Clear Aligners are an alternative to traditional braces and are designed to help guide teeth into their proper position. Similar to braces, clear aligners use a graudual force to control tooth movement, but without metal wires or brackets. The aligners are made of a strong plastic material and are fabricated to fit each person’s mouth.
Clear Aligners involves the use of specially manufactured clear sets of removable aligners, created to the unique fit of each patient, and replaced frequently (often weekly). As each set of aligners is removed, a new set is fitted in its place.
Gradually, over the course of treatment (often spanning many months, depending on the severity of the problem being addressed), the teeth are re-aligned to meet the desired recommendation of the orthodontist.
Advantages
- Clear aligners are aesthetically more appealing than conventional braces as they are not visible, more comfortable and fit well. This allows the patient to feel more confident throughout the orthodontic process.
- Clear aligners can be worn at any age. They are especially suitable for people who feel they are too old for braces, as they can wear them without ‘advertising’ that they’re wearing braces.
- Clear aligners are more efficient time-wise as there are fewer and shorter appointments at the dentist.
- Hygiene is much better with aligners as you can remove aligners for cleaning and the patient is able to access all tooth surfaces, as opposed to conventional braces which are more time-consuming and make access for cleaning more difficult.
