problem will go away.
