Exploring Teeth Straightening Options
A lot of people dream about having a straighter, more confident smile. But the path to teeth straightening can seem confusing with so many options on the market today.
Here at Walnut Grove Smiles, we focus on the best option on the market today: clear aligners. In this article, we’ll spend some time making their purpose and functionality perfectly clear.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners like Invisalign are some of the most popular options these days. They’re clear trays that fit over your teeth and gradually move them into place. A big perk is they’re nearly invisible and removable.
That makes them great for adults and teens who don’t want the obvious look of traditional braces. You take them out to eat and brush, which is a lot more convenient than navigating around wires and brackets.
Clear aligner therapy uses customized trays made from dental-grade plastic to straighten teeth. The plastic is see-through and comfortable to wear. That said, your trays must be worn every day to ensure tat your smile shifts into place.
Many people prefer them as they are discreet. But you will have to wear them for most of the day. The one exception is when you are brushing and flossing or eating.
What’s Right for You?
When you’re ready, reach out to us to schedule an appointment. We’ll gladly go over your concerns, bite issues, and goals for your smile. We’ll examine your teeth and take x-rays to get the whole picture. Here are some other points you might like to consider.
Complexity
How severe are your alignment issues? Some problems require the precise force of traditional braces for successful results. We’ll help you understand if your issues are minor to moderate and treatable with clear aligners.
Timeline
How long are you willing to wait for results? Treatment times vary quite a bit. Invisalign treatment time usually falls within a year to a year and a half if you wear your aligners consistently.
Your timeline will be case-dependent. But, as an example, if you have adjustments every two weeks, then it might take approximately 12 to 18 months from start to finish. But, again, treatment effectiveness can vary from person to person.
Starting Early
It’s never too early to think about straight teeth. It’s perfectly normal to have your child checked out by the age of seven, even if they don’t have any obvious teeth issues. Why so early?
Early orthodontic treatment helps catch potential problems while they’re developing. An orthodontist can see how their jaws and teeth are coming in and address anything before it gets worse.
A child’s mouth will still be growing, so addressing potential alignment concerns while there is still growth occurring gives the best chance at successful treatment, especially during the years when they are between nine and fourteen.
If your little one shows early signs of needing teeth straightening, intervention could mean shorter, less intense treatment in the long run.
The Teeth Straightening Process
Once we help you decide on a method, here’s a basic overview of what to expect.
1. Impressions
We’ll begin by taking impressions of your teeth. Dental impressions are molds that can be taken with various types of materials. This allows us to plan your teeth straightening treatment plan.
2. Customized Appliances
Clear aligners are tailored to your unique bite. You’ll receive different sets of trays, moving you a little bit closer to the final goal.
Each tray is usually worn for about two weeks, then swapped out for the next one in the series, but your specific plan will be outlined when you begin treatment.
3. Adjustments
Clear aligners typically require less frequent visits, but you will still need to pop in from time to time for checkups to ensure the teeth straightening is progressing as planned.
Over the course of several months, you’ll receive new sets of aligners that will help you maintain your progress. The trays fit tightly over your teeth, exerting a continual pressure that triggers bone movement.
The extent of adjustments needed will determine the length of your treatment. We’ll easily be able to let you know how things look when you attend your routine checkups. If you routinely wear your clear aligners for 20-22 hours a day, you should see great results.
4. Retention
Once you’ve finished your initial teeth straightening, you’ll need a teeth retainer to keep your teeth from moving back. The retention phase is just as crucial as the straightening process, so be diligent about wearing those retainers as instructed.
The retainer phase, an often forgotten but very important stage in achieving lasting results with teeth straightening, helps solidify the outcome of the alignment process and minimizes the possibility of any regression.
Conclusion
Deciding to start teeth straightening can feel huge. You might feel a mix of excitement and maybe a little apprehension about the unknown. Remember that feeling good about your smile can have a ripple effect on your self-confidence.
Straight teeth go beyond aesthetics, too. They contribute to better oral hygiene and make it easier to keep your mouth happy and healthy long term.