Clear aligners provide patients with a straight smile without needing metal brackets and guidewires. Made of clear plastic, clear aligners will not weigh down your smile or feel heavy in the mouth.
So, if you're considering clear aligners in Germantown, we urge you to call us and book a consultation or continue reading to learn more about this system and how it works.
What Are Clear Aligners and What Is the Process?
Clear aligners are a discreet orthodontic system that can straighten your teeth without metal or the need for traditional braces. You wear these aligners over your teeth and follow the instructions provided by your dentist.
Step 1: An Evaluation with Your Clear Aligners Dentist in Germantown
Before orthodontics, seeing the dentist to ensure your candidacy for treatment is important. Many patients are good candidates for invisible braces, but sometimes pretreatments are necessary to provide a predictable outcome. For example, pretreatments may include an extraction if teeth are overcrowded. We may also need to address other issues, such as decay and gum disease, before we get started.
This visit is also your chance to ask questions about teeth aligners. And you'll learn more about how long you'll be in treatment and the costs.
Step 2: Impressions and Fabrication
Your dentist takes careful impressions of your teeth, and the lab uses the results to create custom tooth aligners. When the aligners are ready, you pick them up and wear them according to your dentist’s schedule.
Step 3: Your Clear Aligner Treatment
Be sure to follow the instructions provided by your dentist. Typically, the instructions include changing your aligners every few weeks, coming in periodically for orthodontic monitoring, and maintaining your oral health through six-month checkups and an excellent at-home routine.
Step 4: After Aligner Therapy
After this treatment, your dentist gives you a custom retainer to wear at night. It’s essential to wear it! Otherwise, you risk orthodontic relapse.
Who Is a Candidate for Clear Aligners?
Most patients are good candidates for aligners, but your dentist provides a checkup to be sure. As a rule, if you’ve taken good care of your teeth, seen the dentist regularly, and haven’t been diagnosed with a severe oral health condition like gum disease, you do very well with invisible braces.
How Long Do Aligners Take to Straighten Teeth?
Teeth straightening with invisible aligners can take six months or longer—between six months and two years. But on average, patients spend about twelve months in treatment. So, of course, we can answer this question better during your initial evaluation and assessment.
What Are Issues that Aligners Can’t Fix?
Clear aligners can correct most mild to moderate orthodontic issues. However, some complex cases may do better with traditional braces. Your dentist can tell you what to expect with aligners or recommend an alternative treatment option.
How Do I Clean Clear Aligners?
Invisible braces offer a cleaning solution, but you can use mild soap and a soft-bristled toothbrush instead to clear debris from your aligners. We recommend room-temperature water to avoid damaging your aligners.
You should also remove and rinse them throughout the day.
How Much Do Clear Aligners Cost?
We determine the cost at your initial evaluation. And the price is based on a few crucial factors, including:
- The complexity of your case
- Time in treatment
- Potential pretreatments
- Potential insurance benefits
We will never move forward with treatment without breaking down the costs of aligners.
Contact Your Dentist in Germantown, MD
To learn more about clear aligners or have questions for the dentist, call us today. Our team is proud to offer financing through CareCredit.