How Do Clear Aligners Work?

Our smile can create impactful first and last impressions. One would want a straight and bright smile to make a good impression. However, getting a clean and white smile may not always be possible. Many people have uneven or misaligned teeth, which result in an unexpected smile. 

To improve the appearance of your smile, you can consider dental appliances such as clear aligners. Clear aligners are known for improving the alignment of our teeth. Clear aligners are invisible braces generally considered by people who want to perform smile correction. It will help if you understand how clear aligners work, as it can ease your decision-making process. You can speak to sedation dentistry san antonio to learn more about your dental health!

Understanding how clear aligners work: 

Before clear aligners start working and improving your smile appearance, you should consult a dentist to know if you are a suitable candidate for the latter. Once the dentist confirms your suitability for clear aligners, you can begin with the treatment. The first step after confirming the suitability of clear aligners is evaluation and assessment. 

The dentist will evaluate your dental health and take records such as photographs, x-rays, and scans of your teeth and face. The dentist may send the digital photographs and scans to a clear aligner laboratory where a 3D model of your teeth is considered. While the laboratory is preparing the clear aligners and trays, the dentist will create a treatment plan. 

Some dentists may offer on-site manufacturing facilities, which will accelerate the treatment. Once the dentist receives the aligners and trays, you will be asked to wear them. You may be asked to wear the trays for at least one week. After you start wearing the aligners, your teeth’s alignment will improve. 

Aligners are developed and designed to make small shifts gradually. Aligners generally put gentle pressure on our teeth which gets transferred to the roots and jaws. Responding to the pressure, the jawbone moves the sockets, and teeth get shifted simultaneously. Sometimes, elastics may be used with aligners to help the shifting process. 

What happens if my aligners do not fit my teeth? 

Sometimes, the aligners may not fit your teeth as perfectly as expected. In such cases, the dentist may advise performing minor reshaping or resizing. Reshaping and resizing, and minimal procedures do not require local anesthesia. 

In severe cases where aligners cannot solve problems, you may require to undergo additional dental procedures. Aligners are generally comfortable and gentle. However, you may need to wear aligners for at least 18 hours daily to achieve the best results. Also, your dentist may ask you to remove the aligners when you eat, brush, and floss.