Clear aligners
Explained

Orthodontic Treatment Journey with Clear Aligners:

1) Initial Oral Assessment:

Your orthodontic treatment journey requires a thorough evaluation, frequent monitoring, and several orthodontic adjustment appointments to ensure the best results. At your first appointment, our orthodontist will perform a clinical assessment of your teeth and obtain panoramic X-ray images to design a treatment plan that is perfectly suited to your case.

2) Clear Aligners Production:

There are two main approaches for clear aligners’ production, which include:

First: Manual Method:

This method offers a cost-effective approach that produces clear aligners in laboratory settings. In the clinic, the orthodontist will:

• Take an impression of your teeth. 
• Determine which teeth need realignment and send the teeth impression to the lab.
• The lab technician will make a model of your teeth and make the necessary adjustment to promote teeth movement to the desired position.
• Produce the aligner in three different thicknesses (0.020-inch, 0.025-inch, or 0.030-inch) using a pressure molding machine or vacuum machine. The higher the thickness of the aligner, the higher the pressure exerted on the teeth. Therefore the orthodontist will ask you to use the aligners in ascending manner to correct the teeth’ position gradually. 

Second: CAD-CAM Technologies:

The integration of CAD-CAM technology – Computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacture (CAM) – into the dental industry represents a quantum leap in dental care. Using this advanced technology, your orthodontist will:

• Get a visual impression of your teeth using an intra-oral digitizer. The information obtained by the digitizer will create a 3D model of your teeth. 
• Make the necessary adjustments to move the teeth to the desired position on the computer (computer-aided design).
• Use 3D printing or milling technology to produce the designed aligners (computer-aided manufacture). 

• 3) Treatment Interval:Correcting mild to moderately crowded teeth with clear aligners takes about 12-24 months (varies between patients). During your orthodontic treatment, you should:
  • Wear the aligner for 20-22 hours a day. 
  • Change the aligner tray every 1-3 weeks, with a total of 20-40 Invisalign trays for complete alignment. Each tray will have a few adjustments to move the teeth slightly toward the intended position.
  • Maintain your follow-up appointments with the orthodontist to monitor your progress. (Less frequent than traditional braces). 
  • If you feel some discomfort or pain after applying the aligner (especially during the first week), use over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve the pain.

   

   

  4) Taking off the Clear Aligner:

  According to the degree of misalignment of the teeth, the length of orthodontic treatment with clear aligners varies. It may take up to 24 months to achieve a perfect smile and enjoy healthy teeth. Once your teeth reach the degree of alignment and correction required, your orthodontist would recommend that you stop wearing clear aligners and start using a dental retainer to support the new position of your teeth.