Picture what it’s like to have all your ducks in a row. It’s nice to imagine alignment, but it’s less fun to visualize the hard work it took to get there. Traditional braces do a great job of straightening teeth, but their shiny metal appearance can feel like a spotlight on your smile. Many patients find them a bit too noticeable for comfort. But modern orthodontics solves that problem with clear aligners. They offer a more discreet, flexible option for orthodontic treatment. With their low-profile look and convenient wear, clear aligners are the clear choice for anyone who wants results without the fuss.
How Clear Aligners Work
Braces can be a real hassle, disrupting your daily routines. But with Invisalign®, you’ll have the option to straighten your teeth with greater comfort and a much less noticeable look than metal braces. Clear aligners replace traditional brackets, wires, and bands with a series of removable trays made of a special plastic. They are virtually invisible and tend to be more comfortable than metal braces.
The clear aligner process is pretty straightforward. First, Dr. Keider will determine if clear aligners will help you meet your goals. Then he will use 3D imaging to create a custom treatment plan, forging a path toward your ideal smile.
You’ll receive a series of aligners custom-made to slowly shift your teeth into the ideal position. As a patient, you have to keep Invisalign trays on for 22 hours a day, removing them only to eat and clean your teeth. Every one to two weeks, you’ll move on to the next set of aligners.
Once you see how barely noticeable clear aligners look on your teeth, it’s obvious why patients prefer them. Invisalign’s clear, nearly invisible design makes it a more discreet option for patients seeking a less obvious orthodontic solution. Not only are they more discreet, but many also find them more comfortable. Patients often report that clear plastic aligner trays feel smoother and cause less irritation than metal wires and brackets.
While clear aligners can solve pretty advanced orthodontic problems, there are still some situations where metal braces are needed. This includes correcting severe misalignments, such as when teeth need to be heavily rotated or move vertically.
Why Patients Forgo Braces for Invisalign®
You know it like the back of your hand: cleaner teeth are healthier teeth. But did you know that misaligned teeth are actually harder to keep clean? Crooked teeth make it challenging to remove all plaque when brushing and flossing. This increases the risk of cavities and gum disease forming. Straightening your teeth with an orthodontic solution is a healthy choice for your teeth.
But braces come with caveats: they can be difficult to clean, and they limit what you can eat. The brackets and wires easily trap food, making it a tall order to clean your teeth during the correction process. You also can’t eat super sticky foods, which can get trapped in braces and actually cause cavities. Eating crunchy foods might even break your braces altogether. But with Invisalign, you can enjoy whatever foods you like. Simply remove the clear aligner tray and eat whatever you’d like.
Additionally, many patients can complete orthodontic treatment sooner with clear aligners instead of metal braces. While it varies by case, the treatment length for clear aligners ranges from 6 to 18 months, while the treatment length for metal braces ranges from 16 to 24 months.
Book a Clear Aligners Consultation Today
Invisalign is a popular solution because it provides comparable results to braces with a much more subtle appearance. Your alignment experience might even be shorter and cheaper by choosing clear aligners over traditional braces.
If you’re looking for a more comfortable, more discreet way to straighten your teeth, we’re happy to help you with clear aligners! Dr. Keider prides himself on giving each and every one of his patients the care and attention they deserve, so take the next step toward clear aligners today. Schedule a consultation, and see how we can help you!
