If you look back just a few decades before today, you’ll notice that orthodontic treatment options were remarkably limited. Clear aligners are a truly revolutionary solution for smile alignment. If you’re wondering what you should expect during your orthodontic treatment with clear aligners, Dr. Pakravan and our experienced team at Windy City Orthodontics will help you prepare.
Choosing Clear Aligners
First and foremost, Dr. Pakravan and our team will consult with you to decide if Spark clear aligners are your best option for treatment. Here are a few of the factors we’ll consider along with you:
- Suitability: Not every orthodontic issue can be fixed with clear aligners—in fact, they work best for mild to moderate cases involving misalignment, gaps, or crowding. We typically don’t opt for them in our most complex cases, where clear braces can be a more appropriate option.
- Commitment: Clear aligners rely heavily on the patient’s cooperation. They must be kept on for 20-22 hours every day to be effective. If there are concerns about compliance, this might not be the best option. Not following a proper wear schedule can heavily impact and prolong treatment.
- Age: Clear aligners can be an awesome option for adults and teenagers. Children often aren’t great candidates due to the issue of compliance. In addition to wearing them, they must be effectively cleaned to prevent bacteria buildup, and carefully stored and kept up with.
Living with Clear Aligners
So, what does life look like with clear aligner treatment? There is bound to be some adjustment when you begin, but you’ll catch on quickly enough.
- Consultation: Once Dr. Pakravan decides clear aligners are a suitable option for you, he and our team will evaluate your teeth to create the best treatment plan. This includes x-rays and digital captures of your mouth.
- Custom Treatment Plan: We will present you with a plan that includes a digital preview of how your smile will progress during treatment. The plan will lay out the schedule and duration of this process for you.
- Wearing Your Aligners: You’ll receive your first set of aligners, which will be an ongoing process every 1-2 weeks. Each pair starts a bit tight, indicating that your teeth are being pushed into a new position. They’ll be removed when you eat or drink but should otherwise be kept in.
- Daily Routine: Brushing and flossing after every meal is important with this manner of treatment. It prevents plaque buildup. You should also avoid wearing your aligners while you eat and drink anything besides water, as this can cause staining or even damage to the enamel.
- Discomfort or Adjustments: It’s fairly common to experience some level of discomfort, especially as you switch to new aligner trays. This pressure can be easily relieved through over-the-counter pain medications, though sometimes it’s mild enough that those won’t be necessary.
- Treatment Timeline: Since everyone’s teeth, gums, bone, and cooperation are different, your treatment duration can vary from another patient’s. Your treatment can last from six months to two years, fully dependent on you following your routine diligently.
- Completion/Retention: Eventually, you will complete your final round of clear aligner trays. You will then enter the retention phase, which involves wearing retainers that maintain your new smile as time passes. These, too, require a proper wear schedule.
FAQs About Clear Aligners
Finally, let’s review some common questions we get about clear aligner treatment at Windy City Orthodontics. You can also always mention anything you’re curious about to Dr. Pakravan when you see him.
Q: Are clear aligners comfortable?
They are quite comfortable after the first few days of wearing a new set. They fit closely to your teeth, so they don’t feel heavy or strange in the mouth.
Q: Should I avoid certain foods with clear aligners?
Technically, you can eat whatever you like. The main thing is to thoroughly clean your teeth after you’ve finished a snack or a meal. You never want to trap food particles beneath your aligner tray, as this can cause bacteria to develop. Bacteria can lead to decay.
Q: How often do I need to come into the office?
You will still have periodic visits to see our team every 2-3 months or so to monitor progress and/or provide new aligners. For many patients, we provide remote monitoring to both keep a closer eye on their progress as well as reduce trips to the office. You’re more than welcome to come in if you’re experiencing any issues along the way. Clear aligners do require fewer visits than traditional braces.
A Clear Winner
We know there are a lot of offices you can choose from in our area, and we are so thankful to every single one of our patients for choosing Windy City Orthodontics for orthodontic treatment. If you’re curious about what some of our patients have to say, please check out some testimonials, as well as our before-and-after gallery. We look forward to meeting you in either of our offices in Lakeview or Lincoln Park soon!