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A perfectly straight and healthy smile should not cost an arm and a leg, and it should not determine how you live your life. Thankfully, not only have traditional metal braces become much easier to wear, but we have had many high-quality advancements in the possibilities of achieving your perfect smile pretty close to your preferred terms. These advancements make it easier than ever to reach your goals.
For some patients, the idea of metal brackets and wires you get with traditional metal braces just aren’t the right fit. However, Clear Aligners from Spark are one of these cutting-edge advancements that may be just right for you. This unique method uses a series of clear aligners to discreetly and gradually adjust the position of your teeth. Here at Windy City Orthodontics, Dr. Darren C. Pakravan has a lot of experience treating patients with Spark Clear Aligners. We are excited to offer this technology to our Chicago braces patients. If this is sounding like your solution, make sure you keep reading to find some clarity on the facts and fiction around Spark Clear Aligners and reach out to get started on your own journey to a delightful smile!
The Facts
Aligners like Spark Clear Aligners have been around since the nineties and earlier versions, called trays, date back decades to when patients used them for post braces retainers. But, the unique software and technology utilized for clear aligners today are able to move crooked and misaligned teeth in stages using a series of customized aligners. Each retainer is worn for about one to two weeks, and then you will swap to the next appropriate aligner in your series.
Nobody wants to wait years for their teeth to realign. And, with Spark Clear Teeth Aligners, you don’t have to! The innovative TruGen material offers more advanced and sustained force retention and better contact with the surface area of your tooth. This type of contact may result in more efficient and effective treatment when compared to the leading aligner brand.
And while we are talking about the timeline and facts of clear aligners, another benefit of the removable aligner system is that you can take them out to eat, brush your teeth, or even for a photo. They do need to be worn for approximately 22 hours a day to be most effective, but you won’t get that flexibility with traditional braces. Not to mention, the TruGen material doesn’t just speed up the process. It makes Clear Aligners from Spark more comfortable by providing scalloped, smooth edges, and they are less likely to stain than other clear aligner alternatives.
Initially, clear aligners were used to correct simple spacing concerns and crowding, but it is proven to be capable of so much more, from overbites to crossbites and then some. The key is to determine the severity of the issues you need to adjust and work with your orthodontist to determine if this is the right treatment plan for you.
Clear aligners are a great choice at any age, so whether you want to avoid having braces in your yearbook photo or you feel you’re too old to sport metal brackets and wire, ask our expert team at Windy City Orthodontics if this treatment is proper for you!
Now that we’ve gotten some facts ironed out let’s look at some of the fiction floating around about clear aligners.
Not So Factual
“Innovative” – “Cutting Edge” – Words like this can quickly make you feel like the possibility of straight teeth, and your perfect smile might be out of reach where the cost is concerned. Let’s go ahead and call fiction on that now. You will probably be pleasantly surprised to find out that, in most cases, Spark Clear Aligners can cost the same or close to the amount you’d pay for traditional metal braces. Often, insurance will even cover much of the cost as it would for those conventional braces. Our team is also committed to making the insurance process as easy as possible, so we will take care of your insurance coverage research and help you complete the required forms and documents once treatment begins.
Somewhere along the lines, the myth that you are limited to what you can eat while using the clear aligner system started circulating. That can’t be further from factual. It’s common knowledge that you should avoid chewy, sticky, and crunchy foods with traditional braces, or you run the risk of breaking something or food getting stuck in complicated places. But with clear aligners, you just take them out before you eat or drink anything more than water, but nothing is off the table. Just remember to clean your teeth before putting them back in to avoid the possibility of staining the retainer or having food trapped between the retainer and your teeth.
The last common myth about using clear aligners for orthodontic treatment is remembering to wear the trays regularly. While this may seem like it would be a lot to remember, it’s not much different than wearing contact lenses. Between the Spark Clear Teeth Aligner technology itself and our custom treatment plan, you’ll quickly get into the habit of wearing your retainers to your healthiest and straightest smile.
Fact beats Fiction, and the choice is clear with Clear Aligners and Windy City Orthodontics
When you lay it all out, there’s a lot that factors into whether or not Spark Clear Aligners are suitable for you. Still, our talented and experienced team at Windy City Orthodontics hopes we were able to shed some light on what to honestly expect from this popular option.
This treatment continues to change the lives and smiles of many of our Chicago area patients. Due to extensive continuing education and training and being a former clinical instructor at the University of Illinois, Dr. Pakravan is up-to-date on the latest in orthodontic treatment and braces technology. If you are wondering if this might be the best path to your brightest smile, get in touch today to schedule your FREE consultation. The right time has finally come for your perfect smile!