Clear aligners have gained immense popularity in recent years due to their effectiveness, comfort, and unobtrusiveness in the mouth. In this article, we discuss what to expect during your ClearCorrect Journey.
What to Expect During Your ClearCorrect Journey
An orthodontic treatment with clear aligners can take anywhere from 6 to 24 months, depending on the severity of your case. Regardless of the duration of your treatment, your ClearCorrect journey will consist of these steps:
Initial Consultation and Exams
During the initial consultation, your doctor will examine your oral health and evaluate your orthodontic issues. If you have cavities or gum disease, they will have to be treated before the orthodontic treatment can begin.
An examination of orthodontic issues will help your dentist make an effective and comprehensive treatment plan. Additionally, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth or make a 3d digital scan, which will be used to manufacture your aligners.
Aligner Fabrication
Typically, it takes 2 to 4 weeks for your aligners to be made and shipped to your dental office. This timeline might depend on your provider’s workload and the complexity of the work.
Treatment Process
For your aligners to work and deliver desired results, you need to commit to wearing them at least 20 to 22 hours every day. You should remove them only when eating and for your oral hygiene routine.
Your dentist will provide you with several sets of aligners, which you will have to swap approximately every two weeks. Each new set will advance your treatment further. Like any orthodontic treatment method, aligners work by applying force to your teeth and prompting them to move through the jawbone and the gums. This process can be painful at times, causing a mild toothache and soreness. Additionally, aligners might rub the soft tissue along the gumline, especially at the beginning of your treatment. As a result, you might be tempted to remove your aligners more often than you should to let your teeth and gums “rest”. However, doing so will prevent the progress of your treatment or will cause setbacks.
Progress Checks
Typically, patients need to visit their orthodontic dentist every 6 to 8 weeks for checkups. In comparison, if you wear traditional braces, you might need to visit your dental office every week, which makes the treatment process more time-consuming.
During these checkups, your dentist will assess the progress of your treatment, make adjustments, if necessary, and provide you with new aligner sets.
Retention
Some patients will have to wear retainers at night to preserve treatment results. Retainers can be worn for several months to several years, depending on your specific treatment plan and the severity of your orthodontic issues.
ClearCorrect Aligners Versus Traditional Metal Braces
There are several differences between clear aligners and traditional braces that we recommend keeping in mind:
- Even though in the majority of cases, clear aligners are just as effective as braces, braces may be preferred in severe and complex cases of teeth and bite misalignment.
- Clear aligners are reported to be more comfortable in daily wear than braces, since they do not have metal parts that can rub and irritate the soft tissue in your mouth. However, some discomfort might still occur along the gumline, especially in the beginning.
- Oral hygiene with clear aligners is much more straightforward, as they can be removed when you brush and floss your teeth.
- Being able to remove clear aligners when eating means you will have no dietary restrictions.
Get an Orthodontic Treatment at East Highland Dental
If you are considering an orthodontic treatment, do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced dentist at East Highland Dental. Our specialists will take your goals and needs into consideration to offer you an optimal treatment plan. We are looking forward to your visit.