Do you have crooked teeth after completing braces treatment? Are your misaligned teeth impacting the look of your smile? Ask us about clear aligners. Clear aligners are an alternative to traditional braces that use custom trays to shift teeth into straighter positions. Dr. Sheryl Jenicke proudly provides patients with clear braces in her Cadillac, MI, as an alternative to metal braces.
Clear braces are a cosmetic dental treatment that can address crooked teeth, open bites, tooth gaps, overbites, underbites, and crossbites. There are many brands to choose from if you want clear aligners, from ClearCorrect to Invisalign. Dr. Jenicke will work with patients to find the proper aligner treatment for their needs.
Clear Braces Treatment in Cadillac, MI
Before clear braces treatment, we will examine your smile to ensure good oral health. If you have gum disease or tooth decay, you will require treatment before you receive clear braces. We will also not recommend clear aligners for patients who experience teeth grinding, as this can damage the aligners.
To begin treatment, we will take digital scans of the teeth using an intraoral scanner. The scanner creates a three-dimensional image of the mouth that we can see from all angles. Digital software predicts how the teeth will move over time to create straighter teeth and an even bite.
Once we complete the digital scans, we send specifications to a dental laboratory. The lab will create many aligners from durable, clear plastic. Once the first pair of aligners is complete, you will return to our office for a fitting. In our office, we will place the aligners on the upper and lower teeth to check their fit.
Then, we will provide a series of aligners you will switch out every two weeks as teeth shift. Throughout treatment, we will keep track of your tooth movement. We will also schedule appointments where you can come into our office. However, you will not need to visit our office as frequently as you would if you wore metal braces.
Some patients can benefit from attachments and elastics, which pressure certain teeth. Attachments and elastics help more severely crooked teeth move faster to keep up with the movement of other teeth.
What is Orthodontic Relapse?
Once you complete orthodontic treatment, we recommend wearing a retainer. A retainer is a clear appliance that ensures the teeth stay straight. Wearing a retainer often will prevent orthodontic relapse. Orthodontic relapse occurs when the teeth shift out of their straight positions.
Patients may notice small tooth gaps or crooked teeth if they do not wear their retainers long enough. In addition, patients who do not wear their retainers for hours or even days can notice shifting teeth. Some patients may need to undergo orthodontic treatment again, depending on the severity of their orthodontic relapse.
We will create your retainer based on impressions of your teeth. Like clear aligners, retainers come with cases. You may clean your retainers with a mouthguard soak once a day.
At first, you must wear your retainers constantly. After several years, we will recommend that you wear your retainers at night. You must wear retainers as long as you want straight teeth. If you lose or damage your retainers, contact our office, and we can create a replacement. Contact our dental office immediately, as your teeth can quickly shift out of place.
Clear Braces FAQs
Do you have questions about clear braces? Read answers to common questions about treatments with clear aligners:
What are the benefits of clear aligners?
Compared to traditional metal braces, clear aligners are minimally invasive. There are no metal wires or brackets required to move teeth during treatment. Clear braces are less noticeable than metal braces, making them an excellent option for teenagers and adults.
With clear aligners, patients can eat and drink without restrictions. Patients can easily remove their aligners to eat hard and crunchy foods. Because clear aligners fix mild orthodontic concerns, patients will often complete treatment faster with clear aligners than metal braces.
Clear aligners are also often more comfortable. While you may notice pressure and sensitivity as you try on each new aligner, the discomfort will fade. Metal braces and wires can break and even poke at the gum tissue.
How do I care for my clear aligners?
You can clean your aligners using a brush or mouthguard cleaner. Brush gently using non-abrasive toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. You can also soak your aligners in a mouthguard cleaner and warm water. Never use hot water because you could warp your aligners.
When you are not wearing your aligners, please keep them in their case. Avoid wrapping your aligners in a tissue or paper towel without the case, as you can accidentally throw them away.
What can I eat with clear aligners?
Clear aligners do not come with dietary restrictions. This is because you can remove your aligners to eat. You can eat whatever you’d like as long you remove your aligners. After you remove your clear aligners, you can eat foods like popcorn, chips, nuts, and other hard or crunchy foods. You do not need to cut your food into smaller pieces to eat.
How many hours should I wear my aligners?
We recommend wearing your clear aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day. Wearing the aligners consistently ensures that the teeth move in a timely manner. Not wearing the aligners enough can impact the length of your treatment. If you leave your aligners off your teeth, it will take longer for them to move. Removing the aligners for many hours or days will impede your treatment.
Request a Dental Appointment
Do you want to straighten your smile? Are you looking for a way to straighten teeth without metal braces? Receive clear braces in our Cadillac, MI, dental office today.
Call Brilliant Smiles Family Dentistry for orthodontic treatment at 231-389-6388. Feel free to schedule a dental appointment with us online. If you have any questions about treatment, please let us know! We’re here to help you get the dental care you need.