Many people now – especially adult patients – ask about orthodontic treatment with Clear Aligners.
Like traditional braces, clear aligners are designed to move teeth a little bit at a time. The aligners are special plastic replicas of your teeth. Wearing them puts gentle pressure on the teeth, ever-so-slightly repositioning them with each new aligner you wear. Clear aligners are one of many technological advancements that have made orthodontic treatment less conspicuous, and only one of many appliances orthodontists use to move teeth and align jaws to create a healthy, beautiful smile.
Aligners may not always be the right appliance to correct every kind of orthodontic problem. Fixed “Braces” may be necessary for certain kinds of corrections – especially in children, however, like traditional braces, aligners are designed to move teeth a little at a time. Before treatment begins, the orthodontist will examine the patient, and take diagnostic records including x-rays, photographs, and impressions or digital scans of the teeth. From that information, the orthodontist can arrive at a diagnosis, and then work within the aligner software to design your smile and plan the treatment process – which tooth moves where, and in what order – guiding teeth into healthy positions.
With the end goal in mind, a series of plastic aligners are created using the patient’s initial impressions or digital scans as the starting point. The aligners are plastic replicas of your teeth. Wearing them puts gentle pressure on the teeth, ever-so-slightly repositioning them. It is recommended aligners be worn at least 22 hours a day, or as prescribed by the orthodontist. Each set of aligners is worn for a week or two before going to the next set. Over time, teeth reach their ideal places, according to the orthodontist’s plan. Most people will see the orthodontist for a check-up about every 6-8 weeks. The total number of aligners will vary by the needs of each patient. As with traditional braces, patients will need to wear retainers after their teeth reach their new positions, in order to maintain a stable result for as long as possible.
Our goals are to achieve both a beautiful smile AND a healthy “bite” – top and bottom teeth that fit together properly. Moving teeth is a complex biological process and needs start-to-finish supervision by an orthodontist who is suitably-trained and experienced in orthodontic treatment and patient care. Because of orthodontists’ extensive education and long-term experience and familiarity with the many types of appliances available, they can knowledgeably suggest what is right for you, based on your treatment goals and lifestyle needs. (AAO)
When you choose an orthodontist for orthodontic treatment, you can be assured that you have selected a specialist orthodontist; an expert in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics who possesses the skills and experience to give you your best smile. You can find out more about orthodontic treatment at Samawi Dental & Orthodontic Center, done by Specialist Orthodontist Dr Shadi Samawi – who has over 22 years of clinical experience to date – by clicking here.
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