Clear Aligners Heber City
Straight Teeth & No Metal Braces
One of the best advancements in dentistry over the last few decades involves clear aligners. These allow patients to straighten their teeth and fix many other orthodontic issues without having to spend years in metal braces. Now, thanks to clear aligners in Heber City, you can benefit from a discreet, comfortable, and personalized orthodontic treatment that has already helped tens of millions of people around the world.
How Do Clear Aligners Work?
Using an impression of your bite, your dentist will create a treatment plan that maps out the movement of your teeth, and this will determine the design of your aligners. A patient will wear a series of progressive, clear plastic aligners that slowly bring their teeth into their ideal positions. Each set will be worn for about two weeks for 20-22 hours a day, and the patient will attend periodic progress checks so their dentist can make any adjustments along the way.
Good Candidates for Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are typically recommended for teens and adults because they do require some discipline to follow the treatment. The aligners are removable, and while this offers great flexibility, it also means that it’s possible for some patients (particularly younger ones) to not wear them enough. Aligners are great for correcting crooked, crowded, and gapped teeth, but metal braces may be recommended for someone with a severely misaligned bite.
The Benefits of Clear Aligners
- Invisible: No one will be able to tell you’re wearing your aligners even if they are talking to you.
- Removeable: Time to eat or brush your teeth? Just pop your aligners out until you’re done.
- Comfort: Each aligner will be custom-made to fit your unique mouth.
- Speed: Most clear aligner cases can be finished in just 12-18 months.
Clear Aligners FAQs
Can You Get Clear Aligners After Braces?
You can! So, if you had braces in the past, but your teeth and bite are no longer in their properly aligned positions, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with one of our dedicated cosmetic dentists in Heber City. Once they’ve had a chance to review your dental history and complete a comprehensive oral exam, they can determine if you’re a good candidate for clear aligners.
Who Isn’t Eligible for Clear Aligner Treatment?
Although clear aligners are an incredibly versatile smile-enhancing solution, they aren’t for everyone. For example, if you have an active infection in your gums or you grind/clench your teeth at night, then you won’t be a candidate from the start. The good news is that we can usually provide the necessary restorative care at our office, so clear aligner treatment won’t be out of reach for long.
Are There Any Dietary Restrictions with Clear Aligners?
While you don’t need to completely change your diet with clear aligners, there are some foods we recommend avoiding to protect your teeth and reduce your risk of experiencing an orthodontic emergency. Hard pretzels, raw almonds, peanut brittle, and lollipops are a few examples. It’s best to opt for healthy, well-balanced meals that are filled with foods that will help keep your smile healthy from the inside out instead, like cottage cheese, oatmeal, and cooked carrots.
What Should I Do if One of My Clear Aligners Breaks?
Oftentimes, patients try to remedy the situation at home by moving on to the next set in the series without consulting us or using a household adhesive, like superglue. However, this almost always does more harm than good. That’s why we recommend calling our Heber City dental team instead. Over the phone, we can determine what the next best steps are based on where you are in your treatment plan.
Will I Need to Wear a Retainer After Clear Aligner Treatment?
Yes, and there is an important reason why. Without a retainer, there’s a very real possibility that your teeth will drift out of alignment, wasting all of the time and money you invested in orthodontic treatment in the process. So, make sure that you wear yours as directed! If yours accidentally gets misplaced or damaged, then call us ASAP so we can have it repaired or replaced.
Can I Drink Coffee with Clear Aligners?
If you look forward to drinking a cup of coffee every morning or you rely on this caffeinated beverage when the afternoon slump hits, we have good news: you can drink coffee during your clear aligner treatment. To prevent stubborn stains from developing, it’s important that you remove your trays first, rinse them with clean, cool water, and place them in their designated case.
Tip: To avoid dental trouble, like decay, keep sugar and other additives to a minimum. If you can, rinse your mouth with clean water and brush your teeth afterward as well.