Teeth Aligners Cost: Affordable Way to Align Your Dream Smile?
You’re just one of many who answered clear aligners. Over the past few decades, clear aligners have become a common alternative for realigning or straightening teeth. Developed by Align Technology and released into the market in 1998, clear aligners are arguably the most well-known and established solution. Since then, several brands of clear aligners have entered the market.
What Does Wearing Clear Aligners Consist Of?
The first stage of the procedure involves meeting with an orthodontist to examine your teeth, followed by a 3-D scan of your mouth and jaws. Using this picture, your orthodontist will devise a strategy for repositioning your teeth. After that, your orthodontist will send the scans to a dental lab.
They will use the plan to design a set of personalized plastic aligners. The pressure of these aligners will gradually move your teeth into the desired positions. As directed by your orthodontist, you will replace your current set of aligners with a new pair about once every week or two. On average, you should wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily.
What Factors May Influence Clear Aligners’ Effectiveness?
Wearing the aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily is crucial to their function. You are supposed to remove them only while consuming food or liquids. Remember to rinse your mouth well after eating or drinking anything to avoid food accumulation and tooth decay before putting them back on.
It is important to clean your aligners regularly and practise good dental hygiene. Always remember to clean your aligners using mild soap and a soft brush. If you use hot water to clean them, the plastic may become warped. This may change how the aligners fit, impacting your progress and reducing their efficacy.
When not in use, store your aligners safely in a box. If they are thrown around carelessly, they can get damaged. You should also take care of your aligners while handling them. Avoid handling both together, as there are chances of them slipping, getting compressed, and getting damaged. Lastly, don’t smoke or consume coloured foods and drinks, as the aligners can get stained.
The degree to which Clear Aligners works for you depends on how complicated your orthodontic problems are. If you have more complex spacing or biting problems, it can take longer for this treatment to take effect.
Benefits of Clear Aligners
- The element of beauty.
This is a reasonably popular justification for selecting clear aligners. These clear aligners are far less noticeable than braces’ wires and brackets. As they are transparent in nature, nobody will be able to notice them.
- The simplicity of dental cleaning.
After removing the aligner, you can effortlessly clean and floss your teeth, eliminating the need to manage cleaning around wires and brackets. This can also help your periodontal health by lessening the quantity of germs that linger around your teeth and gums.
- Less possible issues.
Many people wearing traditional braces have tales of a bracket coming loose or a wire snapping, necessitating an urgent trip to the orthodontist. With transparent aligners, such possible issueswon’t arise.
Drawbacks of Clear Aligners
- Less successful with complicated problems.
Despite its limitations, ResearchTrusted Source does indicate that clear aligners work better for patients whose teeth only need specific types of movement. Your doctor might recommend a different course of action for more complicated conditions.
Additionally, if you have bridgework on your teeth, there might be better choices than clear aligners. You must wear clear aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily to reap the full benefits. If you are tempted to take them out more frequently, there may be better options.
- Aligners should be removed before consuming food or beverages.
As mentioned before, the aligners must be removed while eating or drinking. Food or drink could get inside them if you don’t. Cavities may result from the bacteria that grow around your gums and teeth. Liquids may also leak into them, discolouring your teeth and the aligners.
How much does it cost?
The Consumer Guide for Dentistry estimates that the price will likely fall between $3,000 and $5,000. The length of time you need treatment, the severity of your tooth alignment problems, and your location can all affect how much it will cost. It would help if you spoke with the plan administrator about whether you have dental insurance.
Specific dental insurance plans may cover the entire cost of clear aligners. You can also deduct some of your clear aligners treatment costs from your Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Many orthodontists and dentists offer payment arrangements for their services if you don’t have insurance. Make sure to enquire about this before.
