Clear Aligner Treatment
Am I a good candidate?
If you have one of the following conditions, clear aligners might be the solution for you!
Teeth Crowding
Teeth crowding is one of the most common issues treated by Smile Academy using clear aligners. Crowding occurs when there isn’t enough space in the mouth, causing teeth to grow twisted or out of alignment. While clear aligners are often sufficient to address this problem, in some cases, your dentist may recommend extracting one or more teeth to create additional space. Correcting crowded teeth not only enhances the appearance of your smile but also improves oral hygiene, making it easier to clean teeth and reducing plaque buildup.
Overjet (Buck Teeth)
An overjet occurs when the upper teeth protrude forward and extend over the lower teeth. This not only causes aesthetic concerns but can also lead to difficulties with chewing, drinking, and biting, as well as jaw pain. A ‘normal’ bite typically has a gap of 1 to 2mm between the upper and lower teeth. If the gap exceeds 2mm, it is classified as an overjet. Clear aligners can significantly improve or even fully correct an overjet. In more complex cases, elastics may be used in combination with aligners to achieve optimal results.
Spacing / Gaps (Diastema)
If you have gaps in between your teeth, you are not along! This is in fact a very common issue. These gaps may result from factors such as small teeth, thumb sucking, or protrusive teeth. While gaps can appear anywhere in the mouth, they are most commonly found between the two front teeth. Some patients prefer to keep certain gaps, while others opt to close them entirely. The choice is yours!
Crossbite
Crossbites are among the most complex forms of malocclusion treated with clear aligners. Anterior Crossbite: Occurs when the upper front teeth sit behind the lower front teeth instead of overlapping them. Posterior Crossbite: Occurs when the upper back teeth (molars) bite inside the lower back teeth instead of outside them. Anterior crossbites are typically easier to correct than posterior crossbites. Depending on the severity of the condition, clear aligners can significantly improve or completely resolve a crossbite. However, patients with severe crossbites may require additional orthodontic appliances to achieve a complete correction.
Open Bite
As the name suggests, open bite describes where the front top and bottom teeth do not close together when the jaw has closed, leaving a gap between them. Clear aligners treat open bites by applying controlled forces to reposition teeth vertically, sometimes with attachments or elastics, to close the gap and improve bite alignment. Severe skeletal open bite can be quite complex to treat and might require additional orthodontic appliances to completely fix it.
Deep Bite
A deep bite is a common condition and can typically be treated very effectively with aligners. It occurs when the upper front teeth significantly overlap the lower front teeth. Clear aligners are designed to help opening the bite. At Smile Academy, one technique to achieve this is by using bite turbos on the aligners. These are small attachments placed inside the aligners to prevent certain teeth from making contact. They act like ramps, guiding the teeth and assisting in correcting the malocclusion.
Am I too young or too old for clear aligners?
Young Patients
Dentists usually start treating kids with clear aligners from 12 years old for girls and 14 years old for boys. Teenagers love clear aligners! It is best to start a treatment when all baby teeth fall out and all permanent teeth are fully erupted. Age varies from one person to another.
Older Patients
There is no age limit to beautiful teeth! Smile Academy receives lots of cases for older patients in their 70s and even 80s. There will be a few things your dentist will consider before prescribing an aligner treatment, such as bone loss and gum condition. Having good periodontal health (meaning ‘healthy gum’) is important before starting any orthodontic treatments.
Things to Consider: Kids and Clear Aligners
One of the reason dentists or orthodontists decide to use braces over clear aligners is for ‘patient compliance’. While braces are not removable, clear aligners are which is a big plus when it is dinner time! But this also means they can be removed and children can forget to wear them…
It is important for the child and their parents to understand that clear aligners must be worn for 20-22 hours per day to be effective in straightening the teeth.
Clear Aligners vs Braces
Are you considering straightening your teeth but you are not sure if you want to go with clear aligners or braces?
In general, clear aligner treatments are significantly faster than braces. This is because clear aligner patients change their aligners every two weeks, allowing for more frequent tooth movements compared to braces, which typically require wire adjustments by the orthodontist every 4 to 6 weeks.
Clear Aligners
Average Treatment Time:
6-12 months
Braces
Average Treatment Time:
12-24 months
Benefits of Clear Aligners
Aesthetic Appeal
Clear aligners are almost invisible making them a more discreet option vs braces.
Removable
You can remove aligners within seconds before eating, drinking, brushing your teeth or flossing.
Comfort
Aligners cause less irritation to gums and cheeks compared with braces.
Convenience
Clear aligners require less visits to your dentist or orthodontist as patients will change their aligners at home every 2 weeks.
Movement Predictability
Clear aligners treatment plans are designed digitally and follow a strict movement protocol while braces are adjusted manually.
No Food Restrictions
Since aligners are removed before eating, patients can enjoy all their favorite foods without having to worry about damaging wires or detaching brackets.
Quicker
Aligners achieve faster results compared to braces.
Less Clinic Visits
Your prescriber will usually see you every 3 to 5 aligners.