Clear aligners are also termed as clear aligners or invisible aligners. As the name suggests, it aligns the teeth by correcting simple and mild issues in teeth that have gaps or may be crooked. Clear aligners make the teeth look straight/even and close the relevant gaps.
Need for clear aligners
Teeth having spaces can make people socially conscious. Here, clear aligners can help treat these conditions, which can boost confidence in people by making the teeth visually appealing.
Crooked teeth can also be a reason for the difficulty of maintaining basic oral hygiene like brushing and cleaning. It might cause issues like cavities or gum defects. Clear aligners can be a very accepted choice of treatment in such cases.
With the rise of clear aligners in the market, dental braces have become quite unacceptable. This is because braces are comparatively difficult to maintain, don’t look aesthetically pleasing, and require multiple and long dentist visits.
How are clear aligners better than metal braces?
Comfort – Clear aligners are more comfortable and easier to wear than metal braces. Patients get used to wearing clear aligners in no time, and unlike metal brackets, clear aligners do not cause any ulcers or cuts while patients wear them.
Aesthetics – As the name says, clear aligners are invisible braces. It is made of durable plastic material and is very difficult to make out if anyone is wearing clear aligners. On the contrary, conventional braces are metal based, which are visually unaesthetic. Although ceramic braces are also used at times, they cannot beat the aesthetics of clear aligners.
No food restrictions – While wearing braces, one has a lot of food limitations, as hard food might get stuck over the brackets and make them loose, thereby breaking them. On the other hand, with clear aligners, you can eat anything and everything you want. You only need to remember to remove it while eating or drinking. You can quickly put it back in your mouth once you are done.
Fewer dentist visits – While clear aligners require very few appointments with your dentist, smile correction involving braces is a little complicated and needs frequent monthly visits, which are more time consuming.
No discolouration – Generally, clear aligners do not leave any stains on the teeth after the treatment ends, unlike dental braces, which tend to discolour the teeth at times.
Good oral hygiene – Clear aligners allow the maintenance of good oral hygiene, which is required during the course of treatment. As discussed, in braces, food accumulates and causes the deposition of dental plaque and tartar, making oral hygiene very poor.
Indications for clear aligners
Mild spaces in between teeth
Crooked teeth
Other minor issues in the teeth arrangement
Clear aligners might not be the right fit for every case. It has its own limitations based on the way it is designed. In cases where the gaps are very severe, or there is an extreme alteration in the bite of the patient, and the teeth look overcrowded, it can only be corrected with braces.
However, there are some examples of cases where the dentist makes a hybrid treatment plan where both braces and clear aligners are considered for the treatment; your concerned dentist will be the best person to guide you on the right material of choice for you. It is advisable to consult your dentist first and then go for the treatment plan that they choose for you.
Factors that determine the cost of clear aligners
No. of sets required – The overall cost of the treatment increases with the no. of dental aligner sets the patient must wear.
The complexity of the case – The more difficult the case is, the longer and more complex the treatment will be, and hence, the cost of the entire process will spike.
Expertise of the dentist – The more qualified and experienced the dentist is, the more your will be their charges.
Location of the clinic – The clinic’s area also determines the cost of dental aligner treatment. Dentists who practice in areas where affordability is high tend to charge more than dentists who run their clinics in local areas.
The brand of the dental aligner – Different companies of clear aligners are available in the market. Efficient-quality clear aligners last long, are easy to use and provide desired results in a shorter time. Reputed companies generally cost more than local ones.
Conclusion
To summarize, clear aligners, also known as clear aligners, are plastic dental devices which are transparent and very thin. It functions like braces by applying pressure on the teeth, moving them in the desired direction, and correcting the arrangement of the teeth. This process rectifies all the abnormalities in the bite, looks and positioning of the teeth by closing the spaces between the teeth and setting them straight. When possible, clear aligners should always be considered as a choice of treatment as it has numerous advantages over teeth braces. The comfort that clear aligners provide to patients is unmatchable. Its smooth fabrication makes it very effortless for patients to wear and remove clear aligners as per the requirement.