There are endless benefits to having a beautiful smile that you’re not afraid to share! Having straight teeth makes oral hygiene at home easier and more effective. It also gives you priceless confidence when you smile and interact with other people. Most people find themselves drawn to happy people who share their smiles often.
If you’re living with less than perfect tooth alignment, you have options these days. Luckily, wearing traditional metal braces isn’t the only way to achieve the straighter, more beautiful smile you want. You can also get there by using clear aligners that are easy and comfortable to wear, not to mention virtually invisible. Here’s what you should know about orthodontic treatment with clear aligners in Brentwood.
How Do Clear Aligners Work?
Instead of attaching metal brackets and wires to your teeth, clear aligner treatment uses customized BPA-free plastic trays that cover your teeth and gently move them into alignment, just like braces. However, the differences between clear aligners and braces are significant:
- Clear aligners are smooth with no metal brackets or wires to poke at your cheeks and soft tissues.
- You can remove clear aligners when it’s time to eat or brush your teeth.
- Removable clear aligners don’t require any dietary restrictions during treatment. You’ll be able to enjoy all the foods you love throughout your treatment.
You should wear clear aligners for at least 22 hours each day and change them every one to three weeks, which you can easily do at home. Then you’ll check in with your Brentwood dentist periodically during your treatment to ensure that your teeth’ alignment is progressing properly.
Most patients finish treatment with clear aligners in 12 to 18 months, depending on their specific needs.
Who Is a Candidate for Orthodontic Treatment with Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners are effective for most patients unless they’re dealing with a complex bite issue. Some of the common problems that clear aligners can solve are:
- Crooked or rotated teeth
- Crossbite
- Open bite
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Gaps or spaces between teeth
- Teeth that overlap
At Sullivan Dental Partners, our dentists can determine if clear aligner therapy is the proper treatment for your smile during an evaluation where they will gather information about your smile. Then, using x-rays, photos, and a thorough examination of your teeth, they will evaluate your smile and create a treatment plan for you with clear aligners if it’s an effective treatment for you.
If clear aligners aren’t right for you, our dentists will discuss other treatment methods to help you reach your smile goals.
How Expensive Is Straightening My Smile with Clear Aligners?
Are you considering straightening your teeth with clear aligners? In that case, the first step is to schedule an orthodontic evaluation with one of our dentists at Sullivan Dental Partners. If you decide clear aligners are right for you, our dentists will share the exact cost for your treatment and the expected time frame for completing your new smile. Of course, the cost of treatment varies with each patient depending on the duration and complexity of their case.
Do you have dental insurance that includes an orthodontic benefit? If so, you can often apply it towards treatment with clear aligners. Our friendly and knowledgeable treatment coordinators can help you navigate your dental insurance and determine if you have an orthodontic benefit to take advantage of.
If you don’t have dental insurance, not to worry. Sullivan Dental Partners works with several different third-party financing companies like CareCredit or GreenSky that help our patients break higher treatment costs into comfortable and affordable monthly payments. We also offer in-house financing options at our Brentwood dental office.
Patients without dental insurance may also benefit from becoming Sullivan Dental Partners Club members. This is our in-house dental membership club that covers your yearly preventive appointments for one low monthly fee. The plan also offers additional savings for its members for treatments like clear aligner therapy. Please speak to one of our friendly team members for more details on the Sullivan Dental Partners Club.
Let’s Review the Advantages of Orthodontic Treatment with Clear Aligners
So the most significant benefit clear aligners offer our patients is discretion. Imagine moving and aligning your teeth without anyone ever noticing! This is the true advantage of clear aligners.
Patients also love that they can eat all the foods they normally would without any restrictions during treatment with clear aligners. Daily brushing and flossing are also easy when you don’t have to get frustrated cleaning around brackets and wires, which means your dental health won’t suffer during orthodontic treatment.
Removable aligners also make it easy to enjoy significant events because you can take them out for short periods.
