Now might be the right time to start thinking about getting clear aligners to pimp your smile. If you missed the opportunity to straighten your teeth earlier in life, we can help you achieve the smile you want without using traditional metal braces. Aligners offer several advantages over other traditional methods.
What are clear aligners?
Clear aligners are virtually invisible trays that are manufactured from transparent, strong medical grade plastic and are generally undetectable by other people. The removable aligners can be used to treat a range of tooth alignment problems without metal brackets, wires or screws. A series of aligners or trays are custom-made to fit over your teeth and gradually straighten crooked teeth, gaps or rotation in an organised manner.
Getting ready?
First, we will review your dental and health history. Once we have confirmed that you’re eligible for clear aligners, we will arrange a comprehensive consultation in which we will take photos, X-rays and digital scans of your teeth.
A 3D computer model of your mouth and bite is used to create the complete treatment plan from establishing the initial position to the final desired position. Consequently, before you begin the process, you will have a good indication of what your teeth will look like at the end of treatment. Aligners can potentially be used together with other cosmetic dental solutions, such as veneers if your teeth are particularly deformed or discoloured.
The aligners are also well suited to people who have undergone previous treatment involving braces in their past. Often teeth shifting occurs over time after braces have been removed, which is commonly referred to as relapse.
How the aligners work
Like metal braces, clear aligners apply pressure and force to the mouth, causing your teeth to gradually move into the desired positions in the mouth. With these actions, the ligaments on either side of the teeth stretch and compress, breaking down and creating new bone. The teeth movement is slow but consistent.
Treatment plan
The treatment plan is used to produce a series of custom-made aligners. Each aligner moves teeth up to 0.3mm per stage and is worn for about two weeks, then replaced by the next tray in the series until the desired position of the teeth is achieved. An advantage of the system is that you are able to change the aligners at home, without needing to come to the practice every two weeks.
The total duration of treatment depends on the complexity of the treatment as every person is different and outcomes vary. The average treatment time is between six and seven months, however treatment times may vary between two to twelve months. The aligners must be worn every day for at least 22 hours a day except when eating, brushing and flossing to maintain good oral hygiene. If the aligners are not worn the minimum recommended time each day, the treatment may not be effective and the length of treatment time may be extended.
Care and maintenance
You should rinse the aligners a few times a day and should brush them with non-abrasive toothpaste twice daily. Some people prefer to remove the aligners during heavy physical activities, such as contact sports.
Possible Responses
You may experience some temporary discomfort for a few days at the beginning of wearing each new tray. This discomfort is a normal response to the gradual movement of teeth and is often described as a feeling of pressure rather than pain, which generally goes away after a couple of days.
As the aligners don’t have any metal wires or brackets, no irritation or sore spots occur in the inside of your mouth.
Similarly, to all orthodontic treatments, your speech may be temporarily affected by the aligners. You may have a slight lisp for a day or two, which should soon disappear. Following the course of treatment, wearing a retainer is critical to keeping your new smile.
We will be happy to produce a detailed treatment plan to straighten your teeth which will transform your smile.
Crown Dental Studio is one of the few truly 24-hour dental practises in Durban as this is not limited to emergency dentistry treatment.
New Address: 26 Mackeurtan Avenue, Durban North.
T: +27 (0)81 207 8621
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