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Invisalign® and ClearCorrect

Are you an 80s movies fan? If you are, we don’t blame you. Some of those teenage-angst movies were the absolute best. Two characters in “Sixteen Candles” were saddled with headgear. One character, Joan Cusak’s Geek Girl, spent much of the movie in headgear because she had braces. Another character, Ted, put his headgear on when he slept in a convertible with the prom queen.

These two characters illustrate the problems wearing metal braces caused back then. No one wants to have to wear those silly contraptions - or metal braces for that matter. Did you know that you might be able to get your teeth straighter without all of that horrible metal? You can. Give us a minute and let BayView Dental tell you more about cosmetic clear aligners.

What Are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are unlike any other braces you have ever seen. Clear aligners are a clear plastic set of liners that fit over your teeth. They are not cemented in, and you can take them off and on during the day. Clear aligners work in much the same way as regular braces do. They work to straighten and align your teeth. However, since they are clear liners, very few people will know you are wearing them.

For that reason, clear aligners are popular with many adults. Adults don’t want to feel self-conscious while they are straightening their teeth. They want to straighten their teeth without other people noticing, so they love the idea of invisible aligners. Second, adults love the idea they do not have to go out of their way to get their braces adjusted every month. It can be difficult for adults to take the time to visit us to get their braces tightened. However, if you choose clear aligners, you usually have to come in and see us once every other month. Adults also like the idea that treatment times for clear aligners are shorter than the treatment time for braces. There are also no metal pieces, such as wires and brackets, to cut or irritate teeth and gums.

How Do Clear Aligners Work?

To begin the process of straightening your teeth with clear aligners, you first have to make an appointment to come and see us. We will look at your x-rays and use those along with photos with a computer program to get a treatment plan ready for you. We will also use these photos and x-rays to create your aligners. You will be fitted for your first set in our office so that we can make sure your aligners fit well. Clear aligners treat one or two of your teeth at a time, rather than all of your teeth at the same time, which is what braces do.

You will wear your clear aligners for about 22 hours a day. You can eat, drink, brush, and floss each day with your aligners off. Be sure you are brushing and flossing twice a day every day. Every other month, you will come and see us to get new aligners and to check your progress. You will be finished with your treatment plan before you know it. Do you have questions about clear aligners? We have answers! Give BayView Dental a call at one of our 7 convenient locations now!