One of the most common things I hear my patients say to me when they’re at their dental appointment is that they’ve “been thinking about straightening their teeth”. They may have had braces when they were younger and their teeth have now moved, or they’ve been unhappy by the crowding they see and always had difficulty cleaning their teeth properly.
Well in my professional opinion, if you’re thinking about clear aligners, the first box to tick is that you regularly visit the dentist because it is important that you have healthy teeth and gums before starting any form of treatment.
Your dentist is the best person to start this conversation with because it is important to understand the process and the level of commitment required for a successful outcome.
So what are some differences between clear aligners and your traditional braces:
-
Clear aligners are made from plastic that are custom fitted to your teeth and temporary tooth coloured composite buttons are placed on teeth to help with the movement of your teeth through each stage
-
Braces are commonly metal brackets attached to teeth with metal wires. They can’t be removed during treatment duration
-
In comparison, clear aligners are removed when you eat and clean your teeth, but if they’re not on your teeth, they are not working.
-
Clear aligners are less noticeable and because they can be removed, makes it easier to maintain your regular oral hygiene
If you’re considering clear aligner treatment, the biggest challenge is compliance. As mentioned earlier, clear aligners are removable so they only work if they’re sitting in your mouth.
They need to be worn for 22 hours throughout the day, so they are only removed when you’re eating and drinking anything apart from water. As a dentist who offers clear aligners to my patients, I have a thorough discussion about the importance of following these rules because it is the key to ensure that treatment goes according to plan and we are both happy at the end.
This year, we’ve been discussing how a healthy mouth is a healthy mind. One of the biggest benefits in my clear aligner cases is seeing the huge changes in the confidence of my patients at the end of their treatment. They are more self assured and are always smiling from ear to ear. It gives me such satisfaction that I played a small part in their journey of bringing out their inner beauty for the world to see.