Some people are born with a perfectly straight smile. Others, however, aren’t so lucky. Malocclusion, or the misalignment of your teeth, is one of the most prevalent dental concerns worldwide, just behind tooth decay and gum disease. While malocclusion causes numerous aesthetic problems, it can also lead to unfortunate consequences for your oral health. For years, the only solution to these misalignment problems was traditional braces. These metal brackets and wires stretch across your smile, pushing your teeth into the correct position. However, the field of orthodontics has come a long way in the past 50 years, bringing new solutions like clear aligners to the forefront! If you’re looking for braces alternatives, visit Riviera Dental Care in Foley, AL! We use durable plastic trays that gently guide your teeth into position, eliminating the hassle of traditional metal braces.
Braces Alternatives: Introducing Clear Correct
Traditional braces have a simple structure that patients often find to be bulky. These metal brackets are bonded to your teeth, securing a metal wire that stretches across your smile. Dentists apply steady pressure to your teeth by tightening or loosening the wire, pushing your teeth into the correct position! This tried-and-true method is incredibly successful, but some patients like you may experience a few uncomfortable drawbacks. These include:
Bulky metal: Because braces are metal, they inherently feel unnatural in your mouth. While you do get used to the feeling over time, metal braces often cause pain and discomfort when they’re tightened. Additionally, these brackets and wires poke into the inside of your cheeks, irritating the soft tissue there.- Restrictive diet: Metal braces are bonded in place and remain on your smile until your treatment is done. This means that for the duration of your treatment, you must adhere to a strict diet to protect your braces, eliminating foods like sticky candies, popcorn, gum, and corn on the cob.
- Long timeline: Traditional metal braces typically take 18-24 months of treatment, depending on the complexity of your case. This timeline can feel extensive to many patients, as it requires almost two years of uncomfortable metal and a limited diet.
While the results are certainly worth it in the end, many patients desire alternatives to braces that are more comfortable and appealing. Fortunately, Rivera Dental Care offers ClearCorrect, a type of clear aligner that does almost everything braces can do, but without the hassle!
What Are Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners are translucent plastic trays that mold to the exact contours of your mouth. Rather than tightening and loosening a wire to shift your teeth, these aligners apply a gentle pressure to guide your teeth into the ideal position.
Clear aligners come in a series of trays, each slightly different from the last, to gradually shift your smile. Every 1-2 weeks, you’ll return to Riviera Dental Care to receive your new tray, which will move you further along in the process. While you may feel some discomfort at first when trying on a new tray, it will quickly fade.
Due to their smooth plastic material, clear aligners are much more comfortable in your mouth than metal braces. Additionally, they’re a much more convenient alternative to braces, as you can remove them on your own throughout the treatment process!
However, it’s important to note that you must wear your aligners 22-23 hours a day for them to work effectively. The only time you should remove your aligners is to eat and brush your teeth.
Because you remove your aligners to eat, there are absolutely no food restrictions during the clear aligner treatment process. After eating, simply brush your teeth and pop your aligners back in your mouth!
With clear aligners, you’ll enjoy a smoother, more comfortable, and more convenient orthodontic experience.
The Clear Aligners Process
The clear aligners process is simple. As always, we start with a consultation. At this appointment, we’ll perform a comprehensive dental exam to determine if you’re a good candidate for clear aligners.
First and foremost, we need to ensure that your teeth are healthy before orthodontic treatment. Any issues, such as decay or gum disease, must be treated before we begin the aligner process. While most patients with healthy teeth are eligible for clear aligner treatment, some cases are more complex and may require metal braces.
If you are a good candidate for clear aligners, we’ll take a digital scan of your smile and create a custom treatment plan for you. With detailed imaging and a plan in place, lab technicians will craft a series of clear plastic trays that slowly shift your teeth into the correct position.
Throughout the treatment process, you’ll return to Riviera Dental Care periodically to switch to your next tray. Each aligner is carefully crafted to apply gentle pressure that gradually guides your teeth. By switching to the next tray, you’re following along the path to a straighter and healthier smile!
Typically, clear aligner treatment takes about 4-6 months, significantly reducing the amount of time it takes to straighten your teeth.
Explore Braces Alternatives With Clear Aligners in Foley, AL!
If you believe you would benefit from clear aligner treatment, please don’t hesitate to contact us! At Riviera Dental Care, we provide orthodontic treatment to patients of all ages, using clear aligners as a more comfortable way to straighten your smile. During your consultation, we’ll determine if you’re eligible and create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. From there, we can correct misalignments and provide you with a beautiful and healthier smile.
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