Clear aligners are a popular orthodonticoption for Australians who want to improve their oral health and achieve an attractive smile without wearing braces. The duration of treatment depends on how severe the teeth need correcting. However, it typically lasts between 18-24 months, and regular checkups will be required. This blog post will talk about how clear aligners work and also the duration of the treatment.
What Are Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners are custom-built for each patient. These thin and clear trays fit comfortably like an invisible retainer with no metal brackets. They are a practical option for correcting minor misalignments and spacing issues. They work by gently moving teeth into the desired position through the gentle pressure against them. However, patients who have severe crowding, underbite problems, overbite, and crossbite problems may need more complex treatments such as braces instead of clear aligners.
Learn More: Everything You Need To Know About Clear Aligners in Australia
How Does Clear Aligner Treatment Work?
Aligners are specially designed to guide desired teeth movements. Your orthodontist’s expertise helps determine how each set of aligners will be calibrated to achieve a specific movement. Your teeth are guided into their ideal positions by controlled pressure applied on the appropriate surfaces with each new set of aligners until your teeth are in their desired location towards treatment completion.
- A clear aligner is a great way to get your teeth straight, but it may not be for every patient. If you have rotated teeth more than 20° or move teeth vertically up and down in the gum membrane, the dentist can’t use an aligner. So, if you’re interested in straightening your teeth, the best way to know if a clear aligner is right for you is by consulting with an expert. They will assess your oral health and determine whether they can help through x-rays and digital scans before making that decision.
- Once the dentist or orthodontist has concluded that you will have an alignment treatment, he/she will make 3D scans of your mouth and input that data into a specialised software system to create custom-made, clear aligners. Once they are finished being fabricated from BPA-free thermoplastic off-site, they’ll be shipped back so you can start wearing them as soon as possible.
- After getting the aligners, you meet with your dentist for a final fitting before heading home to begin wearing them. It only takes minutes since they fit over like a mouthguardwhich you can remove when eating and drinking. However, it has to be worn at least 22 hours per day to get the best results expected. You typically need to switch out the sets every 1-2 weeks depending on the required correction type.
- Keeping your teeth healthy is a lot of work! It would be best if you visited the dentist at least every six weeks to keep an eye on things and make sure they’re progressing as planned. The dental visits will also help them clean plaque from between those pearly whites, leading to tooth decay if left untreated for too long. Moreover, make sure the trays are maintained adequately because they may change colour or be scratched without care.
Learn More: How Do Clear Aligner Straighten Teeth?
How Long Do I Need to Wear the Clear Aligners per Day?
Clear Aligners should be worn for up to 20-22 hours a day during the process, depending on what stage you’re at. Most cases take ten months to 24 months before completion; some may need more than that if there’s a severe malformation or displacement present.
Protect your aligners by not eating with them. Removing and placing the teeth into their container before meals is a great way to ensure that they are being taken care of properly; otherwise, they could get damaged and prevent them from working effectively.
How Long Does Clear Aligner Treatment Take?
The process of straightening teeth is quite lengthy and complex. Depending on the severity of your misalignment or crookedness, it could take anywhere from 10 months to 24 months before you’re done with treatment. However, some may take longer than that if there’s a more severe displacement or malformation present. Moreover, aligners should be worn for 20-22 hours per day, depending on what stage you’re at in the procedure; though some cases require more or less than that, so it’s essential to follow your dentist’s instructions closely.
Learn More: Advantages and Disadvantages of Clear Aligners
Is Clear Aligners Faster than Traditional Braces?
Invisalign provides comparable results to traditional metal braces in half the time. However, the average length of Invisalign treatments is 12 months. Still, it can take anywhere from 6-18 months, depending on how complex your dental issues are. For example, those with minor misalignment or crowding may only need about six month’s worth of care. At the same time, severe cases involving bite alignment might require 18 full months for effective outcomes.
It is important to pay close attention to your dentist’s instructions and follow them precisely. Doing so will give you the best getting the best results sooner.
Learn More: Are Clear Aligners As Effective As Traditional Braces?
What Determines the Treatment Time for Clear Aligners?
With clear aligners, it can be guaranteed that your teeth will be straight and functional when treatment is complete. Still, it’s not an easy process for most people to go through from start to finish because of all the different steps involved.
The time it takes to straighten teeth with aligners varies depending on how much the teeth need to be rotated or moved. For example, if you have severe crookedness or an incorrect bite, treatment time may be between 10 to 24 months. However, it can also take as quickly as six months if only minor adjustments are needed. Therefore, the length of time required for treatment depends on what goals one wants to accomplish.
Learn More: Cost Of Clear Aligners Definitive Guide 2021
Final Thoughts
Determining how long it takes to see clear alignment treatment results can be difficult. But don’t worry, our team offers excellent service with an easy process from start to finish. With a commitment to wearing the aligners for at least one year, you might wonder if this is worth your time and effort. It is where we come in! Byford Smiles offers excellent service that will give you what you want every step of the way until those perfect teeth are yours.
At Byford Smiles, our dentists are ready to help you better understand the process and duration for each case. We provide an in-depth consultation with diagnosis using x-rays and 3D imaging technology so that we can assess your teeth alignment needs before recommending any treatments or procedures. No matter what type of dental correction service you need, we got you covered.
