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Are Aligners Right for Me?

Are Aligners Right for Me?

Are Aligners Right for Me?

Are aligners right for you? There are lots of reasons the answer may be “yes.”

Why Should You Use Aligners?

Treatment with aligners offers a number of advantages for patients today.

  • Invisible: The aligners are clear, which makes it a virtually invisible teeth-straightening system.
  • Fast: It’s a fast track to getting the smile you want because you have weekly or biweekly aligner changes.
  • Clinical Results: Aligners are clinically proven to work. The features are proven to give you better control of teeth straightening.
  • Perfect Fit: The aligners offer a perfect fit, and it’s super easy to take them in and out of your mouth.
  • Flexible: Treatment can help with a wide variety of dental problems, including overbite, underbite, crossbite, crowded teeth, gaps between teeth, and more.
  • Comfortable: Aligners are, by far, the most comfortable way to straighten your teeth. No metal brackets or wires are used—only flexible plastic aligners.
  • Convenient: Treatment can fit into any lifestyle. You need to come into Feldman Orthodontics only once every six weeks for your quick check-up.

The Process—How Are Results Tracked?

The aligner process is smooth and easy, from your first consultation to your final checkup.

  • First Consultation: During your first consultation, you’ll discuss your treatment goals with Dr. Feldman and have an exam to determine whether aligners are right for you.
  • Your Treatment Plan: At Feldman Orthodontics, we use a high-tech digital scanner to get perfect, three-dimensional images of your mouth. This allows Dr. Feldman to create the most customized treatment plan possible. You’ll even get to see projections of what your smile will look like after treatment.
  • Your Aligners: Your aligners are made from a flexible but super-strong material that makes comfortable and perfectly fitted aligners. You’ll wear your aligners 20–22 hours daily. Remove them only to do your regular oral hygiene and to eat.
  • Making Progress: You’ll change aligners out every two weeks (or every week if you’re on the fast track.) With each fresh aligner set, you’ll see more progress. You’ll come in for checkups so Dr. Feldman can monitor your straightening every six weeks.
  • Maintaining Your Smile: To maintain your great results in the best way possible, you can also get a clear retainer. These retainers are made from the same material as the aligners, and they’re designed especially to help you maintain results long term.

How Long Is Treatment?

It depends on your specific case, but most patients wear their aligners for 12–18 months in total.

How Much Does Treatment Cost?

Treatment cost varies according to your specific treatment plan. The total length of treatment and the number of aligners needed in total can vary from one patient to another, so talk to Dr. Feldman about your needs and how much it’s likely to cost. Feldman Orthodontics offers a variety of payment options and payment plans to help you get a straight and beautiful smile through treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How Do I Clean My Aligners?

    Always rinse your aligners off before you put them back in your mouth. Use either a denture soak or cleaning crystals to soak your aligners according to the directions. This helps keep bacteria off the aligners—and out of your mouth. Don't forget to wash your hands before handling your aligners or placing them in your mouth.

  • How Long Do I Wear Each Set of Aligners?

    It depends on your specific treatment plan. Many treatment plans have aligner changes every two weeks, but a fast-track plan (which straightens teeth in less time) requires aligner changes every week.

  • Are Aligners Fitting for an Active Lifestyle?

    Absolutely! Clear aligners are perfect for an active lifestyle. You can take them out for eating, and when playing sports you can replace your aligners with a custom mouthguard. Clear aligners allow you to get straighter teeth without sacrificing anything you love.

  • What Are the Primary Benefits?

    Some of the main benefits of aligners include:

    • Invisible teeth-straightening
    • Faster than braces
    • Comfortable to wear
    • Removable
    • No eating restrictions

  • How Much Time Should I Plan to Spend at the Orthodontist?

    You can get started with aligners in a short appointment of only about an hour. Once you're wearing the aligners, you'll need to see Dr. Feldman every six weeks. These checkups are fast and easy, so you'll spend much less time at the orthodontist than you would with traditional braces.

  • What Do Clear Aligners Cost?

    The cost of aligners varies based on how many aligners you need, the length of your treatment program, and other customization factors specific to you. Most patients find aligners to be a very affordable solution for teeth straightening. Feldman Orthodontics is proud to offer a variety of different payment options. Payment plans that spread the cost over a 12, 24, or 36 months can make treatment affordable, so don't let cost hold you back from straight teeth!