North Haven Clear Aligner experts
If you are an adult or teen looking for more flexibility and freedom, while getting the same results as traditional braces, clear aligners could be the answer! Elm Tree Orthodontics is your trusted expert straightening smiles for patients of all ages in Hamden, North Haven, New Haven and surrounding communities.
What is involved in clear aligner treatment?
North Haven clear aligners has been proven to be equally effective as traditional braces at treating common orthodontic problems, as long as the system is used as directed. The clear aligner system aligns teeth and helps to improve oral health by using clear, removable aligners. At your first consultation, we will use x-rays and digital impressions to create a precise 3D image of the teeth. We then build a customized aligner that is specific to each patient's smile. The trays are made of a smooth, comfortable material that fits firmly over the teeth. These trays are designed to be switched out every 1-2 weeks to keep up with the teeth as they move into their desired new positions.
What are the benefits of choosing North Haven clear aligner treatment?
One of the biggest benefits of clear aligners besides being nearly invisible is their removability. Clear aligners are designed to be removed before eating or drinking anything other than water. You'll never have to worry about anything getting stuck in your brackets and wires. You will also remove them before brushing and flossing. This makes it's much easier to keep your teeth clean. Keeping your teeth clean and healthy is especially important for orthodontic patients.
Since you can remove your clear aligners, you can avoid any food restriction. This is significant because food restrictions are often the biggest learning curve with traditional braces. With clear aligners, you don't have to forego any of your favorite foods while you're working on a straighter smile! Aligners do need to be removed before all meals so your teeth don't stain. They should also be cleaned and rinsed out with warm water at least once or twice a day.
With clear aligners, there are no wires to poke and irritate your mouth, and there aren't any adjustment appointments, either. Clear aligner wearers should still attend follow-up visits about every 6-8 weeks, however, so that Dr. Shamik Desai can be sure everything is progressing on schedule.
How does the North Haven clear aligner system work?
The clear aligner system is pretty straightforward. You will wear each aligner for about two weeks, and they should only be removed to eat, drink, brush, or floss. Your teeth will move gradually as you go through the aligners in your series. At the end of the series, they will reach their final desired positions.
We'll check and make sure treatment is progressing as planned when you visit Elm Tree Orthodontics. You have to change the aligners on time and wear them as directed. This is the most important element of success with your North Haven clear aligners. Your trays will be custom designed to fit your unique dental needs. They will need to be changed frequently in order to keep up with the movement of your teeth as they begin to straighten. Not changing aligners as scheduled or skipping your appointments can quickly undo any progress that's been made.
It's important to note that you will respond to treatment differently than any other patient. Clear aligners work in a different and less invasive way than braces to straighten the teeth. This means it can be hard to say how long a patient will need to wear them before seeing results. Though the average tends to be somewhere between 6 and 18 months, this can vary widely from case to case. Treatment time depends on patient compliance.
The average treatment time is estimated based on patients following the recommended guidelines. This means wearing aligners for at least 20-22 hours every single day, throughout the course of treatment. Any change from this can add extra time to the overall process. Clear aligners can only work if patients stick to the program.
To learn more about North Haven clear aligners, or to find out if you are a good candidate for the clear aligners, please contact our office to schedule a free consultation.