Clear Aligners

• Transparent. Braces are functional, but not everyone likes their appearance. If you’re not up for the braced-up look, clear aligners are the way to go. Most people won’t be able to tell you have anything on your teeth at all. This is what attracts many adults to clear aligners. They may not want to show up to a business meeting or formal event wearing what is widely considered to be a high school “accessory.” Aligners do the same heavy lifting that braces do while still looking consummately professional.
• Removable. Braces are a major commitment because there’s simply no removing them until you’re done with treatment. People love the flexibility to remove their clear aligners as needed. You can take them off to eat and brush your teeth. You can take them off on those occasions when you don’t want anything on your teeth (like when you have a job interview or gala and want to look like a million bucks). And because you can take clear aligners off to eat, you don’t have to modify your diet like you do with braces. Popcorn, corn on the cob, nuts, caramels, apples—not a problem with clear aligners. You should be judicious about removing your aligners. For best results, you’ll need to wear them for about 22 hours per day, but taking them off for brief periods is fine.
• Better for oral hygiene. Oral hygiene can take a big hit with braces. Neither your toothbrush nor your floss will have an easy time getting around all of that hardware. That’s why risks for plaque and cavities surge for patients wearing braces. Clear aligners solve this problem because you can remove them when you’re eating. That means food won’t get stuck in your brackets or under your archwire. You can eat, brush, and put your aligners back on without worrying about food residue. Make sure that you keep up with your brushing and flossing regimen and keep your aligners clean, and you should face fewer risks for cavities than you’ll have with braces.

Clear aligners for adults are a fantastic choice. In fact, their invention has opened the door for many adults to get the orthodontic care they need. While it used to be that you only saw kids and teens in the orthodontist’s chair, today, about one quarter of orthodontic patients are 18 and older. The low profile of clear aligners has a lot to do with that.

But it’s not just adults that are getting clear aligners. The New York Times reports that between 2013 and 2017, Invisalign sales for teenagers rose by 130%. Today, the number of tweens and teens getting Invisalign is outpacing the number of adults.

There’s even a new product called Invisalign First designed especially for children who need orthodontic care but haven’t lost all of their baby teeth yet.

Clear aligners can help teens who are nervous about the mouth pain or appearance of traditional braces. And they can serve as a valuable bridge between child and teen orthodontic care.

We’ve heard all the questions: Can clear aligners fix my overbite, underbite, or the gaps in my teeth? After all, they’re just plastic trays?

With the expertise of our skilled team, there’s not much we can’t do with clear aligner orthodontics. However, there are a few factors that may make traditional braces a better fit for your care:

• Tooth shape. Clear aligners like Invisalign may not be able to get a grip on teeth that are too short, round, or sharply tipped.
• Tooth rotation/tilt. If your mouth is really crowded, some of your teeth may have had to rotate to fit into place. Other teeth may have had to tilt in or out. If the rotation or tilt is too great, aligners may not be able to move them sufficiently. While we have great success with clear aligners for gaps in teeth, if a gap is really large, aligners may not be the best choice.
• Former dental work. On occasion, we have had patients with dental bridges that are not compatible with aligners.
• Intrusion/extrusion. A dental intrusion is when your tooth is pushed into the socket too much and appears shorter than the other teeth. An extrusion is when your tooth is pushed out of your socket and appears longer than the other teeth. Braces are often more adept at raising and lowering the position of the teeth.

Once your orthodontist lets you know that you’re a candidate for clear aligners like Invisalign, the rest of the decision is up to you. The first question you should ask yourself is if you are willing to wear the aligners for around 22 hours each day. Clear aligners can generally straighten your teeth as quickly as braces can—and sometimes even quicker. But it all depends on your willingness to wear your aligners consistently.

If you are concerned about forgetting to wear your aligners, taking them on and off more than you should, or losing them, aligners may not be the best choice for you. But if you are confident that you can comply with your orthodontist’s recommendations, schedule an appointment to get started.

Maybe you’ve dreamed of straightening your teeth in an inconspicuous way with clear aligners, but you have been told that they are much more expensive than traditional braces. Before you write them off, get an estimate for clear aligners in our Salt Lake City and Lehi offices. Many patients are surprised to discover that the price of braces and clear aligners isn’t that different. Of course, this will depend on the complexity of your case, but clear aligners can be quite affordable.

Many adult clear aligner patients have already had braces. But braces alone don’t set you up for a lifetime of straight teeth.

Orthodontics has evolved over the years, and doctors can now tap into many more resources (better imaging, 3D modeling, etc.) to give you a perfect smile. If you got braces a while back, you may not have been able to achieve the smile of your dreams. Clear aligners can finish the job your original orthodontist started, applying finishing touches that take your smile from good to great.

Another problem is that teeth can drift over time—especially if you haven’t been wearing your retainers regularly. Clear aligners can get your bite back to where it was when you first got your braces off—and often, they can get your smile looking even better.

Talk to one of our Smile Ranch orthodontists to make sure that you are a candidate for clear aligners in our Lehi, or Salt Lake City offices. If you just need a slight tune-up, you may only have to wear the aligners for several months.

Unlike with braces, your orthodontist won’t need to tighten any wires with your clear aligners. However, they will still need to make sure your teeth are progressing as planned and that the next aligner is a good fit. So while you may have a few less checkups than you would with braces, you will still need to visit your orthodontist (roughly every several weeks).

Yes, but avoid dark drinks that could stain the aligners (like coffee, red wine, colored sports drinks, etc.). You should also avoid hot drinks that could warp the plastic.

Make sure to brush your aligners with a soft brush and toothpaste at night to keep them clean.

With more than 25 years in orthodontics, it’s hard to beat our experience. We’ve turned every kind of misaligned bite out there into a masterpiece, and we can do the same for your teeth.

Clear aligners are an art form, and not every orthodontist can use them to achieve the ideal smile. We don’t just look at your teeth alone but consider your entire face to give you a smile that will complement your overall appearance. We marry advanced imaging with sophisticated 3-D modeling to create the aligners that will shift your teeth in all the right ways as efficiently as possible.

Our patients’ smiles are our best form of advertising. A compliment to you is a compliment to us, so we take our work very seriously.

You’ll also appreciate our unparalleled customer service. We’re known throughout the greater Salt Lake area for our kind and accommodating staff. They know that it’s a big step for both kids and adults to get clear aligners, and they’ll do all in their power to make you feel comfortable.

We also offer all kinds of extras like our “Smile Bucks” reward program with monetary incentives for complying with treatment (and even getting good grades in school). And, of course, our free, fresh-baked cookies will always be waiting for you.

If you’re tired of feeling self-conscious about your smile and are ready to explore a hassle-free alternative to traditional braces, contact Smile Ranch today about getting clear aligners in our Lehi or Salt Lake City office.