Clear dental aligners are one of the most popular dental appliances with adults who do not want to wear unsightly braces. Unlike traditional dental braces, clear dental aligners are designed so they can be removed for a few hours each day, normally around mealtime. This makes it easy to keep your teeth clean without having to worry about damaging your braces. Clear aligners are easy to use and most people will not even know you are wearing them.
Clear dental aligners are molded to fit your teeth using hard plastic. To use them, all you must do is slip them in your mouth and snap them onto your teeth. Because they fit snugly to your teeth, they will not slip or slide. They will stay affixed to your teeth until you remove them. It is recommended that you wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day, taking them out when you are eating or if you are in public.
For the aligners to work properly, they must be changed every two weeks. In some cases, your dentist may recommend changing them every three weeks, especially if you have a tooth or teeth that may not be moving like you want them to. Your dentist will set the rate for when you need to swap out the aligners. You will use a new aligner every two/three weeks for as long as your treatment plan is in place.
Because aligners work gradually, your teeth shift slowly and have a chance to begin to settle in place with each new aligner. The longer the aligners are in place, the more permanent the change will be. When you reach the final aligner, you may want to wear it for several weeks to ensure that the gradual changes that were made throughout your treatment plan are permanent. Your dentist will supervise the entire process and will be able to tell you when your teeth have settled permanently into their new position.
If you live in the Pflugerville TX area and want to know more about clear dental aligners and how they work, call Elite Smiles of Pflugerville. Dr. Lakshay Sharma will be able to explain the process and help you determine if using the clear aligners is a good choice for you. Call us and set up your first appointment!
