Clear Aligners Orthodontic Treatment: Step by Step Process
Oct 01, 2022
Crooked teeth can be unattractive and increase your risk of oral infections such as tooth decay and gum disease. That said, it would be a great idea to consider orthodontic treatments. Initially, you could only straighten your teeth with traditional braces consisting of metal wires and brackets. The highly visible nature of these braces has always been a concern to many people.
Thanks to recent innovations in dentistry, you don’t have to avoid or hide your smile during orthodontic treatments. Clear aligners use clear or virtually invisible trays to straighten your smile. Below is a highlight of what to expect during your clear aligner treatment.
Clear Aligners: Step-by-Step Guide
- Initial consultation
The first step is determining whether you’re eligible for the treatment. Our prosthodontist in Calgary will examine your mouth for signs of orthodontic problems. You might be a suitable candidate for clear aligners if you have orthodontic imperfections such as open bites, underbites, crossbites, gapped teeth, overbites, and overcrowding.
Please note that clear aligners might not be ideal for complex misalignments. Instead, the dentist or orthodontist can suggest traditional braces. If you’re eligible for clear aligners, the dentist will discuss further details like costs and expectations.
- Designing a treatment plan
Once the dentist or orthodontist has established your eligibility for clear aligners, they’ll create a treatment plan based on your specific condition and needs.
For this, the dentist will take impressions and X-rays or digital images of your mouth. These records create customized clear trays or aligners. The trays fit snugly but comfortably. They contain clear or transparent thermoplastic polyurethane resin or BPA-free plastic materials.
- Fitting the aligners
Once the custom aligners are ready, you’ll be invited for the fitting procedure. The dentist will test their fit and show you how to wear and remove them. If all is as expected, the dentist will give you a set of aligners you must change every two weeks. The dentist can use tooth-colored buttons to hold the aligners and ensure enough pressure to move the teeth.
You’ll also receive several instructions on how to wear the aligners, including
- Remove the clear trays when eating or drinking anything other than water.
- Wear your clear trays for at least 20-22 hours daily.
- Clean or rinse your mouth after eating before wearing the aligners back.
- Clean your aligners gently and thoroughly every day.
- Do not expose your aligners to extreme heat.
- Wear a new set of aligners every two weeks.
Ensure you follow these instructions strictly to guarantee faster and more effective results. Contact our dentist for clear aligners near you.
- Follow-up appointments
Each aligner set moves your teeth gradually in the desired direction. Follow-up appointments are essential to check your progress and adjust the buttons to ensure the new aligners fit perfectly.
- Completing the treatment
After a few months, you’ll notice that your teeth are well aligned. Still, you shouldn’t stop the treatment without your dentist’s knowledge. While the teeth might seem perfectly aligned, you should continue the treatment until the dentist or orthodontist is satisfied with the results.
The dentist can see minor details about your teeth that you might not be able to see with your eyes. Additionally, you will need your dentist to remove the fixed buttons attached to the teeth. After that, you can enjoy your newly straightened smile.
- Wearing the aligners
After completing your aligner treatment, you’ll need to wear a retainer to keep the teeth in their new position. Otherwise, the teeth might slowly revert to the initial misaligned position. Initially, the dentist might direct you to wear the retainer all the time for a few weeks. Later, you may only need to wear them at night or several nights each week.
Final verdict
There are many benefits of using clear aligners to correct orthodontic problems. After your treatment, you’ll enjoy a straighter, healthier, and more confident smile.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Are you ready to straighten your smile with clear aligners in NW Calgary? Contact Northwest Prosthodontics to begin your treatment today.