CLEAR ALIGNER THERAPY

THE CLEAR ALIGNER ALTERNATIVE

Both clear aligners and metal braces are effective at straightening teeth; however, there are some key differences between the two treatments that you should be aware of before making a decision. Clear aligners are virtually invisible when worn, whereas metal braces are very noticeable. If you are concerned about your appearance during treatment, clear aligners may be the better choice for you. In addition, clear aligners can be removed for eating and drinking, whereas metal braces cannot. This means that you can continue to eat all of your favorite foods without worry! However, it is important to note that you must brush your teeth after eating and drinking with clear aligners in so that food does not get trapped in the aligners and cause tooth decay.

ARE CLEAR ALIGNERS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Now that we have compared clear aligners with traditional metal braces, let's take a closer look at some of the pros and cons of clear aligner therapy specifically. One major pro of clear aligner therapy is that it is very discreet. As we mentioned before, clear aligners are virtually invisible when worn; therefore, they will not impact your appearance as much as metal braces would. In addition, since clear aligners can be removed for eating and drinking, you do not have to worry about anyone noticing them while you are out and about! 

Another advantage of clear aligner therapy is that it allows you to brush and floss normally throughout treatment. Since the aligners can be removed for eating and drinking, you do not have to worry about food getting trapped in brackets and wires like you would with traditional braces. This helps reduce the risk of cavities and tooth decay during treatment. Along similar lines, since the aligners can be removed for cleaning, there is no need for special flossing tools or brushes like there is with traditional braces. 

However, one downside of clear aligner therapy is that it requires a high degree of compliance from the patient in order for it to work effectively. The aligners must be worn for at least 22 hours per day in order for treatment to be effective. Therefore, it is important that you are willing and able to wear them as prescribed by your orthodontist before beginning treatment. If you do not wear the aligners as prescribed, you maybe at risk of lengthening your treatment time or even requiring additional treatment, such as wearing headgear at night to correct any issues caused by non-compliance with the clear aligner treatment plan.