Clear Aligners in Red Oak, TX

Achieve the Smile of Your Dreams with Clear Aligners  

Having an imperfect smile can make you feel self-conscious and insecure. Crooked, crowded, gapped, or misaligned teeth not only undermine confidence but can also lead to oral health issues like tooth decay and gum disease down the road. If you dream of a straight, beautiful smile but dread the thought of painful metal wires and brackets, clear aligners offer an innovative solution. With customized 3D-printed plastic trays that incrementally move your teeth, you can realign your smile discreetly and comfortably. Read on to learn how clear aligners work and why they might be right for you.

The Advantages of Clear Aligners

Clear aligners provide many of the same teeth straightening benefits as traditional braces but with greater comfort, aesthetics, and convenience.

• Nearly invisible fit. The aligners are made from smooth, transparent plastic that blends right in so others won't even notice you're straightening your teeth.

• Removable design. You can take your aligners out to eat, drink, and brush and floss as normal. There are no food restrictions.

• Comfortable wear. Without metal brackets and wires, aligners avoid many of the pains and irritations of old-fashioned braces.

• Shorter treatment times. The average length is 6-18 months. With braces, treatment can take years.

• Fewer in-office visits. You won't need frequent wire adjustments. Periodic progress checks are all that's required.

How Do Clear Aligners Work?

Getting started with clear aligner treatment is simple:

• Initial exam. We'll check your bite, examine the positioning of your teeth, and take digital scans.

• Custom tray design. Using the scans, a treatment plan is created that maps out how your teeth will move over time.

• Aligner fabrication. A series of BPA-free plastic aligners are 3D printed from the digital model.

• Wear and switch. Wear your aligners for the prescribed time, usually 1-2 weeks per set, then switch to the next tray which progressively moves your teeth.

• Periodic check-ins. Every 4-8 weeks, you'll come in for us to monitor your progress and order new aligners as needed.

• Retention. Once your teeth have reached their desired positions, you'll receive custom retainers to maintain your straight smile.

What Dental Issues Can Aligners Fix?

Aligners can treat a variety of mild to moderate alignment problems including:

• Crowding - when there is insufficient space in your jaw for all your teeth.

• Spacing - visible gaps between teeth due to missing teeth or small teeth.

• Underbites - when the lower jaw extends outward, causing the lower teeth to sit in front of the top teeth.

• Crossbites - when some top and bottom teeth bite inside rather than outside the teeth in the opposite arch.

• Open bites - when the top and bottom front teeth fail to meet vertically.

Aligners may also be used to straighten teeth after braces and fix slight relapses.

Who is a Good Candidate for Clear Aligners?

The best candidates for clear aligners include:

• Teens and younger adults with fully erupted permanent teeth. Aligners don't work on emerging teeth.

• People with mild to moderate alignment issues. More complex cases likely require traditional braces.

• Individuals looking for an aesthetic and discreet teeth straightening solution.

• Patients wanting to avoid food restrictions and eating limitations.

• Those unwilling or unable to commit to long-term traditional braces.

Keeping Your Aligners Clean

To avoid odor and staining, be diligent about aligner hygiene:

• Brush after eating and before reinserting aligners.

• Rinse daily with cool water or aligner cleaning solution.

• Clean weekly with denture tablets.

• Avoid hot water or harsh chemicals that can warp trays.

Interested in Aligners to Get Straighter Teeth? Let's Talk!

If you live in or around Red Oak, TX and want to improve your smile with clear aligners, contact Pearson Family Dentistry today. Call us to schedule a consultation. Our friendly team will be happy to address your concerns, answer your questions, and determine if you're a good candidate. We look forward to helping you put your best smile forward with innovative yet comfortable aligner therapy!