Clear Aligners – San Ramon, CA

Discreet Aligners

Metal brackets and wires tend to be very obvious when worn, which means they can easily attract a lot of attention that you would rather not have. In contrast, clear aligners become virtually invisible once they’ve been placed over the teeth. Most people probably won’t even realize that you have them unless they already know what to look for. As a result, you’ll be able to enjoy a much more discreet treatment without having to worry about people looking at your smile for the wrong reasons.

Improved Comfort

One of the unfortunate side effects of metal braces is that they can irritate the inside of your mouth, resulting in unpleasant sores and ulcers. Clear aligners don’t have this problem because they are made out of smooth plastic. This makes them much more comfortable to wear, which can help you have a more positive orthodontic experience overall.

Easy Dental Hygiene

It can be tricky to keep your teeth clean while wearing braces since you have to get used to brushing and flossing around your brackets and wires. With clear aligners, maintaining excellent oral hygiene is much easier. You can take your aligners out of your mouth at any time, thus allowing you to brush and floss like you normally would without having to learn a complicated new routine. 

No Diet Restrictions

Do you not want to have to give up your favorite foods during your orthodontic treatment? You won’t have to with clear aligners, as they can simply be removed whenever it’s time to enjoy a meal. As a result, you will have the freedom to eat whatever you want, including apples and other foods that you would normally need to stay away from while wearing braces.

Fewer Progress Appointments

Since clear aligners don’t have to be adjusted the way that traditional braces do, they don’t require as many progress appointments. You’ll typically need to return to our office every 6 to 8 weeks so that we can make sure that everything is going as planned. During these visits, we’ll provide you with the next set of aligners in the series, and we’ll make sure that your current aligners fit as they should.

Shorter Treatment Times

Traditional braces often have to be worn for two years or longer. Meanwhile, the average treatment timeline for clear aligners is notably shorter. Oftentimes, the process can be completed between 12 and 18 months. For particularly simple cases, the treatment can be as short as 6 months!

Crowded Teeth

In addition to having a negative impact on the way your smile looks, crowded teeth can be very difficult to clean properly. This can lead to a buildup of plaque and tartar that can ultimately result in cavities and gum disease. Fortunately, it’s often possible to correct the positions of your teeth with clear aligners. By the end of the treatment, they’ll no longer overlap, and it should be much easier to brush and floss them as thoroughly as you need to.

Gaps Between Teeth

Smaller gaps between your teeth can often be closed with clear aligners. This can make a bigger difference for your oral health than you might think, as gaps between your teeth provide a space where harmful oral bacteria can easily accumulate. Thus, closing these gaps can help lower your risk for oral health issues in the long term while also improving the appearance of your smile.

Overbite

A slight overbite is normal, but if your front teeth are too far in front of your lower teeth, it could lead to a variety of problems, such as jaw pain and speech issues. Furthermore, your upper teeth could be left more susceptible to injury. In many cases, clear aligners can be used to fix an overbite as long as the issue isn’t too severe. 

Underbite

An underbite is the opposite of an overbite; it occurs when the lower teeth are positioned too far in front of the upper teeth. This particular bite problem is associated with a number of breathing issues, including sleep apnea. If you have an underbite, correcting it with clear aligners may be an option. Note that in some cases, attachments may need to be used in combination with the clear aligners to make the desired changes.

Crossbite

If your teeth come in at different angles, it could result in a situation where some of the lower teeth are positioned in front of the upper teeth. This is known as a crossbite, and it often puts uneven pressure on your teeth and gums; this can cause your enamel to wear down faster than normal, and it can also result in gum recession. Our team can evaluate your crossbite to determine whether clear aligners can be used to address it.

Open Bite

An open bite is a less common type of bite issue that occurs when the upper and lower rows of teeth don’t touch each other when you close your mouth. This can affect your ability to pronounce certain words properly, and it can also increase your risk of damaging your enamel. Depending on the complexity of your case, clear aligners could be a great solution for an open bite.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Clear Aligners

The specifics of a given clear aligner treatment depend on the needs of the patient, which is why the overall cost tends to vary. Some of the biggest variables include:

• Complexity of the Treatment: Some patients need more complex orthodontic corrections than others. When it comes to straightening teeth, higher complexity generally means a higher cost.
• The Number of Arches Involved: Does your clear aligner treatment include both the upper and lower arches of teeth or just one of them? In cases where only a single arch is involved, you can normally expect the cost to be lower.
• Compliance: You need to take care to wear your clear aligners for the right amount of time every day, and you should take whatever steps you can to avoid breaking or losing them. If an aligner needs to be replaced, or if issues arise due to aligners not being worn enough, it could ultimately add to the overall cost of your treatment.

Professional VS Over-the-Counter Aligners

With clear aligners, you have a choice between those bought over the counter and those provided by a dental professional. Naturally, store-bought aligners tend to cost less. However, professional clear aligners are generally worth paying for because they’re expertly customized for your smile and tend to have better chances of success. Furthermore, the professional option means that your dentist is directly involved with the process and will be able to help you avoid serious issues.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Clear Aligners?

Many insurance plans include clear aligners as part of their orthodontic coverage. Of course, with so many different insurance providers to choose from, you can’t expect every plan to be exactly the same. Call your insurance provider to confirm that you can use your benefits to help pay for your clear aligners.

Options for Making Clear Aligners Affordable

While we always do whatever we can to help our patients get the most out of their dental insurance coverage, we also want to make sure that those who don’t have an insurance plan are still able to achieve the smiles they deserve. As such, additional financing is available at our practice. If you speak to one of our team members, you can get more details about the payment plans offered at our practice in San Ramon.

How Long Do Clear Aligners Take?

Clear aligner treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. While it may only take one patient six months, it may take the next 18+ months. With that said, the average timeline is around the 12-month mark. To work through your trays as quickly as possible, it’s important to wear your aligners for 22 hours a day and follow all of your dentist’s instructions. That way, you can avoid accidentally falling off-track with your plan, adding more weeks or months to the back end of your treatment.

Do Clear Aligners Hurt?

It’s true; orthodontic treatment of any kind comes with some discomfort. Fortunately, clear aligners in San Ramon are significantly more comfortable than traditional braces since there aren’t any metal brackets or wires to worry about. Plus, the smooth plastic is designed to fit your teeth perfectly, avoiding annoying irritation to your lips, tongue, and cheeks in the process. If you do experience any soreness or discomfort, try using a cold compress or taking an over-the-counter pain reliever.

What Happens After Clear Aligner Treatment?

Once you’ve worked through your entire series of trays (and celebrated your new and improved smile!), it will be time to transition to the next phase of your treatment: wearing your retainer. After all, it’s one of the best ways to prevent orthodontic relapse. You’ll simply wear it according to your dentist’s instructions, which is usually at least each evening while you sleep. For the best results, this should be a lifelong best practice.

Can You Eat with Clear Aligners?

While you can’t eat with your aligners in, you can eat whatever you’d like while they are out! Of course, it’s still a good idea to exercise caution with hard, sticky, and crunchy foods since they can damage your teeth or cause one of your attachments to fall off. It’s also smart to keep your consumption of sugary foods and beverages to a minimum since they are one of the biggest culprits of cavities. Lastly, make sure to always place your trays in their designated storage case to avoid accidentally throwing them away or misplacing them.

How Do I Clean My Clear Aligners?

Patients often over-complicate the cleaning process. In reality, it’s as simple as using clean water and a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your aligners after each meal. If they need a deeper clean because they are starting to look yellow, then you can use your Invisalign cleaning crystals. Don’t, however, use household cleaners, like bleach, to do the job. This can damage the aligners, and the toxins it contains are not safe to ingest