Everybody wants a great smile, and more and more teens are having success with clear orthodontic devices called aligners. While braces use brackets connected by wires to encourage teeth to move, aligners are a series of tight-fitting custom-made retainers that slip over the teeth.
Avoiding “metal mouth” isn’t the only reason to choose a clear aligner. Unlike braces, aligners can be removed, making it easier to brush and floss well; that helps maintain better overall oral health. Invisalign is the largest producer of clear aligners, but it’s not the only brand. Others include Clear Correct, Inman Aligner, and Smart Moves.
Clear (or “invisible”) aligners aren’t for everyone. Your teen’s orthodontist or dentist will help you decide what’s best for her. Ask them if they have experience treating people with aligners, and get references or before-and-after images of their patients.
Can anyone get them?
Since invisible aligners are custom-built for a tight fit, they are best for adults or teens. (A child's mouth is still developing, so straightening her teeth is more complicated.)
Clear orthodontic aligners are typically used for patients who have mild or moderately crowded teeth, or have minor spacing issues. Patients who have severe crowding or spacing problems—or severe underbites, overbites, or crossbites—may need more complex treatment.
How do they work?
Once a dentist or orthodontist decides how to correct your teen’s bite, they’ll make a plan for moving the teeth. If you get the clear aligners, your child will be fitted for several versions that make slight adjustments to move the teeth over the treatment time.
Aligners are made from a clear plastic or acrylic material and fit tightly over the teeth, but can be removed for eating, brushing, and flossing. Your teen will get a new aligner every few weeks to continue moving the teeth into the desired position.
Treatment time with invisible teeth aligners is based on how much the teeth need to be moved or rotated. The more your bite is off, or the more crooked your teeth, the longer it will take.
Treatment usually takes between 10 and 24 months. (But, Parents, if you had braces as a child and your teeth have shifted slightly over the years, you may only need aligners for as little as 10 weeks.)
Because invisible aligners are not as precise as traditional braces, some patients may require a “refinement” of their teeth using braces for a few months to make other, smaller adjustments at the end of the treatment.
How much do aligners cost?
Treatment prices for aligners are normally set by the individual dentist or orthodontist, but can be more expensive than braces. In most cases, treatment using invisible aligners costs between $5,000 and $6,000. The average cost of orthodontic treatment in general, including treatment using traditional braces or other types of orthodontic devices, is about $5,300 for adolescents and $5,600 for adults.
Information courtesy of WebMD Medical Reference, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and American Association of Orthodontists.
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