WHAT ARE CLEAR ALIGNERS?
Clear aligners are flexible clear plastic trays made up of BPA free material and also they are CAD-CAM generated to assure about almost invisible and also a perfect fit.
Today’s orthodontic patients have choices that patients of 30 years ago didn’t have, and one of those choices is braces and/or clear aligners. Before if you needed braces, there was only one choice. Now the multiple options had made patients need to work through the pros and cons with their orthodontist to decide which is the best method for them. Clear aligners and braces both have their pros and cons which we will discuss here in detail.
HOW CLEAR ALIGNERS ARE USEFUL?
advantage of clear aligners over traditional Braces
Visible Treatment Vs Concealed
Clear aligners or commonly called Invisalign have the obvious benefit of being less noticeable than regular braces. Aligners can only be seen in close-up and are often not detected in photos.
Non Removable Vs Removable
Some people will choose clear aligners for the freedom of being able to take them out when they want and wear when needed. They do not like to worry about eating foods that may damage their braces. While wearing braces, patients usually need to modify their diet a little or do some preparation to ensure they don’t eat anything that’s too hard, crunchy or chewy.
Many people don’t want the hassle of taking the trays in and out whenever they want something to eat. The trays are worn as much as 22-23 hours every day to work efficiently. As soon as they have finished eating or brushing their teeth, the trays should go back in their mouth. Some patients will start out being diligent but as the months roll on, they become less concerned, their treatment stalls and the timeframe extends.
Good Vs Poor Oral Hygiene
For some patients, oral hygiene isn’t one of their priorities. They brush their teeth when they remember and rarely give it the attention it actually deserves. Before undertaking braces, they need to realize that they need to improve the quality and quantity of their teeth brushing. If not, they could finish their treatment to find they have white spots on their teeth. The spots are either permanent or need cosmetic treatment to remove or make it invisible.
While it is mandatory for all orthodontic patients to adopt good teeth brushing habits, clear aligners will be less forgiving. Invisalign patients are less likely to develop calcium or spots or severe gingival problems that braces patients can develop with poor habits. Invisalign patients are at risk of tooth decay if not taken care.
Invisalign cover the teeth, so the bacteria and plaque can get trapped between the tray and teeth. The teeth don’t benefit from saliva ‘washing’ the teeth. Anyone considering orthodontic treatment should commit to good oral hygiene for the entire procedure to gain the best outcome as desired.
Short or Long Treatment Time
If you aim to complete treatment as soon as possible, braces can move teeth into the desired position faster than Invisalign. Invisalign trays are swapped out every two weeks, and the changes between each one can only be minor. Braces can close larger gaps and align teeth more efficiently comparatively.
Complex Vs Simple Cases
Everyone has different teeth. Therefore, every orthodontic treatment is slightly different. Some people have multiple issues that require attention during their treatment while others are simple and straightforward. Invisalign works well for patients with mild to moderate crowding, but for more complicated cases, the biomechanics of braces are needed to rotate and pull teeth into position and correct bites.
HOW DOES ALIGNERS WORK?
- Aligners are customized according to each patient.
- We have multiple sets of aligners in which the patient has to provide change every 15 days.
- The aligners have added for value which applies pressure on teeth and aligns them.
ADVANTAGES OF CLEAR ALIGNERS:
Advantages of clear aligners are as follows:
1. INVISIBLE
These braces are completely invisible as they are made up of plastic flexible BPA free material.
2. REMOVABLE
Unlike the regular braces, aligners can be removed from the mouth by the patient.
3. CUSTOMIZED
Aligners are customized according to the individual patient, which makes them more comfortable.
4. MAINTAINING ORAL HYGIENE
Since aligners can be removed it becomes easier to clean & brush the teeth, thus maintaining proper oral hygiene.
5.NO FOOD RESTRICTIONS
Yes, you read correct, unlike regular braces, there are no food restrictions in aligners.
6. FEWER VISITS
Aligners as compared to regular braces require a lesser number of Orthodontist visits.
7. PREDICTABLE OUTCOME
Aligners as compared to regular braces require lesser number of Orthodontist visits.