What are clear dental aligners?
Tooth movement used to be achieved just with metal braces. The metal braces kids wear with the wire would move your teeth. Adults often objected to that because they had metal appliances in their mouths. The first company to make clear aligners was Invisalign, and they've been around for many years. I've been doing Invisalign for many years, and there are other companies out there as well. Sure Smile is another one that comes to mind. It doesn't matter so much what brand you use; what matters is they all follow the same concept of an aligner that is clear and translucent. You hardly even know there's anything in your mouth, and no one can really tell.
What are the advantages and disadvantes of using clear dental aligners?
There are advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is you can straighten teeth very efficiently. You remove them to eat and to brush and floss, and they're very comfortable. You do have to wear them 23 hours a day, and that is the disadvantage in that they are removable. If you don't wear them, they don't work.
The advantage of metal braces is you put them on, you can't take them off, and they always work, but most of the time that is not an issue. A clear aligner will straighten your teeth; it's removable so you can eat without it and brush your teeth. You have to wear it 23 hours a day and, on occasion, well, most treatment tends to last between 3 months to 12 months, is very effective, and provides very quick treatment. A clear aligner treatment's length depends on how crooked your teeth are. If you have mild problems, maybe three months or less. For moderate to advanced problems, 6 months to 12 months. It is very rare to go beyond 12 months.
What is the process for clear aligner treatment?
Clear aligner treatment has a very simple process. We use our advanced intraoral scanners, which are cameras that take a lot of pictures within a second and create an image, a three-dimensional model. We scan your teeth, and it gets emailed to the aligner company. Their technicians propose a treatment to straighten your teeth. The dentist reviews it, approves it, or modifies it. Once the dentist is satisfied, it is sent back to the aligner company for manufacturing. When you return to the office, the aligners are delivered to you with your instructions. And off you go to the races.
How many clear aligner trays do people get?
The amount of clear aligner trays that people get is as follows: each aligner is normally in your mouth for one to two weeks. At our beautiful office in C Summit Dentistry, we recommend two weeks. Then you proceed to aligner two, aligner three, until you're done. For mild treatment, sometimes three to six aligners will suffice. More advanced treatment may require 15 to 20 aligners, or even more.
Although 20 may sound like a large number, the reality is 20 aligners is only 40 weeks. Remember, there are 52 weeks in a year, so that is less than one year of treatment. You do have to sleep with your aligners because they need to be in your mouth for an average of 23 hours a day. The only time they are out is for you to eat and to brush and floss your teeth.
Is clear dental aligner treatment suitable for everyone?
Clear aligners are not for everybody, but they are suitable for most people. There are some conditions for which we cannot use clear aligners, but your dentist will be more than happy to discuss other options with you. Remember, clear aligners tend to help about 90% or more of people who need tooth straightening.
Does dental insurance cover clear aligners?
You may be wondering if your dental insurance will cover the cost of the aligners. The answer is, if you have orthodontic coverage, then yes, it will cover the cost of your clear aligner therapy.
If your insurance does not have orthodontic coverage, then you would have to cover the expense yourself. The cost varies from office to office and depends on the length of your appointment and how many aligners you'll need. Fees can range from as low as $2,000 to as high as $7,000. Again, it all depends on how difficult or easy your case is, and your dentist can discuss that with you in more detail.
If you’re looking for dental care you can trust, call us at (949) 787-3378 or email [email protected]. We’re here to help you have the smile you've always wanted!