Indications That You Are A Good Candidate For Clear Plastic Aligners
If your teeth are crooked, your orthodontist may offer several options to straighten them. Nevertheless, in order to be a good candidate for a specific treatment, you must meet certain criteria associated with the application.
Here are some of the indications that you are a good candidate to have your teeth straightened using clear plastic aligners.
Your Teeth Are Not Severely Crooked
Even a minor or moderate dental misalignment can negatively impact the look of your smile. Thus, some orthodontic treatments, such as clear plastic aligners, are specifically designed for patients who only suffer from slightly or moderately crooked teeth.
You Are A Teen or Adult
The aligners are indicated for people whose jaws are fully grown. As a result, an orthodontic provider is unlikely to prescribe clear aligners to a young child.
Each aligner is made of rigid plastic and is designed from an impression of the mouth. If the structure of the palate changes dramatically from its original state at the time that the impression was created, the treatment that was based on the original mold of the mouth may not work properly.
You Are Responsible Enough to Wear the Aligners as Directed
Clear aligners are removable. However, in order for the treatment with the devices to progress as intended, the aligners must remain in the mouth for about 22 hours or more each day. Patients are advised to remove the aligners to facilitate cleaning their teeth and eating, but for the remainder of the day and night, the aligners should be in the mouth.
In addition, the treatment with aligners involves multiple sets of the devices. A set is worn for several weeks. The patient then exchanges that set of aligners for the next set listed in the treatment plan. Aligner patients must be responsible enough to wear aligners in the designated order and leave them in the mouth for the prescribed period daily.
You Prefer a Discreet Orthodontic Treatment
Some dental patients don't mind whether or not their teeth-straightening treatment appears obvious in the mouth. However, other people would prefer to have their teeth straightened in a discreet manner.
Plastic aligners are made of transparent plastic that allows the teeth to be fully visible when the aligners are in place. In fact, a casual observer may not notice the appliances at all.
For more information about clear plastic aligners, schedule a consultation with a local orthodontist like those at Reed & Sahlaney Orthodontics, LLP.