At Saddle Creek Orthodontics, we pride ourselves on offering multiple treatment methods to achieve your dream smile, including metal braces, clear braces, and Invisalign clear aligners. Today, though, we’re focusing exclusively on our clear aligners—How do clear aligners move teeth? What are clear aligners? How are they different than braces? Keep ready to find out!
How Do Orthodontists Move Your Teeth?
Imagine your teeth as books on a shelf, each wanting more room to stand perfectly straight. Now, think of your orthodontist as the librarian, skilled in the art of arranging these books so every title can be seen and appreciated. Just like a librarian carefully pushes and pulls books to make them fit better, your orthodontist nudges your teeth into the ideal position. But there’s a special twist in our story—unlike a regular shelf where books are simply pushed back and forth, our jawbone shelf is alive, capable of reshaping itself to host the books in their new positions.
This “reshaping” is called bone remodeling, a natural process where the bone around your teeth adjusts as they move. When orthodontic appliances like clear aligners gently nudge teeth, the bone on one side softens to allow the tooth to slide over, like squishing books together to make space on the shelf. Then, like magic, a new bone grows behind it to secure the tooth in its new spot, like adding a strong bookend to keep your books from slipping and sliding.
The bone remodeling process isn’t instant; it’s a careful and slow art of guiding each “book” to its perfect place on the shelf to create a smile that’s as orderly, clean, and appealing as a well-organized library. However, whether your orthodontic renovation spans six months or two years, it is well worth the wait.
Check out our braces and Invisalign before and after pictures to see how much of a difference a new smile with bone remodeling can make!
What Are Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners are a revolutionary form of orthodontic treatment, offering a less visible alternative to traditional braces with brackets and wires. Made from transparent, medical-grade plastic, aligners offer a blend of aesthetics and functionality, providing an almost invisa-ble solution to orthodontic treatment. Each aligner is custom-fitted, utilizing advanced 3D imaging technology to ensure a precise, comfortable fit over your teeth. The process starts with a detailed scan of your mouth, from which a series of aligners are produced, each slightly different from the other.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Since Invisalign clear aligners don’t have wires to adjust, they had to find a way around that! Remember the series of trays we mentioned a second ago? The unique design of each tray is how we move your teeth! The shape of the trays pushes your teeth along their treatment path by using the bone remodeling process to get your teeth to fit perfectly into that clear aligner. Whenever you progress to a new tray, usually every two weeks, it’s like the clear aligner version of a wire adjustment!
Your custom-made aligners and treatment program have been carefully, meticulously, and purposefully created by our orthodontists at Saddle Creek Orthodontics. When you follow Dr. Kyle’s or Dr. Boling’s instructions correctly, the series safely and efficiently guides your teeth into their correct positions for the smile you’ve always dreamed of!
Braces vs. Invisalign
Both are great options for a smile transformation, but they’re very different and have pros and cons. When contemplating whether Invisalign clear aligners or braces are the right choice for your or your teen’s orthodontic treatment, you should carefully consider several critical aspects:
- Diet: Invisalign clear aligners are removable. That means you don’t have to worry about your favorite foods breaking or damaging your braces! As long as you remember to take your aligners out when eating, you can munch on all the foods to your heart’s content!
- Oral Hygiene Routine: Maintaining stellar oral hygiene is a breeze with Invisalign. You simply remove the aligners to brush and floss your teeth as you normally would, ensuring no pesky food particles are trapped. In contrast, braces require more effort to keep clean, as food can easily get stuck in the brackets and wires, demanding thorough brushing and the use of special flossers or water picks to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
- Visibility: If you’re conscious about your appearance during orthodontic treatment, Invisalign offers a significant advantage with its almost invisible aligners. They let you straighten your teeth discreetly, making it a popular choice among adults and teens. Metal and ceramic braces are more noticeable, so if subtly is your priority, Invisalign is the way to go.
- Commitment: Invisalign demands a high level of personal responsibility—you must wear your aligners for the recommended 22 hours a day to achieve the desired outcome. This requires diligence and a commitment to wearing and maintaining your aligners as directed. Braces are affixed to your teeth and offer a “set it and forget it” solution until your orthodontist makes adjustments during your appointments, which can be ideal for younger patients or those who prefer not to keep track of removable aligners.
Schedule Your Clear Aligner Appointment Today!
It’s clear (pun intended) that the choice between Invisalign and braces can be challenging without professional guidance. Consulting with an orthodontist can provide personalized advice to help decide which option best suits you or your teen’s path to a perfect smile.
Schedule your free consultation with us in Germantown or Collierville today to discover how orthodontics can boost your confidence, oral health, and overall quality of life!
Best,
