When your smile isn’t as beautiful as you’d like it to be, you might find yourself avoiding social situations, or you might cover your mouth in pictures. Because your smile is one of the first things that others will notice about you, don’t you deserve to have straight teeth that you can be proud of?
If you need a Northborough family dentist to help you make that happen, consider Northborough Family Dental. We offer clear aligners as an orthodontic option for our teenage and adult patients. You may be wondering whether these clear aligners can fix complex dental issues such as severe misalignment. Keep reading to learn more about what orthodontic issues clear aligners can correct in Northborough.
What Are Clear Aligners?
Our dental office offers clear aligners exactly like Invisalign, but you won’t have to pay the Invisalign price. Our clear aligners are a popular alternative to metal braces; they gently and gradually reposition your teeth without wires or brackets. Because clear aligners are made from plastic and custom-made to fit your mouth, you won’t have to worry about cutting your lips, tongue, and cheek.
Clear aligners are comfortable and convenient; you can remove them to eat, brush, and floss your teeth, making it easier to maintain your oral health and eat all your favorite foods. They’re also nearly invisible, so you won’t have to worry about feeling self-conscious while wearing them.
Orthodontic Issues Clear Aligners Can Correct
Only your dentist can determine if you’re a candidate for clear aligners, so scheduling a consultation is the best first step. However, depending on the severity of your dental issues, clear aligners may be able to correct the following:
Crooked Teeth
If your teeth are slightly crooked, clear aligners are an option.
Overbite
If your upper teeth close in front of your bottom teeth, you might be able to wear clear aligners.
Underbite
If your bottom teeth are in front of your upper teeth, clear aligners could help.
Crossbite
If some of your upper teeth are inside your lower teeth, clear aligners may be able to treat this dental issue.
Open Bite
If your upper and lower teeth don’t meet when you close your mouth, clear aligners might help.
Teeth Gaps
If you have a spacing issue, clear aligners may be able to close the gap in your teeth.
Crowded Teeth
If your jaw doesn’t have room for all of your teeth, they can become crowded. In some instances, clear aligners can help.
Limitations of Clear Aligners
Although clear aligners can be a fantastic orthodontic treatment for many patients, some more complex orthodontic issues would require you to wear traditional braces. Clear aligners are only capable of moving teeth a certain amount, and traditional braces are capable of applying more force, making them your dentist’s choice if you have any of the following dental concerns:
Tooth Position
If your teeth are overcrowded, they might rotate in your mouth to fit. If they are turned too much, clear aligners aren’t a good option to move them into the desired position.
Tooth Shape
If you have short or very round teeth, clear aligners may not be able to grip them. This could mean that they aren’t a good treatment option for you.
Large Teeth Gaps
If you have one or more large gaps between your teeth, clear aligners may not be able to apply enough force to close those gaps.
Intrusion and Extrusion
Traditional braces can both raise and lower your teeth in your jaw, but clear aligners are only capable of slight movement.
Midline Movements
Clear aligners may not work if your front teeth don’t match the imaginary line down the center of your face (your midline). Again, it depends on how much your midline needs to shift.
Previous Dental Work
You may not be a candidate for clear aligners if you have a dental bridge, porcelain crowns, or veneers.
The Clear Aligner Process in Northborough
If our dental team determines that you are a good candidate for clear aligners, here are the steps that will follow:
1. First, 3-D CAM/CAD impressions will be taken to design and plan your clear aligners.
2. Next, we will send those images to a lab that will customize your aligners before our dental team uses a 3-D printer to create your clear aligners.
3. Once your aligners are finished, you will be fitted with your first set of aligners. We will instruct you on how to wear them and care for them.
4. Approximately every two weeks, you will change to a new set of aligners. Each new set will shift your teeth a little more until your treatment is complete, usually in around ten to twelve months.
5. Every four to six weeks, you will visit our dental office so we can check your progress.
That’s it!
Are You Looking for Cosmetic Dentistry in Northborough, MA?
If you find yourself searching for the “best dentist near me,” and you live in or around Northborough, look no further than Northborough Family Dental. Our expert dental team is ready to help you achieve the best oral health possible. However, we also realize that you want an aesthetically pleasing smile, too, so that’s why we offer a wide range of cosmetic dentistry services for you to choose from. If you’d like to schedule a consultation or an appointment to discuss your personalized treatment plan, you can reach us at (508) 393-2522.