Clear Aligner treatment is a modern and comfortable treatment used to correct crooked teeth and teeth with gaps between them, or to eliminate problems such as an incorrect jaw closure. The technological and methodological developments experienced in orthodontic treatment also expand the treatment options. Clear Aligners have been used successfully for a long time as an alternative to braces in orthodontic treatment. It is possible to eliminate the problems in your teeth with Clear Aligners, one of the innovative treatments in the field of orthodontic dentistry. Clear Aligners are frequently preferred especially because of the advantages they provide to their users. Adana Private Oral and Dental Health Clinic Dentrum explained the frequently asked questions about Clear Aligner Orthodontic treatment for you.
What Is Wireless Orthodontics or Clear Aligner Treatment?
Wireless orthodontics is the elimination of gaps and crookedness in the teeth with clear aligners that are custom-designed and produced using three-dimensional printers, without the need for metal or porcelain wires.
Clear Aligners, which contain far more advantages compared to classic methods, prevent the person from feeling bad aesthetically during the orthodontic treatment process. They offer an aesthetic solution for people who are not pleased with the appearance of their teeth but also do not want to wear braces. Clear aligners, designed in a digital environment in light of the measurements taken from the patient, are produced specifically for the individual.
These aligners, which are almost invisible and can be put on and removed when desired, are used by being changed within one- or two-week periods under the control of your orthodontist dentist. The treatment continues until the teeth reach their ideal positions.
People who do not want to appear with braces in photographs especially at a wedding, prom, or a different special day resort to Clear Aligner treatment for aesthetic reasons.
For Which Disorders Is Clear Aligner Treatment or Wireless Orthodontics Applied?
The most common areas of use of clear aligners, which can be used to eliminate many orthodontic disorders, are gapped teeth, crooked teeth, and incorrect jaw closure cases.
The Advantages Provided by Clear Aligner Treatment
- Since it does not require wires, it does not cause an aesthetic problem during use.
- Since you can put it on and remove it whenever you wish, you can easily take a break from the treatment during the day, especially at meal times.
- In classic orthodontic treatment, force is applied to the teeth through wires and waited for a month. This situation causes the person to feel uncomfortable and causes pain. This pain caused by metal wires is felt extremely minimally with clear aligners. It is a much more painless and comfortable treatment option.
- Wire treatment or classic orthodontic treatment has side effects. For example, the patient's lips and cheeks can be cut due to the friction of the metal surfaces. This leads to the formation of sores in the patient's mouth during the treatment process. In contrast, the surfaces of clear aligners are extremely smooth. In this way, there is no poking or injury.
- Unlike metal wires, clear aligners, which can be removed and put on whenever desired, make it easier for the person to ensure and protect their oral hygiene.
- Having a transparent appearance makes these aligners difficult to notice when viewed from the outside. The patient feels better aesthetically. This also prevents their self-confidence from being damaged throughout the orthodontic treatment.
- In some cases, clear aligners can provide results more easily and quickly than classic orthodontic treatment.
- Eating is easier.
- It can be removed at important events, special days, and organizations where the patient will be in public, and the person feels better.
How Is Clear Aligner Treatment (Wireless Orthodontics) Applied?
Within the scope of Clear Aligner Treatment, measurements are first taken from the patient's mouth. These measurements taken are transferred to a digital environment and the design of the aligners is carried out. Then these prepared designs are produced using three-dimensional printers. A simulation of the predicted changes of the teeth is prepared. In this way, the patient has an idea about the course of the treatment. Again within a simulation, the final positions that the teeth will reach at the end of the treatment are prepared. After the patient and the dentist reach a consensus on this goal and approve it, the clear aligners are delivered. The patient renews the aligners they use within one- or two-week periods. This continues until the end of the treatment.
Can the Teeth Move with Clear Aligners Without Braces?
Yes. In fact, in some cases clear aligner treatment can give faster and more successful results compared to classic braces treatment. In other cases, even if the treatment is completed in the same time, it is much more comfortable and painless than classic braces treatment.
What Should Be Done Before Clear Aligner Treatment?
Whether clear aligners or classic wire treatment is adopted, the existing other problems in the mouth must first be eliminated. If there is decay formation or tartar formation in the patient's mouth, these problems are eliminated first. It is ensured that the patient's oral hygiene is provided before the orthodontic treatment.
Things to Pay Attention to After Clear Aligner Treatment
Against the risk of deterioration again after the treatment, patients should follow the recommendations of the dentists and continue to use protective aligners for the specified period.
Is There an Upper or Lower Age Limit in Clear Aligner Treatment?
In all orthodontic treatment procedures, the eruption of the patient's permanent incisors and permanent molars is first awaited. There is no upper age limit for this treatment. In contrast, in order for the treatment to be applied, the patient's bone level and supporting tissues must be in a suitable condition. In some elderly patients, these conditions may not be suitable. On the other hand, in elderly patients, if the supporting tissues and bone levels are suitable, Clear Aligners, which are a comfortable application unlike wire treatment, are a more ideal option.
What Are the Situations in Which Clear Aligner Treatment Should Not Be Applied?
As we stated above, if the jawbone level and supporting tissues are not sufficient for orthodontic treatment, this treatment is not applied. A patient's suitability for orthodontic treatment can only be evaluated after an examination by an orthodontist dentist.
Is Clear Aligner Treatment a Painful Application?
Orthodontic treatments by their nature give a feeling of pain at the initial stage. However, compared to classic orthodontics, this pain is at an extremely minimal level in Clear Aligner applications.
How Long Does Clear Aligner Treatment Take?
How long the treatment will take varies according to the level of the patient's problem. However, if we need to talk about an average period, the elimination of orthodontic problems is spread over a time frame of one year to one and a half years. This average period can end 6 months earlier or 6 months later according to the condition of the case.
Do Clear Aligners Prevent Eating and Drinking? Do the Aligners Need to Be Removed During Meals?
In classic orthodontics, that is, in wire treatment, the patient is forbidden from consuming some foods and drinks during the treatment. Or at least their consumption is asked to be reduced. Because otherwise the wires or brackets can be damaged by this situation. In contrast, in the Clear Aligner application, there are no metal parts fixed on the teeth. This allows the patient to be extremely free about eating and drinking.
Does Clear Aligner Treatment Negatively Affect the Speech Function?
In the first stages of aligner treatment, patients may have difficulty getting used to it. After an adjustment phase of one or two weeks, the patient adapts to these aligners and can continue the speech function just as before. Nevertheless, it is likely and normal that you may experience some difficulties while speaking in the first one or two weeks.
Does Excessive Consumption of Tea and Coffee Damage Clear Aligners?
As is known, substances such as coffee, tea, and cigarettes that we frequently consume in daily life are staining (coloring) substances. In contrast, the aligners used in Clear Aligner treatment are changed within weekly or two-weekly periods. This prevents you from encountering any discoloration problem.
How Is the Cleaning of Clear Aligners Done?
There are certain protocols regarding how the aligners used for protection purposes should be stored and how their cleaning should be done. These clear aligners, which are changed weekly, have their own protective cases. Washing them with water before meals will be sufficient for the cleaning of the aligners. If you need to use the aligners for a longer period, you can resort to special cleaning particles. You can get the necessary information about this from your dentist.
How Often Are Dentist Check-ups Done in Clear Aligner Treatment?
In orthodontic treatments that are spread over a very long process, it is an important requirement for the patient to go to dentist check-ups regularly. Under normal conditions, a patient undergoing orthodontic treatment is recommended to go for a dentist check-up monthly. These check-ups can also be continued within two-month periods if deemed appropriate by the dentist.
Can Clear Aligners Be Used After Wire Treatment Is Completed?
If deemed necessary after the dentist's examination, clear aligners can be recommended to patients who have undergone wire treatment. This is applied to increase the aesthetic quality of the results, to protect the results, and to make them permanent.
You can contact Adana Private Oral and Dental Health Clinic Dentrum to get information about Clear Aligner Orthodontic Treatment, to have an orthodontic examination, and to access up-to-date and clear price information.
