What Are Clear Aligners and How Do They Work?

Clear Teeth Aligners have quite transformed the Indian orthodontic market in recent years. So, what are clear aligners? Clear aligners or invisible braces are transparent trays meant to straighten teeth and repair dental flaws, such as gapped, crowded or crooked teeth. These updated orthodontic devices are used to reposition and straighten teeth with minimal impact on the patient’s everyday life. This is because this device is designed to be invisible and can be removed during use.

When are clear aligners useful?

1. To straighten teeth that are crooked, overcrowded or gapped.
2. To treat bite issues such as overbites, underbites or crossbites.
3. To re-correct teeth that have moved after having braces.
4. Other minor orthodontic issues.

What are Clear aligners?

Clear aligners or braces are made of medical grade thin plastic like material for hassle-free and comfortable everyday use. These are almost 100% transparent. Unlike metal braces, aligners are painless, comfortable, and portable. They are custom-made for every patient after thorough digital scans by professionals to provide you with a perfect and confident smile.

What are the different types of braces available:

1. Traditional metal braces 
2. Ceramic braces .
3. Lingual braces
4. Self-ligating braces 
5. Clear aligners

How do Clear Aligners work?

Well, these thin plastic trays, customized to have a snug fit around the patient’s dental structures. These are made after taking a digital scan and other records. Similar to traditional braces, aligners work by exerting gentle pressure and minimal shift on a daily basis to gradually straighten teeth with time. Tooth-coloured attachments may be applied to your teeth to anchor the aligners and facilitate the tooth alignment process.

Advantages of clear aligners

• Help you achieve straighter, beautifully aligned teeth
• Can be removed for eating, brushing, and flossing, making oral hygiene easier compared to traditional braces
• Improve the function and appearance of your teeth and gums
• Provide overall better dental health
• Virtually invisible compared to metal braces
• Allow you to enjoy your normal diet without many food restrictions
• No risk of sharp wires or brackets irritating your mouth
• Smooth plastic aligners are generally more comfortable than metal braces
• Require fewer visits to the orthodontist than metal braces
• Treatment time may be faster than with traditional braces for some cases

Disadvantages of Clear Aligners

Some side-effects of using aligners for the first time are: 

• Irritation on tongue, lips or inner cheeks.
• Mild jaw pain
• Difficulty eating, mostly after using it for the first time.

How to take care of your oral health while using clear aligners?

1. Brush your teeth at least twice daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
2. Floss between your teeth and around your braces once a day. 
3. Clean your clear aligners daily and store them properly when not wearing them.
4. Swish with an alcohol-free, antibacterial mouthwash twice a day.
5. Avoid hard, crunchy, coloured or sticky foods while using the aligners.
6. Visit your orthodontist for maintenance of your aligners.
7. Visit your dentist regularly for cleanings and routine dental care.

How to get your custom-made Clear Aligners?

Step 1: Initial Consultation

First, book an initial consultation with your nearest dentist. During this consultation you

can discuss your dental issues and your treatment goals etc. Your doctor will examine your teeth and jaw and create a 3D digital model of your mouth using specialized software after taking photographs and X-rays. 

 Step 2: Treatment Plan In Software

Using the digital model, a custom treatment plan will be designed by the experts in i3dLiner using advanced bluesky software.  A series of aligners are designed that are tailored to your specific needs and desired outcome and also the numbers of

tray you will require. After receiving this plan you and your doctor can review the treatment plan and can see a virtual representation of your transformed smile over time.

Step 3: Approval

After approval of the treatment plan from you and your doctor, you

will receive the first set of aligners to start your treatment. You will receive instructions on how to use the aligners and how to take care of it.

Step 4: Life With Clear Aligners

Each set of aligners is used for around two weeks for a minimum 22 hours a day to experience the best results. Remove your aligners only at the time of eating and brushing your teeth. 

Step 5: Periodic Check-up

Periodic check-up appointments will be required to monitor your progress and necessary adjustments. It’s advisable to be in touch with your orthodontist for on-time  results.

Step 6:  Say Hello to your new smile

Once you have completed your treatment, your orthodontist will provide you with a retainer to preserve the progress. Retainers are provided to prevent teeth from shifting back to their original positions. That’s it. It’s time to celebrate your new smile.

Clear Aligners vs. Traditional Braces

1. Modern braces are quite inconspicuous though the other elements like rubber bands, wires or the gold/ greenish brackets can be still visible. While clear aligners are almost 100% invisible. 
2. Metallic braces can not be removed while aligners are easy to remove, making cleaning the device easy.
3.  Braces sometimes can hurt your mouth or can irritate while the thin plastic made aligners do not hurt and are light-weight.

Final Verdict

Gone are the days when you had to suffer for your dental flaws. Switch to 100% invisible aligners today. It’s time to face the world with your confident smile. At i3DLiner you can experience world class orthodontic arrangements and specialists. For more details on clear aligners and how to order your aligner tray, just visit i3DLiner and reach us today.

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