Factors Your Orthodontist May Consider Before Prescribing Clear Plastic Aligners
If your teeth are misaligned, there may be several orthodontic treatments available to straighten them. However, every treatment may not be suitable for your particular needs.
Nowadays, clear plastic aligners have become quite popular. Nevertheless, only certain dental patients are good candidates for the application.
Here are a few factors that your dentist is likely to consider when deciding whether or not clear plastic aligners are right for you.
Your Age
Clear plastic aligners are only prescribed when the palate of the patient is completely grown. The palate of a young child is still growing. Thus, other orthodontic options, such as braces, would be better suited for them. Aligners are generally only appropriate for teens and adults.
The Severity of Your Misalignment
If your misalignment is severe, braces tend to work better. Braces are available in different varieties, including traditional, lingual, and Damon system braces. Each type of braces can be used to straighten severely crooked teeth. However, clear aligners are best used for teeth with a minor or moderate misalignment.
Your Availability for Appointments
With traditional braces, periodic appointments are needed to adjust the archwire. The archwire, which is attached to the brackets by elastic bands, transmits aligning forces to the brackets, which are bonded to the teeth. As the archwire is tightened, the force that repositions the teeth increases.
With clear plastic aligners, fewer appointments are needed. Before the aligners are prepared, impressions or digital images are taken of the oral cavity. The images guide the fabrication of multiple aligner sets.
Each set is used for a couple of weeks before being replaced by the next designated set of aligning trays. As the patient moves from one set of aligners to the next, the teeth are progressively straightened.
Nevertheless, since the patient receives all of the necessary aligners at the start of the treatment, adjustments to the appliance are rarely necessary. Still, the dentist may schedule occasional visits to monitor the progress of the treatment.
Your Desire for Treatment Discretion
Clear aligners are made of transparent plastic that allows the teeth to be fully visible when the aligners are in place. Additionally, the aligners are removable, so they can be taken out of the mouth when the patient eats. As a result, unless they are told, observers are unlikely to even notice that the patient is undergoing an orthodontic treatment.
Other options, such as ceramic braces, may still be noticed in the mouth because of the archwire and bands.
To learn more about clear plastic aligners and other types of braces, schedule a consultation with an orthodontist in your local area.