Why dental aligners are the latest rage.
Dental aligners are one of the most popular innovations to help straighten a smile.
Good news: Painful tooth extractions and uncomfortable traditional braces have become things of past. Thanks to dynamically evolving dental technology, advanced tools and techniques enable orthodontists to achieve better and faster results.
This trend began about 20 years ago with Invisalign, and many other brands of plastic aligners have been introduced since then. The custom-made aligners are computer generated from a mold of the patient’s teeth—taken by either a dentist or an orthodontist—for a unique fit. Patients wear a series of aligners, each for about two weeks, for a period of six to 18 months. Customers love aligners because they are clear and unobtrusive; they are even popular with adults who have had previous orthodontic treatment, but whose teeth have become crooked again over time.
“More people are choosing Invisalign than metal braces,” says Kathi Reed, a treatment coordinator at Dunegan Orthodontics in Gainesville. “Aligners are not only more comfortable to wear, but have also been shown to correct certain bite issues more efficiently than traditional braces.”
Considering aligners for yourself or the kids? “The most important thing is that compliance is paramount,” Reed says. They don’t work if you don’t wear them. Also, “Keep them clean at all times, and avoid eating meals or drinking sugary or colored drinks with them in. Don’t leave them laying outside of their case, which could cause them to be easily lost.”
