Many patients wish they had straight teeth but don’t want to commit to wearing bulky metal braces for one to three years. Fortunately, our practice offers two great options for clear aligner therapy.
Clear aligners are more convenient and less noticeable than traditional braces, and they can treat a wide range of mild to moderate orthodontic concerns. Learn more about the many types of clear braces we offer as cosmetic dental treatments in our Cedar Park, TX, dental office.
Why Straighten Crooked Teeth?
When people come in to straighten their teeth, they usually don’t like how they look. Straightening crooked teeth can improve your looks and self-esteem, but it has various other benefits. Crooked teeth can cause multiple oral health issues.
Crooked teeth are harder to clean than straight teeth. They come together at odd angles and are often cramped and crowded. Sometimes, even our specialized dental tools can’t clean the teeth properly. You can be doing everything right and still be at high risk for tooth decay and gum disease because you can’t reach certain areas of your smile. Plaque and tartar build up in these little areas we can’t access.
When your teeth are crooked, your bite becomes uneven. When the upper and lower jaws come together, the pressure of your bite is distributed evenly throughout all of your teeth. Crooked teeth cause this distribution to be uneven. Some teeth experience more pressure than others. Those teeth wear down faster and are more likely to have issues with tooth decay, chips, and cracks.
An uneven bite is one of the leading causes of TMJ disorders. The jaw joint doesn’t track smoothly when your bite doesn’t come together. The more you use your jaw, the more that joint breaks down. You may experience pain and tension throughout your face and head, popping and clicking when you move your jaw, or your jaw getting stuck in certain positions. The longer it goes untreated, the worse the condition becomes.
How Do You Create Custom Clear Aligners?
Some dental practices still use old-fashioned impressions, which require patients to bite down on a tray full of goopy dental putty. Our modern dental office uses intraoral cameras to create digital impressions quickly and easily. Intraoral cameras move along the sides and bottom of the teeth.
These cameras capture thousands of high-quality images per second, which are then sent to a lab. They create accurate impressions the first time—no foul-tasting putty is required. Intraoral cameras are also a much better option for patients with a sensitive gag reflex.
Clear Braces in Cedar Park, TX
Vista Ridge Family Dentistry offers clear aligner therapy through Invisalign and ClearCorrect. Once we take impressions of your smile, the lab creates your first set of aligners. After you collect them from our office, you will be expected to wear your aligners for at least 21 to 22 hours per day and switch to the next aligner in the series every two weeks to keep your treatment plan on track. Once your treatment is complete, we will provide you with a retainer to wear at night to keep your teeth perfectly in place.
Do clear aligners hurt?
When you first begin your orthodontic treatment, you may notice that your gums and mouth feel slightly sore or uncomfortable. That means your aligners are working! Your teeth are not used to being shifted, but after a week or two, they should feel natural in your mouth. We recommend putting in new aligners before bed so your teeth begin to adjust while you sleep. You can also use ice packs, dental wax, and pain medication to relieve discomfort.
How do you care for clear aligners?
To keep your aligners clear and discreet, clean them with a toothbrush and antibacterial soap at least once daily. Rinse them off with cold or warm (not hot) water every time you take them out of your mouth. Never eat while wearing your aligners; that can damage and stain them. When you aren’t wearing them, store them in their container, not a napkin, as you can accidentally lose them or throw them away.
Should I use Invisalign or ClearCorrect?
Our team stands by both products, as they can both be used to help patients discreetly and effectively achieve their dream smiles. Some patients find that ClearCorrect aligners are a little thinner, making them less noticeable than Invisalign aligners. On the other hand, Invisalign aligners have also been said to be more durable. If you aren’t sure which one you want to go with, our team would be more than happy to help you decide at your orthodontic consultation.
Six Month Smiles® in Cedar Park, TX
The quicker, the better when it comes to changing the appearance of your smile! Unlike traditional methods of cosmetic dentistry that can take at least a year, Six Month Smiles is an accelerated orthodontic technology that can have your teeth appear straighter by your next cleaning!
How do I know if I’m a good candidate for Six Month Smiles?
When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, there are a lot of factors to consider when selecting the treatment that will result in the smile of your dreams. The ideal candidates for Six Month Smiles are adults and teenagers ages 16 and up with crooked, spaced, or misaligned teeth. In addition, we offer Six Month Smiles for mild orthodontic cases and patients who only want their front teeth straightened. Visiting a Six Month Smiles dentist will help determine if you’re a good candidate.
What if I don’t see results in six months?
Six Month Smiles focuses on correcting the visible front teeth when you smile. The average treatment time and results for Six Month Smiles are six months. While six months is the average time, results are on a case-by-case basis and sometimes can take up to nine months. You’ll be able to work with the Six Month Smiles dentist to discuss what you can expect to achieve in six months.
What’s the difference between traditional braces and Six Month Smiles?
If you’re searching for traditional braces vs. Six Month Smiles, you may notice the main difference in treatment time and appearance. Six Month Smiles are clear braces that are often more comfortable and provide quick results. Traditional braces are more noticeable and fix more complex cases over a longer period. When it comes down to cost, Six Month Smiles’ cost is often less than traditional braces, but it is always best to contact our front office to schedule a consultation to find out which treatment is best for your smile.
Frequently Asked Invisalign® Questions
Whether you’re just beginning to think about orthodontic treatment or have been considering Invisalign for a long time, you likely have a few questions. Luckily, our knowledgeable and experienced team is here to help answer them! Vista Ridge Family Dentistry has helped countless patients achieve straighter teeth using Invisalign.
What does Invisalign look like?
Invisalign trays look like a perfect impression of your teeth. They are thick enough to feel comfortable on the teeth but thin enough to be virtually invisible when worn. In addition, clear aligners are so discreet that we always recommend that patients store them in their cases when they are not wearing them. It can be easy to misplace or accidentally throw away clear aligners.
Can Invisalign fix an overbite?
Invisalign can fix a variety of orthodontic issues, including overbites and underbites. You can add small attachments to Invisalign trays and wrap clear elastic bands around them. These elastics work very similarly to the elastic bands that patients with metal braces sometimes wear. They gently correct patients’ bites. You should always wear these elastics with aligners as your dentist directs.
Am I a good candidate for Invisalign?
Invisalign was originally for patients with mild to moderate orthodontic issues. Fortunately, clear aligner therapy has improved drastically, and many more patients are now eligible to use Invisalign. However, scheduling an orthodontic consultation with your Cedar Park dental team is the best way to determine whether you are an Invisalign candidate. Our office would be happy to assist you!
How much does Invisalign cost?
While financing the cost of your Invisalign treatment may sound intimidating, our team is here to make your treatment plan as streamlined and budget-friendly as possible. Most insurance plans offer some coverage for orthodontic care. Our practice offers in-house financing and accepts third-party payment plans through CareCredit.
Straighten Your Smile
Do you want a straighter smile but don’t want to use metal braces? Contact Vista Ridge Family Dentistry to discuss treatment with clear braces today at 512-402-7811 or request a dental consultation online.