What are invisible braces and retainers for straight teeth?
Everyone wants to achieve a perfect smile. But some of us need help achieving that smile. Some of us need invisible aligners for teeth straightening. More and more people are finding success with invisible braces and retainers for straight teeth. The traditional orthodontic treatment — braces — uses wired brackets to apply pressure on the teeth, making them move in the desired direction. Invisible aligners, in comparison, are tight-fitting mouthpieces made of invisible or transparent material. They slip over your teeth and apply gradual pressure to straighten your teeth, moving them in the desired position. Invisalign is currently the biggest brand of invisible teeth aligners.
Who is a suitable candidate for invisible aligners?
Invisible aligners aren’t suitable for or necessary for everyone. Your dentist or orthodontist will carefully examine your teeth and take impressions to determine if you need them. Since the invisible aligners are custom designed to fit around your teeth, they’re ideal for adults and teenagers will fully-formed teeth. Invisible aligners aren’t suitable for children because their teeth are still growing and developing, so it’s impossible to prepare custom mouthpieces in advance. Invisible aligners are generally suitable for patients with mild to moderately misaligned or overcrowded teeth. However, invisible braces can often be modified with retainers to address complex spacing issues, such as overbites, underbites, crossbones, etc.
How do teeth straightening aligners work?
Once your dentist or orthodontist decides you need teeth straightening aligners, they’ll curate a detailed treatment plan. The dentist will take digital impressions of your teeth to process your teeth straightening journey on a computer program. The software will provide a detailed step-by-step overview of your teeth straightening journey, showing you how your teeth will look at different stages. The invisible aligners will be made of clear thermoplastic or acrylic, and they’ll fit around your teeth. You’ll receive a series of aligners associated with different stages of your treatment.
You have to wear each aligner for approximately 2 weeks and then move to the next aligner. You can remove the aligners while eating, flossing, brushing, etc., so you don’t have to worry about getting stains on the aligners. At the end of the entire teeth straightening treatment, you’ll get retainers for your teeth. You’ll have to wear the retainers for around 6 months to make your teeth stay in their new place. If you don’t wear the retainers, there’s a small chance that your teeth will slowly move back to their original position. As such, the retainers help preserve the results of your teeth straightening.
How long do clear dental aligners take to straighten teeth?
Each individual has a unique journey with teeth aligners. The duration of your clear dental aligners journey will depend on your specific issues and how much your teeth need to be rotated. The greater the misalignment, the longer the treatment. However, the treatment with clear aligners usually lasts from 10 to 24 months. However, adults who had braces as children might need shorter treatments for less than 10 weeks. Your orthodontist will provide a detailed treatment overview and duration during the consultation when they enter the digital impressions into the computer program.
What are the benefits of teeth straightening?
There are numerous benefits of teeth straightening. The most obvious benefit is that straighter teeth are easier to clean. Overcrowded and crooked teeth are harder to clean because of hidden pockets that your brush can’t reach. The lack of proper occlusion makes it harder to dislodge food particles stuck between your teeth. Over time, the food particles turn into plaque and increase bacterial colonization in the area, leading to dental cavities and gum infections. Straighter teeth are easier to brush, and there’s more room for the toothbrush bristles to clean between the teeth. As such, they give you cleaner teeth with better oral hygiene.
Teeth straightening also improves your general confidence and self-esteem. Straighter teeth give you a better smile, making you laugh and smile more openly. People with crooked teeth often smile through pursed lips, making them appear under-confident. However, with straight teeth, you can laugh openly and freely, making you more approachable to other people. Individuals with straighter teeth and greater self-confidence may also find greater opportunities for social and professional fulfillment, improving their overall quality of life. Furthermore, with invisible aligners, you don’t have to be self-conscious during the treatment period.
Do you have to wear a retainer forever?
The duration for which you have to wear retainers depends on your individual case. In some cases, patients have to wear retainers for about six months after the treatment to ensure their teeth stay in place. In other cases, the retainers are worn for a little more than the overall duration of the primary orthodontic treatment. And, in other cases, the retainers are worn for 3-5x a week for the rest of your life. The duration of the retainers depends on your doctor’s recommendation.
How long before teeth shift without a retainer?
The first three months after your orthodontic treatment are crucial because your bones can easily shift. As such, if you don’t wear retainers in this period, the orthodontic results may come undone. You must wear retainers constantly for the first three months, at least.
Should I force my retainer to fit?
If you don’t wear your retainers for a while, your teeth may have shifted slightly. You shouldn’t force your retainers to fit — instead, contact your dentist for an evaluation of your teeth.
How do I know if my retainer fits properly?
The plastic of the retainer should fit over the entire row of teeth without moving. The retainer should fit over all your teeth, including the back teeth, holding them in place. If your retainer falls out or doesn’t stay in place, it might need to be replaced.
Schedule your teeth straightening appointment today.
Nottingham Dental is one of the most reputable dental clinics for orthodontic treatments in Katy, TX. Our dental clinic is located at 20501 Katy Fwy #104, Katy — you may schedule an appointment online or call us at (281) 578-0211.
