Clear Aligners – Sycamore, IL

Crowded Teeth

Crowded teeth may not look aesthetically pleasing, but the problem is much deeper than appearance. This type of misalignment can make daily oral hygiene difficult, which can make it easier for decay and gum disease to form, not to mention potential enamel erosion from these teeth overlapping. With clear aligners, though, our dentists can fix orthodontic problems by shifting your teeth into proper alignment so that the upper and lower arches come together correctly, and adequate space is created for better oral health.

Gaps Between Teeth

Too much space between teeth can be just as bad as not enough, so treating gapped teeth with clear aligners can ensure that you not only avoid trapped food debris and bacteria day after day, but you also enjoy a more beautiful smile. Clear aligners can help minimize these gaps to create an even and uniform appearance – one that boosts your confidence and reduces the risk of needing restorative or emergency dental care in the future.

Overbite

Clear aligners can also treat an overbite, which is when the upper teeth jut outward over the lower teeth. This protrusion can put teeth at risk of dental damage and continue to place uneven pressure on your pearly whites. However, with clear aligners, we can shift and guide teeth in the right direction so that your bite becomes properly aligned.

Underbite

An underbite may occur because of harmful habits practiced as a child (i.e., thumb-sucking, pacifier use) or genetics. No matter how it develops, treating it is key if you want to avoid damage to your upper front two teeth and lower bottom two teeth. With clear aligners that are worn 20-22 hours a day, you can watch your lower jaw begin to move backward and into ideal alignment with the upper row of teeth. It is possible that you might have to wear rubber bands to assist in shifting the jaw and teeth backward.

Crossbite

If your upper and lower teeth overlap, this is known as a crossbite. Although rarer than an overbite or underbite, it can cause significant decay to form, as well as chips, cracks, or fractures to form. By using clear aligners, we can move certain teeth so that overlapping no longer occurs. With proper wear (20-22 hours a day for 1-2 weeks at a time), you can begin to see a smile that looks beautiful, helps you feel more confident, and offers improved oral function.

Open Bite

Thumb-sucking is a common culprit of an open bite – when the back teeth touch but the front ones do not when closing your mouth. Although this may not be the reason you developed an open bite, clear aligners can help bring these teeth together comfortably and effectively. Using a process known as staging, our Grand Dental – Sycamore team can move certain teeth at different times so that by the end of treatment, you see a balanced and fully functional smile – one that makes eating your favorite foods easier than ever!

Factors That Affect the Cost of Clear Aligners

Some of the biggest factors that need to be taken into account when calculating the cost of Clear Aligners treatment include:

• How many aligners are needed, which depends on what kind of dental misalignment is being corrected and how severe it is.
• Whether aligners are needed to straighten one arch of teeth or both rows of teeth.
• Whether the patient is able to wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours every day without breaking or losing them.
• Whether the patient needs extra accessories such as elastics for their aligners.

Clear Aligners vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?

In terms of cost, Clear Aligners does come at a higher price than do-it-yourself treatments like the SmileDirectClub™. However, in many cases, Clear Aligners makes up for the higher initial cost with better value. For one thing, Clear Aligners are made out of a more comfortable and reliable material that is less prone to damage. Also, unlike do-it-yourself aligners, Clear Aligners comes with the support of an in-person dental team that can keep an eye on the patient’s progress and make corrections to the treatment if something goes wrong.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Clear Aligners?

Many dental plans include a provision for orthodontic treatment, although it is usually only good once in a lifetime. Clear Aligners is often included in these plans, and the coverage can reduce your out of pocket costs by over $1,000. The specifics of your coverage may vary, so we can go over the particulars with you before you begin your Clear Aligners treatment. If you do not have an insurance plan that covers Clear Aligners, an FSA or HSA can help instead.

Options for Making Clear Aligners Affordable

Patients who lack dental insurance can sign up for our Wellness Dental Access Plan. For either a monthly or annual fee, individuals can receive discounts on many of our dental services without the inconvenience of insurance claims. Also, in order to break up the cost of Clear Aligners treatment so that it fits more comfortably into their budget, patients can apply for CareCredit financing. They break the cost into smaller installments that have been tailored to the patient’s financial situation. Call us for more details.

Wearing Your Trays

Clear Aligners are removable, which means it is a flexible form of treatment that allows you to take them out when preparing to eat or drink. While this is a unique benefit, it also carries much responsibility, meaning that you must commit to the process of wearing them 20-22 hours each day. Neglecting to do so will only cause a delay in your treatment.

Cleaning Your Aligners

Keeping your trays clean is simple. There is no need to purchase additional cleaning supplies but instead, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush, clear soap, and cool water. You want to make sure that you never use hot water, as this will warp the trays. Cleaning your aligners should be something that you do regularly – after eating meals, before going to bed, and when waking up in the morning. This will ensure they remain free of bad bacteria that can be easily transferred to your teeth.

Eating & Drinking

Instead of worrying about having to dislodge food from your brackets and wires, you can worry less about the foods you eat while undergoing treatment with Clear Aligners. This orthodontic solution requires that you remove your trays before eating or drinking (anything but water), as the force of chewing and biting can damage the aligners. This means you are free to eat all your favorite meals; however, if you have attachments, you’ll need to be careful about consuming too many crunchy foods, as it can cause one to detach from your teeth.

Losing or Damaging a Tray

When your aligners are not inside your mouth, it’s important that you keep them in a protective case. Placing them in a napkin while eating or setting them on the counter will increase the chances of possible damage or loss. Anytime this happens, there is the potential for a delay in treatment, but you should immediately call our dental office to inquire about how you should best proceed.

Routine Check-Ins

You’ll be required to maintain regular follow-up appointments with our dental team while undergoing Clear Aligners treatment. These visits are quick, as we will need to check on the progress of your shifting teeth. If any adjustments need to be made, this is the ideal time to do it. Also, you can ask any questions about your Clear Aligners aligners when meeting with your dentist.

Does Wearing Clear Aligners Hurt?

Although the aligners do not cause pain, you may experience some slight discomfort at first. Your mouth needs time to adjust to the oral appliance, and minor soreness indicates that the teeth are shifting as they should. Within a few days, any pain should subside and leave you feeling more comfortable and confident. Keep in mind, however, that this process reoccurs every time you switch out the existing trays with the new set. A clear advantage this process gives you is that you don’t have to undergo as many check-in appointments or have wires tightened, which is the case with traditional metal braces.

Are Clear Aligners Results Permanent?

The result of Clear Aligners treatment can last a lifetime if you follow our instructions and continue to wear your customized retainer when you’ve completed the series of aligners. As time goes by, our cosmetic dentist in Sycamore continues to encourage wearing your retainer to keep teeth in their new, permanent position because teeth can shift back to their original places. If you would like to avoid undoing months of work and keep your teeth straight, wearing a retainer according to our team’s instructions is essential.

What Should I Do If I Lose My Clear Aligners Trays?

At your consultation with our dental team at Grand Dental – Sycamore, we will encourage you to consider purchasing a protective case for your aligners. Not only will this help protect your trays from bad oral bacteria, but it will also help prevent your accidentally throwing the clear aligners away.

Our team recommends keeping the last set of aligners, just in case you lose or damage one or both aligners. You can wear those until we determine the next step in your treatment.

Can I Be Treated with Clear Aligners If I’ve Worn Braces in the Past?

You could relapse and have common alignment issues including overcrowding, gapped teeth, misaligned bites, or crooked teeth. Even if you’ve gone through orthodontic treatment before, there is a possibility that you could qualify for Clear Aligners. Using advanced dental technology, we may find that Clear Aligners is the best way to realign your teeth, and we will draft a treatment plan that can help you achieve long-lasting results this time around.