Clear Aligners – South Elgin, IL
Now Teens and Adults Can Straighten Teeth Discreetly
If you don’t want to begin orthodontic treatment because you’d prefer not to commit to having metal brackets and wires in your mouth for a year or more, you’re not alone. Many patients feel discouraged about starting an orthodontic treatment for this reason as well. That’s why Grand Dental – South Elgin is happy to offer a discreet and even more comfortable solution: clear aligners from our South Elgin, IL, orthodontist! To learn more about this incredibly popular option for both adults and teens, give our dental office a call!
Why Choose Grand Dental - South Elgin for Clear Aligners?
- Transparent Orthodontic Trays
- Experienced Orthodontic Team In-House
- All the Orthodontic Services You Need Under One Roof
How Clear Aligners Work
The clear aligners you receive are crafted using BPA-free plastic and gently shift your teeth one day at a time by applying gentle, consistent pressure. With each new set you wear, your smile will begin to take the shape of the trays, putting you one step closer to achieving beautiful results.
Throughout treatment, you will be required to meet with your dentist for follow-up appointments to make sure your teeth are moving in the right direction. Thanks to the advanced planning technology that is used, our Grand Dental – South Elgin team will be able to determine how often you will need to come in and how long you can expect treatment to take. If you want to stay on schedule, you will need to wear your aligners at least 20-22 hours a day.
Who Clear Aligners Can Help
If you’ve always wanted to feel confident about your appearance while undergoing orthodontic care, clear aligners are likely for you. Thanks to advancements in the field, even complex issues can be addressed with this unique orthodontic solution. Furthermore, our dentists have completed additional training to handle more difficult cases, so whether you or your teenager is dealing with overcrowding, gaps, or bite misalignment, we can develop a plan that leads to successful results.
Crowded Teeth
Clear aligners can be effective in treating crowded teeth. Instead of continuing to struggle with dental decay and gum disease because of your inability to properly brush and floss, these trays can move teeth so that they line up next to each other comfortably. There will be just enough space to create a healthier and more beautiful smile.
Gaps Between Teeth
If one or more gaps form between teeth, it could be that thumb sucking or tongue thrust as a child is the reason. It’s also possible that poor bone development or small teeth could be the cause. No matter why gaps form, clear aligners can bring teeth closer together to eliminate unwanted space, effectively reducing the potential for trapped bacteria and food debris. In turn, this will improve oral health and create a more confident appearance.
Bite Misalignment
When a poorly aligned bite forms (i.e., overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite), enamel erosion, dental damage, jaw pain, and even sleep-breathing disorders can arise. Fortunately, clear aligners can bring the upper and lower rows of teeth together and reposition your bite to create a functional, healthy, and more comfortable smile.
What is Clear Aligners Teen?
Clear Aligners Teen is a system that replaces wires, brackets, and bands used in traditional braces with trays that are nearly invisible throughout treatment. Each pair of aligners is customized specifically for your teenager’s teeth and can address moderate cases of underbite, overbite, overcrowding, or gaps between teeth.
Each aligner is equipped with a blue compliance indicator (dots) that allows parents and our team to know whether they are being worn correctly.
The Benefits of Clear Aligners
When it comes to the benefits of clear aligners, you cannot overlook how flexible, noninvasive, and aesthetically pleasing they are in comparison to traditional braces. If you are considering treatment with a more subtle solution, spend a few moments reading through the various advantages these aligners offer.
Faster Appointments
Traditional braces require follow-up appointments that involve wire tightening – a process that can take up significant time. Clear aligners, however, do not require tightening. While you will still be required to maintain regular follow-up appointments with our team, we will evaluate your progress and make any adjustments if they are required. This will ensure you are in and out of our office in less time.
Virtually Invisible Aligners
If you are a busy professional or self-conscious teen or adult, you may not want metal braces affixed to your smile. Although they were once the only option for fixing crowded, crooked, or gapped teeth, clear aligners offer an alternative solution. More discreet because of their clear plastic material, they remain virtually undetectable, so you can remain confident throughout treatment.
Conservative Treatment
Having metal braces applied to your teeth can take hours because each bracket must be cemented to the surface of your tooth enamel. Also, the metal archwire must be threaded through each bracket. Clear aligners, though, are non-invasive. Our team will take digital impressions of your smile and send the 3D model to lab technicians to begin creating your new trays. When ready, you’ll return to our office to undergo a fitting to ensure they feel comfortable and fit properly.
Improved Oral Health
You will not need to worry about using various products to try and clean your teeth and appliances when wearing clear aligners. Instead, you can easily remove your trays before brushing, flossing, and rinsing. This allows you to thoroughly clean your teeth and gums without anything getting in the way. It also makes it easier for you to keep your aligners in better shape. You can brush and soak them to ensure they do not contain any harmful bacteria before reinserting them into your mouth.
Smoother Trays for Improved Comfort
Clear aligners do not have rough edges or protruding brackets and wires that require orthodontic wax to protect against. Instead, their smooth material makes them comfortable to wear, minimizing the chances of developing oral sores on your lips, tongue, or cheeks.
Greater Self-Confidence
Instead of having to wait until after treatment is complete to feel confident about your smile, you can experience this feeling much sooner, even while wearing your clear aligners. You won’t need to worry about your appearance each day since your trays remain discreet, so no one will ever know you’re wearing them. This will give you the confidence you need to give a presentation at work or deliver a speech in class.
How Much Do Clear Aligners Cost?
Patients who desire to straighten their teeth with clear aligners understand the many benefits of this orthodontic solution. But does the cost of clear aligners in South Elgin tend to keep patients from moving forward? Our team of professionals will work with you to identify whether your dental insurance company or an alternative solution will prove beneficial in treating your crooked, misaligned smile. If patients have any questions, they’re encouraged to contact our office.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Clear Aligners
The first step to determining the cost of clear aligners is for patients to schedule a consultation with a clear aligners dentist in South Elgin. During this visit, our team examines the individual’s mouth to determine the severity of the damage, the number of aligners they will need, and the timeline for expected results.
Clear Aligners vs. Mail-In Aligners: Which Costs More?
It is natural for patients to want to save money on orthodontic treatment. But falling for one of the many corporate, over-the-counter options tends to produce lackluster results. Mail-in aligners seem cost-effective and easy to use, but their process can result in more serious problems for a person’s smile.
There are many reasons orthodontists strongly suggest patients choose clear aligners over do-it-yourself mail-in aligners. A few of those reasons include:
The requirement is to take one’s impressions using cold dental putty. These are often less accurate and can produce ill-fitting trays.
The lack of orthodontic oversight from a professional. Instead, individuals are told to participate in regular follow-up virtual appointments, explaining their own progress.
The potential hazard it can cause is that an individual may not be eligible for clear aligners; however, without proper consultation, it cannot be determined.
Choosing clear aligners and opting to see a qualified professional can make a drastic difference in the way people view their results and their confidence.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Clear Aligners?
It depends on whether an insurance company will cover clear aligners. Many policies do not offer orthodontic coverage, which means a person must apply for a separate plan. Those that are included in the original policy may have terms associated with coverage. In many cases, there are age limits or types of braces a person can receive. However, if clear aligners are included, our team will work with individuals to maximize their benefits and identify alternative ways to pay should it be required.
Options for Making Clear Aligners Affordable
Apart from dental insurance, we are pleased to provide our patients with two alternative ways to pay:
- Flexible Financing – Through CareCredit, individuals can apply for low or no-interest financing that makes it easy to spread out payments for months or years, making it easy to stay within budget.
- Grand Advantage Plan – By paying one single fee each year, patients receive access to basic preventive dental care as well as discounts on all other available services.
Clear Aligners FAQs
While traditional braces are often uncomfortable to wear and problematic when trying to eat certain foods, clear aligners in South Elgin give patients an amazing alternative. Clear Aligners are popular for both teens and adults; however, many have questions about the treatment, how to care for the aligners, and more. Read below to learn the answers to some of the most common questions about clear aligners, and do not hesitate to contact us to speak with a friendly team member.
Does Wearing Clear Aligners Hurt?
When you begin your clear aligner treatment, you can expect some minor discomfort. Your mouth has to get adjusted to the clear aligners, and your teeth will start to shift. Within the first few days, you can expect your slight pain to slowly go away, allowing you to feel comfortable and happy. That said, this process will occur each time you switch your current set of aligners to the new ones. A significant advantage of clear aligners is that you won’t have to experience the mandatory wire tightening that typically comes with traditional orthodontics.
Are Clear Aligner Results Permanent?
Clear Aligner results are permanent if the patient follows their completed treatment with a retainer. During the next weeks and years after clear aligners, our cosmetic dentist in South Elgin will give patients custom-made retainers that keep their newer, straighter smile in its aligned position. Your teeth shift in general; however, they are especially prone to movement after orthodontic treatment. This makes wearing a retainer and following our instructions integral if you want to avoid undoing all the time you put into your clear aligner braces.
What Should I Do If I Lose My Clear Aligner Trays?
During your first visit to our South Elgin office, we will highly recommend purchasing a protective case for your aligning trays. This will not only help to prevent oral bacteria from spreading on your aligners, but it will also keep you from accidentally throwing away or losing them – simply place your clear aligners back in their protective case when necessary.
If one or both of your aligners become damaged or lost, wear the last set of trays that you have until we can determine the proper next steps. In some cases, you can move on with treatment; however, we may also need to have new aligners created.
Can I Be Treated with Clear Aligners If I’ve Worn Braces in the Past?
Even if you have had traditional braces in the past, it is possible to take advantage of clear aligner treatment. Primarily, your candidacy for clear aligners will depend on the severity of your misalignment (overcrowding, misaligned bites, crooked teeth, or gapped teeth). We use advanced technology combined with a thorough evaluation of your smile to determine if clear aligners can provide the results you need. Once we see that you’re a good candidate, we will create a personalized treatment plan that will ensure that you achieve a healthy, straight set of teeth.