What are Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners are also known as invisible aligners. They fix misaligned teeth and are a nearly invisible and removable alternative to braces.
The aligner trays are commonly made of BPA-free plastic and are custom-made for every patient. Each tray discreetly moves the teeth in small increments. This helps you achieve a straighter smile.
Some aligners don’t touch your gums at all. They’re trimmed to comfortably sit along your gum line in a ‘scalloped fashion.’ This design makes the trays less irritating and even more ‘invisible.’
How do aligners work?
Aligners are designed to make small movements at a time by putting gentle pressure on your teeth. That pressure is transferred through your roots to your jaws.
Your jawbone responds to forces by essentially moving the sockets, and your teeth go along for the ride.
Because the changes from aligner to aligner are small, treatment with aligner technology tends to be gentle and comfortable.
Aligners need to be worn 22 hours per day to be effective. This leaves time for eating, brushing, and flossing without aligners in.