What's the difference between aligners and braces? Aligners work just like braces do. The difference is those clear aligners are made out of a see-through plastic shell, making them virtually invisible and much more comfortable to wear.
Clear aligner therapy is a gentle, thoughtful approach to straightening teeth that works with your body, not against it. Instead of brackets and wires, aligners use a series of custom-made, clear trays that apply light, consistent pressure over time—allowing your teeth to shift gradually and comfortably into better alignment.
This process supports not only a more confident smile, but also improved bite function, easier hygiene, and long-term oral health. Because the movement is controlled and incremental, many patients find aligners to be a more comfortable and intuitive experience compared to traditional orthodontics.
Clear aligners are designed to fit seamlessly into your lifestyle. They’re discreet, removable, and tailored to your unique anatomy—helping create balance and harmony in your smile while respecting your overall well-being.
Poor tooth alignment doesn’t just affect your smile—it can increase cavity and gum disease risk and play a role in airway support and breathing patterns
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Clear aligner therapy uses a series of custom-made, removable aligners to gently guide your teeth into healthier alignment over time. Each aligner is typically worn for about two weeks, allowing for gradual, comfortable movement that respects your body’s natural rhythms. To keep treatment efficient and on track, we include at-home digital monitoring, so your progress can be reviewed between in-office visits and adjustments can be made when needed—giving you a more personalized, proactive, and convenient orthodontic experience.
What's the difference between aligners and braces?
Aligners work just like braces do. The difference is those clear aligners are made out of a see-through plastic shell, making them virtually invisible and much more comfortable to wear.
During your initial visit, Dr. Chaz will evaluate your teeth and discuss your treatment goals. They may take pictures and X-rays to check for any dental issues. Based on this information, they'll determine if clear aligners are right for you.
If you're a good candidate for clear aligners, Dr. Chaz will take impressions of your teeth and send them, along with your consultation data, to the lab to create your custom aligners.
When your clear aligners are ready, Dr. Chaz will check the quality and then call you to set up an appointment for fitting the first tray. During the fitting process, Dr. Chaz may fit small attachments on your teeth to help the trays stay in place.
Clear aligner treatment involves multiple phases, each with its own set of trays. During regular follow-up visits, Dr. Chaz will monitor your progress and make necessary changes to your treatment plan.
Anyone with mild to moderate orthodontic issues is an excellent candidate for clear aligner therapy. The treatment is super effective for fixing teeth misalignment, crowded teeth, and diastema. The dentist will examine your teeth and take X-rays to determine the suitability of these aligners for your case.
You may also be a good candidate for clear aligners if you don’t have major issues with your jaw. Sometimes, the clear aligners might aggravate the jaws and exacerbate your TMJ. They also discolor and get damaged when worn by chronic smokers. The tar from cigarette smoking can stain the aligners, leaving them with dark spots.
That said, only patients with proper gum health qualify for clear aligners. Poor gum health can cause the aligners to shift your teeth in the wrong direction. That’s because the gums act as foundations for teeth, and gum disease makes the teeth unstable and difficult to push in the correct direction. To see if you’re a good candidate for clear aligners, get in touch with our team at (360) 543-8488.
Yes, clear aligners are definitely worth it for plenty of reasons. First, they’re transparent and almost invisible to the undiscerning eye. This is a stark contrast to braces that contain visible brackets and archwires through the teeth. This discreteness makes them an excellent option for patients that would otherwise be self-conscious with traditional braces.
Additionally, clear aligners are extremely effective for mild to moderate cases of malocclusions and boast a success rate of 96%. These aligners can address your underbite, overbite, crowded teeth, and other forms of malocclusions, giving you a perfect set of straight teeth and a beautiful smile. This cosmetic upgrade can be a huge confidence boost and dramatically improve your quality of life.
Furthermore, clear aligners are removable so you can enjoy your favorite meals without worrying about food particles getting stuck inside the aligners. Still, you should brush your teeth after eating so that food particles won't get stuck between your teeth and the aligners, causing cavities.
Clear aligners fix various issues mostly associated with maloccluded teeth. For starters, they fix overbites, which occur when the upper front teeth push ahead of the bottom lower teeth. The aligners apply constant pressure in the front teeth in a particular direction, to align them with the rest of the teeth.
Additionally, clear aligners fix underbites, where the lower front teeth protrude beyond the upper ones, causing TMJ and other dental issues. Clear aligners are also great for addressing crowded teeth, gradually aligning them until they’re completely straight. These aligners can also reduce large gaps between teeth that ruin your smile.
Dentists might recommend clear aligners for addressing crossbites, which describes a condition where the upper teeth go behind the lower ones when biting into food. However, it’s worth noting that clear aligners are only ideal for mild to moderate dental issues. Traditional braces, surgery, and other orthodontic devices work best for severe cases of malocclusions.
Treatment can take anywhere from 10-24 months. In reality, however, the length of clear aligner treatment can vary depending on the individual's specific needs and goals.
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