Clear Aligner & Braces Orthodontics
Straighten Teeth with Braces or Clear Aligners
Clear Aligner and Braces Orthodontic Treatment in Port Macquarie
Misaligned teeth can lead to decay, gum disease, uneven wear and even tooth sensitivity.
But at Port Pacific Dental, we don’t want anyone to be embarrassed by their smile either. Instead, we want you to be proud to share it with the world, along with all the other good things that come with a lovely smile. That is why we offer one of the most popular and effective ways for people to enjoy straighter teeth—clear aligners.
Instead of brackets and wires, clear aligners are a removable orthodontic option that most people will never notice you are wearing, making them a popular choice for people who have a hard time picturing themselves wearing braces.
What Are the Advantages of Clear Aligners Like Invisalign?
Clear aligners, sometimes called invisible braces, offer some excellent benefits. First, they provide unsurpassed comfort and manageability. You may remove your invisible aligners to eat while you brush and floss. This prevents them from interfering with meals and getting food stuck in brackets. Removability also makes it easier to keep your teeth clean because you don’t have to brush and floss around brackets and wires.
Another reason to choose clear aligners is that they don’t obscure your teeth. Invisible braces live up to their name because their transparent, high-quality material makes them nearly disappear against your teeth. This characteristic makes aligners the preferred orthodontic treatment for teens and older adults who don’t want other people to notice that they are straightening their teeth.
Comfort, removability and invisibility together make clear aligners a popular choice.
Traditional Braces Orthodontics
In some cases, traditional braces will be a better option for treatment. Young people, complex cases and preferences can impact the best treatment option for you.
Braces use brackets and guidewires to gradually move teeth into their ideal alignment. Regular check-ups to monitor progress will be necessary.
Because of the nature of braces, you will need to take extra care to ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy. Special flossers help to clean between teeth during treatment. It is also best to avoid sticky and hard foods that can dislodge or damage your braces.
Orthodontic Retainers
With clear aligners or traditional orthodontics, wearing a retainer will protect your investment by preventing your teeth from drifting to their previous location. Our dentists will discuss your retainer options and how often to wear them at your evaluation.
If you have crooked and misaligned teeth, the Port Pacific Dental team is here to help. We can offer modern treatments to help your teeth look and work better. We invite you to contact our practice in Port Macquarie to arrange a visit and begin the journey to a straighter smile.
The Clear Aligner Process Is Simple
Our dentists will perform a complete exam and assessment to ensure that clear aligners are an appropriate solution for your smile. Then, we will use leading-edge digital technology to measure your mouth and teeth. This allows the team to devise a treatment plan and determine the length of your treatment and if any augmentations are necessary.
The next step is for our dentists to send your treatment plan and other details to a lab to create your aligners.
You start with the first aligner in the series. Our dentists will instruct you on how the treatment works, including these guidelines:
- Wear your aligner 20-22 hours per day
- Change to the next tray after about one to two weeks
- Remove your tray for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing
- Soak your trays daily to clean them, using recommended cleaners
- Visit us for planned, periodic check-ups so we know you’re on track
As your teeth slowly move towards their new positions, another benefit is that you may watch the process first-hand each day when you look in the mirror. Your aligners will fit snugly but could be augmented with small ‘buttons’ that your dentist adheres to your teeth so that the aligners are more effective. These will be removed after treatment.