Why Clear Aligners?![]() What Are Clear Aligners?While many of our patients have heard of clear aligners, such as Invisalign, they are not sure how the aligners work. Clear aligners are made to be switched out every one or two weeks, and progressively move the teeth into the desired positions. Once pictures and images are made of your teeth, they are sent to the Invisalign lab with instructions on how the teeth will be moved. We then use 3D imaging to plan a treatment for you as well as a timeline. This innovative form of dental technology is popular because the aligners are made of a soft plastic material that is see-through. Therefore, the aligners, also called trays, barely get noticed. If you want to straighten your teeth subtly and fairly quickly, this is the way to do it. How Long Is the Treatment Time?When clear aligners are used for teeth straightening, it usually takes about 18 months for the treatment. Depending on your degree of crowding, or the nature of your bite, it may take fewer months or additional time to achieve satisfactory results. We will need to check your progress about every six weeks. You must also wear your aligners 22 hours to ensure good results. While you can remove the trays when you brush or floss or eat, you should wear the aligners at all other times. After the treatment, you will wear a retainer, usually for 4 months to 1 year, like you did the aligners. This is done to keep your teeth from shifting back to their original position. After that time, we recommend you wear your retainer indefinitely at night. While this may seem like a tall order to some, it is done to preserve the smile you’ve worked hard to attain. How Should I Clean My Aligners?If you choose Invisalign aligners to straighten your teeth, you can use the brand’s cleaning system, which requires that you use Invisalign cleaning crystals. After rinsing your aligners, place them in the cleaning system’s container. It takes about 15 minutes to clean the trays. Make sure the aligners are fully immersed in warm water and gently shake the container for about 20 seconds after adding the crystals. This will break them up and distribute them for cleaning. You only need to use a packet of the crystals. After the cleaning process, shake the container again for 20 seconds. Rinse the aligners in warm water and store the crystals in a cool and dry place. Would you like to set an appointment for an Invisalign consultation? If so, we can arrange a time that is convenient for you. Give Rendon Orthodontics a call at (972) 377-8844 at your earliest convenience. We look forward to talking to you soon. |