A lot of our patients tell us that they avoid taking pictures or hide their faces when they laugh because they’re really self-conscious about their teeth. We know how much a smile can impact how you feel about yourself and how you interact with others on a daily basis. With all these worries, we went ahead and looked into treatment options that could fix orthodontic problems without making the whole process a lot of hassle.
Lake Forest’s clear aligners are a big leap forward in how we correct teeth alignment issues. These trays are made from smooth, clear plastic that fits right over your teeth and are almost as if they’re not even there. Each one steadily shifts your teeth into the right spot with controlled pressure. The treatment uses a number of these custom-made trays and each one gets you one step closer to your final smile. Acceledent is a gentle device designed to help accelerate orthodontic treatment. Using Acceledent can help reduce discomfort and shorten overall treatment time.
We start off every case with a full check-up on your teeth and gums and your orthodontic needs. To figure out exactly how your teeth need to move, our team takes super precise measurements and snaps a few photos. We can map out the whole treatment from start to finish thanks to our advanced computer software. We can even give you a rough idea of how long it’ll take and what kind of results you can expect, right at the beginning.
This treatment is different from standard orthodontic methods, you can actually take the trays out. You can just pop them out to eat whatever you like, and cleaning your teeth is still no problem because it’s still just like brushing and flossing as normal, no brackets or wires to deal with. Lots of patients really appreciate how flexible it is, especially when they’re busy with work or school. Propel is an innovative orthodontic treatment that stimulates bone movement to speed up tooth alignment. Propel can help patients achieve results faster when used alongside braces or aligners.
How long treatment actually lasts will depend on a few things, what kind of issue you’re dealing with and how often you wear the trays. Some simple spacing problems might sort themselves out in 6 months, but more complicated cases might take a year or longer. During your appointments, we’ll set some realistic goals and keep you in the loop on your progress the whole time. Regular check-ins help us make sure everything’s on track.
Once you get used to having the trays in your mouth, they shouldn’t feel uncomfortable at all. The smooth plastic is a lot more comfortable to wear than metal braces ever could be. You might feel a bit of pressure when you switch to a new set of trays, but that’s just the trays shifting your teeth. That usually goes away in a couple of days.
We’ve had patients of all ages come to us and love how unobtrusive the treatment is. Working adults can go to meetings without worrying about how their teeth look, and students can go to school knowing they look great. We’ve even treated people of all ages, from young teenagers to seniors, who’d been putting off dealing with long-standing cosmetic issues for years.
To get the best results, you just need to follow the schedule we give you. Usually that means keeping the trays in for 20 to 22 hours a day and just taking them out to eat or brush your teeth. And because they’re detachable, it’s up to you to manage the outcome of your treatment. We give you some tips to help you remember to wear them every day and develop some good habits.
Here at Forest Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, we really want to make your treatment as easy as possible. We keep a close eye on your progress and are always here to answer any questions you might have. We believe in keeping you in the loop and want you to feel supported every step of the way.
Choosing clear aligners in Lake Forest can actually help you in ways that go way beyond just fixing your smile. It’s a whole lot easier to keep your teeth clean when they’re straight, and that might actually help lower your risk of gum disease or dental decay. Lots of our patients say they feel way more confident in their personal and professional lives as their smile changes during treatment.