If you are seriously considering straightening your smile using clear aligners, you may be wondering whether or not you will get the value you deserve and whether or not the cost is worth it. Here, our Yarmouth dentists explain what you may want to take into account when thinking about choosing aligners.
What are clear aligners?
There are a selection of clear aligner brands available to dental patients and all consist of a series of clear and custom-made aligners that you wear on your teeth, changing them about every two weeks throughout the course of your treatment. Each set of removable, custom-made clear aligners gradually adjusts your teeth in tiny increments.
What are the benefits of clear aligners?
One advantage of clear aligners is that you can remove them to brush your teeth, eat and drink.
Depending on what brand of clear aligner you select and the specifics of your orthodontic issue, clear aligners may be able to solve a number of health issues in your smile, including bite problems, misalignments and crowding. This treatment option is often chosen by adults and teenagers because of its discreet appearance and its lack of dietary restrictions during the treatment process.
Your clear aligners won't need adjustments or tightening appointments as braces do, which can also cause some extra discomfort. You will need to check in with your dentist throughout your progress, however.
How much do clear aligners cost?
A few factors will determine the cost of your clear aligners:
- Any coverage you can get through an insurance plan
- Your location and average prices for clear aligners
- Your oral health requirements and how much work you will need
Depending on your unique circumstances and the band of clear aligners that you choose, you will usually end up paying around the same amount as braces - trending towards slightly more.
How long will my treatment last?
Investing in improving your smile using clear aligners is a commitment to following your treatment plan quite strictly throughout the process to help you to enjoy a straighter smile in the future. Your dentist will be able to determine your smile's needs and, as a result, the probable length of your treatment. Some of the factors that may influence your treatment time can include:
- The severity of your misalignment
- The number of aligners in your series
- Your compliance with your custom treatment plan
As long as you follow the treatment plan as it is prescribed to your by your dentist or orthodontist clear aligners can help to straighten your teeth and change the appearance of your smile. If you know how many aligners are in your treatment, you can actually do some simple math to determine how long it will last if you follow it exactly in your day-to-day life.
Assuming you have 16 sets of aligners and switch them every 2 weeks, you’d use 2 sets of aligners per month. 16 divided by 2 is 8, meaning your treatment will take 8 months.
Most patients undergoing clear aligner treatment start to see results after about 4 - 6 weeks from starting. If you wanted to track your progress visually, you could take a photo of your smile each week, so that you can get a good idea of how much your teeth are moving, and thus the value your clear aligners are bringing to your smile - and your oral health.
