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Everyone desires a great smile, but in most cases, professional help is needed to achieve that. Teeth misalignment is one of the dental problems that can affect your appearance, requiring you to see your cosmetic dentist in Orlando. If your teeth are slightly misaligned, your orthodontist may recommend clear aligners to improve your smile. They work just like traditional braces but are removable and not noticeable. For this reason, it is an option that most teenagers and adults resort to. Although clear aligners are usually safe, they are not an option for everyone. Here is what you need to know about clear aligners.
What Are Clear Aligners?
They are customized, removable orthodontic devices used to fix minor misalignment. Aligners are replaced every one to three weeks and worn for at least 22 hours each day. The entire set of aligners may take up to 10 months or more for your teeth to fall in place perfectly. Clear aligners are ideal for patients with mildly crowded teeth. Patients with severe misalignment may need an advanced treatment approach. When setting up treatment, specialists consider patients’ age since the growing and developing nature of children’s jaws can affect the results.
How Do Clear Aligners Work?
Clear aligners exert pressure on your teeth, causing small movements gradually, and aligning your teeth over time. Treatment with clear aligners is usually gentle since the change between each aligner is minimal. Small attachments cause the pressure that moves your jawbone. They are minor pressure points that your orthodontist bonds on your teeth during treatment. Attachments match your tooth color, and their placement depends on the movement you require. Your orthodontist will require you to have your aligners on at least 22 hours each day and remove them for a short time only when you need to eat, floss, and brush.
How Long Does Teeth Alignment Take With Clear Aligners?
Treatment time varies from patient to patient, depending on how much the teeth need to be moved. Someone whose bite is more off requires more time than the one whose bite is not so off. Treatment also takes longer if your teeth are more crooked. The average treatment time takes between 10 months to two years. However, adults whose teeth have shifted yet had braces in their childhood years may need aligners for as little as two and a half months.
Maintaining Clear Aligners
The following practices will help keep both your teeth and aligners in good shape during the treatment period:
- Remove aligners when you eat or before taking any other drink besides plain water, including tea, fruit juice, and energy drink. Colored foods and beverages will stain your aligners and make them unsightly.
- Do not clean your aligners with hot water since it is made of plastic which can distort due to high temperatures.
- Brush and floss your teeth before wearing your aligners to avoid trapping food particles beneath the devices.
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