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Just because you have dental misalignment, doesn’t mean you have to wear braces to correct poor alignment. Instead, we can help address crooked, crowded, or uneven teeth with a series of aligners created from a clear and comfortable material. How does your Kansas City, MO, dentist create these aligners, and what does treatment involve?

The Causes and Dangers of Poor Alignment

Poor alignment could develop as a result of premature loss of one or more baby teeth, thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, or issues with the shape and size of the jaw. Issues with oral appliances and injury could also impact the position of your teeth. For adults, losing one or more natural teeth could cause nearby teeth to drift from position. Whatever the cause, poor alignment often means food particles remain trapped between the teeth even if you brush and floss. Bacteria breaks down the particles and coats the teeth in plaque buildup, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. The pressure on the bite balance and jaw joints also increases the risk of discomfort, TMJ disorder, and teeth grinding.

Clear Orthodontics

To improve your smile’s health and beauty, our team may prescribe a series of clear aligners. We begin by assessing the cause and extent of your misalignment. If we think these braces will be a good choice for your smile, we will take detailed measurements and impressions of your smile, using the information we gather to craft a series of aligners from a clear BPA-free acrylic material. Each set of aligners will be worn for two weeks, 20 to 22 hours each day. The patient then upgrades to the next set in the series as the smile is gradually corrected. Total treatment time varies, with teens requiring about 18 months and most adults seeing optimal results in as little as one year.

Removing Your Clear Braces

Along with fitting comfortably and being practically invisible, the aligners can also be removed before meals. You will no longer need to avoid certain foods that could damage orthodontics or become trapped in them. In addition, you can have a much easier time brushing and flossing your teeth then you could with metal braces, as you simply take out your aligners each time you clean your smile. As long as you wear them as prescribed you can also remove them for special occasions, such as graduations or job interviews. If you have any questions about clear braces or if you would like to find out if they’re the right option for you, then please contact our team today.

Let’s Talk About Clear Braces

Let’s address your poor alignment with braces that are practically invisible. To learn more about cosmetic orthodontics, then please schedule a consultation by calling Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, MO, today at 816-427-4018.