It’s hard to believe, but there once was a time when the choice for orthodontic treatment meant just one thing – metal braces. Thankfully, those days are long gone. If you are embarking on the journey to your teen’s best smile, how do you know which treatment option is best? Should you go the conventional route with traditional braces or clear aligners? After all, today’s braces can be made of a variety of materials. There are even clear braces.
The good news is that there are many great treatment options for teeth straightening, says Jose Marcano, DMD, at the Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry. We share our insights on clear aligners and how to compare them with braces so you can weigh what’s right for your teen.
Having choices is always great, but sometimes, it can make the decision difficult. With gently moving teeth, the orthodontic market is flooded with a plethora of effective treatment options.
Several factors play into what orthodontic appliance your dentist or orthodontist ultimately recommends for a particular patient, regardless of age. Considerations include the type of tooth imperfection being corrected and the severity of the condition. Many times, both a clear aligner and traditional braces can accomplish the ultimate goal.
Figuring out whether to go with clear aligners or braces comes down to focusing on your teen and matching up their lifestyle and habits with the ultimate benefits of a particular treatment option. Keep in mind that personal preference typically plays a big role.
The top advantage that clear aligners have over all other treatment options is that they offer patients a virtually invisible, discreet, effective alternative to traditional braces. This may be the perfect option if your teen prefers to fly under the radar during their treatment plan.
If you had braces when you were a child, you no doubt remember the daily battle with messy dental wax. With clear aligners, your teen can enjoy a level of comfort and convenience that you didn’t have. There’s no need for dental wax or digging food debris from clear aligners since your teen can remove their aligners when they eat or drink.
Here at Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer our patients the ClearCorrect aligner system. ClearCorrect is an FDA-approved orthodontic aligner system that specially trained dentists and orthodontists have used to help hundreds of thousands of patients.
Although there are slight differences between the different clear aligner systems, they all work by using a series of clear custom trays. The number of trays and how often they are switched out is determined by the personalized treatment your provider creates.
Typically, the process begins with an initial evaluation, which includes conducting a comprehensive oral examination, reviewing the patient’s dental history, discussing outcome goals, and taking X-rays, if needed. If everything checks out and we deem your teen to be a good candidate for clear aligners, we’ll take a digital impression with an intraoral scanner.
Next, Dr. Marcano uploads the data to a computer-aided design program to map out a custom treatment plan. Once the plan is completed, Dr. Marcano sends the information to a dental laboratory, which fabricates your clear aligners. Throughout treatment, you’ll return to our office every few weeks to receive the next set of aligners, drawing them one step closer to their best smile.
If your teen needs orthodontic treatment, and you want to learn if ClearCorrect clear aligners are the way to go, contact Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry. Call the office today at 689-220-2651 to book an appointment.
