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Clear aligners are fantastic—they offer all the functionality of traditional braces but with a lot less red tape in terms of how they impact lifestyle and diet. At One Love Orthodontics, we want our patients to be well-prepared for this treatment, so we’re going to share some tips for adjusting to clear aligners.
How Do They Work?
In the grand scheme of things, clear aligners haven’t even been around for very long, only a couple of decades. But they have made huge strides in orthodontics at large and have changed the lives of patients all over the world (and Brooklyn!).
Here’s how they work:
- Dr. Dayan begins by taking a detailed scan of your mouth using 3D imaging. This gives us an extremely accurate resource to work with throughout the duration of your treatment. We can also use this technology to show you images of your treatment progression from beginning to end.
- We use a material called SmartTrack to fabricate your clear aligners in a dental lab. This material is free from common allergens like BPA, BPS, latex, and gluten.
- Each set of aligners is worn for about 1-2 weeks, for 20-22 hours every day. They’re each slightly different, so they gradually guide your teeth into their new positions over time.
Benefits of Clear Aligners
This could be a long list, but we’ll keep it short and to the point. Clear aligners present a lot of advantages for many different reasons, that often depend on the patient’s desires for their future smile.
- A Teenage Dream: The invisible appearance of clear aligners can be particularly popular with our teen patients, who don’t want anyone to know they’re in the process of straightening their teeth and who don’t want to change their diet too dramatically.
- Popular with Professionals: The same aesthetic benefit is great for adults in the workforce. There is absolutely no shame in adult braces—but some patients want to avoid them if they can. Clear aligners are a great compromise in this way.
- Removable: While there are some rules that come with this feature, many patients are fond of the fact that they can take their appliances out at certain points in the day.
- A Comfy Fit: We’ve found many people prefer the feel of clear aligners to traditional braces since there are fewer components at play. They don’t require periodic tightening or additional parts, either.
- Improved Hygiene: Finally, you might be able to take care of your teeth a little bit better since you can take your aligners out to clean them. This means no barriers for brushing or flossing.
Tips and Tricks
Dr. Dayan has plenty of experience with clear aligners—you might say he’s an expert in his field! Part of his expertise is having lots of helpful tips to make your life easier during treatment. These are a few ideas to keep in mind with clear aligners:
- Communication is Key: This technically goes for all our treatment options at One Love Orthodontics, but clear aligners are no exception. If you ever find yourself confused or concerned, please give us a call! Don’t try to just power through it.
- Hydration Helps: Drinking enough water each day is important for everyone, but it can be a special remedy to the dry mouth that can come with orthodontic appliances. Adequate hydration makes your long wear-time a more comfortable experience.
- Stay on Track: Your wear schedule will cover daily usage and when to change to a new set of aligners. This timeline is important for effective treatment, so do your best not to stray from it.
- Figure Out Removal: You might think that you can just slip your aligners in and out, but think of them as a very tight pair of skinny jeans. Removal takes some getting used to. We recommend using a gentle rocking motion starting at the back teeth to help remove them, or use an aligner removal tool.
- Keep Up: A huge hazard of clear aligners (much like retainers) is simply losing them. Don’t ever think that it’s a good idea to leave them sitting out on your dresser or bathroom counter. Keep them in their case when they aren’t in your mouth, otherwise they might walk away from you.
- Practice Positivity: The road to a new smile isn’t always straight and narrow. You will likely have a few awkward moments, but remember the end goal.
Falling in Line
In addition to remembering the new smile you’re working towards, remember that our team is here for you. Dr. Dayan will cheer you on and offer support whenever you need it—so don’t worry! We’ll see you soon in our Brooklyn office.