Questions and Answers and About Clear Aligners

Which Type of “Invisible” Braces are Best?

These are called clear aligners and several different brands have been in use. Elegant Dentistry has selected ClearCorrect, which we believe are the most comfortable and easy-to-use aligners available.

What Happens During Treatment with Clear Aligners?

Patients are fitted with a custom-made clear aligner that will push the teeth in the desired direction. Once the first set has done its job, patients will need to move on to newer braces which will move teeth further…and so on until the treatment is complete.

How Long does it Take for Clear Aligners to Work?

The overall treatment period tends to be shorter than with standard braces, usually from 18 to 36 months.

Are Clear Aligners Actually Invisible?

The main attraction of clear braces for most patients is that they are transparent and flat, making them much harder to see than standard braces. However, we can’t quite say they’re invisible. They can be seen in some circumstances but chances are that most people will have no idea a patient is wearing clear aligners unless it’s pointed out to them.

Are Clear Aligners More Convenient than Braces?

For many people, the answer is a definite yes. Because they are easily removable, eating as well as brushing and flossing are a lot easier. Also, the removability of clear aligners means patients can enjoy most all of the foods they eat normally as long as they maintain good oral hygiene.

How Effective are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners were first introduced in the late 1990s and have helped countless patients over the decades. Studies have shown that, in the right circumstances, they can produce outcomes highly comparable to standard braces though they work better in some cases than in others. Here at Elegant Dentistry, we take a close and careful look at patients’ teeth to make sure that clear aligners are a good fit for them. For more information, please visit our page on clear aligner dentistry at our offices at our LA Westside offices in Marina del Rey.

Can Clear Aligners Get Stained?

Yes, but it can be avoided with a little care. Patients who want their aligners to remain inconspicuous need to take care to remove them before consuming or using the usual culprits for staining of teeth. These include dark beverages such as coffee, colas, tea, and red wine as well as chocolate, tobacco products, and lipstick.

What are the Possible Drawbacks of Clear Aligners?

For clear aligners to work, wearers need to commit to wearing them roughly 22-24 hours per day. Prospective patients also need to consider the possibility that they may be tempted to leave their clear braces off. Obviously, aligners won’t work if you don’t wear them!

Finally, people who are prone to losing things – and you know who you are – also need to be extra careful to keep track of their aligners during the brief periods when they are not wearing them. The fact that they are clear may make them somewhat harder to find in some cases.

Looking for Clear Aligners in the Los Angeles/Westside Area?

Then the team of leading oral health professionals at Elegant Dentistry in Marina del Rey — adjacent to Venice, Culver City, and Santa Monica — is your best bet. To learn more, call the number on your screen or see our contact page.