When your teeth aren’t aligned the way they’re meant to be, learning that you have to straighten them might create mixed feelings. You might be excited at the prospect of improving your smile’s appearance as well as your overall oral health, yet hesitant about wearing metal brackets and wires on your teeth for the next year or two. Fortunately, many people can benefit from straightening their crooked teeth without the brackets and wires thanks to more discreet clear aligners. In addition to remaining virtually invisible and keeping your orthodontic treatment discreet, clear aligners can also have several other positive impacts on the treatment process.
They don’t have to be bonded to your teeth
The reason traditional braces require brackets and wires to straighten your crooked teeth is because they utilize them to apply necessary pressure to your teeth. To accomplish this, the brackets must be semi-permanently bonded to your teeth so the arch wire can guide them. However, clear aligners are designed to fit more comfortably over your teeth, rather than being bonded to them. This is essential to the core process by which clear aligners straighten your teeth. Each one is designed to guide your teeth toward their straighter positions, and you progress through your treatment by changing the aligners for the next in the series.
They’re more comfortable for your oral tissues
Because clear aligners aren’t bonded to your teeth, they’re inherently more comfortable than conventional orthodontic braces. Besides fitting comfortably over your teeth, the clear acrylic aligners also lack any metal components that could scrape against your cheeks or other soft oral tissues. As you wear them throughout the day, the aligners won’t distort your lips or cheeks noticeably or uncomfortably, either, allowing you to go through the day without worrying about any discomfort or visible impacts of your treatment.
They make treatment more convenient
The ability to keep your orthodontic treatment discreet and comfortable is an important advantage to wearing clear aligners. Yet, as you progress through your treatment each day, the impact of wearing the aligners is minimal on your daily routines. For example, you take your aligners off temporarily before doing things like eating a meal or cleaning your teeth. Without having to work around or accommodate more cumbersome brackets and wires, the clear aligners can make your overall treatment process significantly more convenient.
Learn about the benefits of clear aligners
Having crooked teeth can be a big deal for your oral health, but straightening them doesn’t have to have an obvious impact on your daily life. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI, today at 248-693-6213.
