Do you want to straighten your smile effectively? Dr. Shannon French provides clear aligners to her patients in her Bladenboro, NC dental office. Six Month Smiles is a modern method of straightening misaligned teeth over time. These clear aligners offer patients convenient and conservative cosmetic dental treatment.
Dr. French and her team ensure that each patient receives a custom treatment plan that meets their goals, budget, and oral health needs. They work one-on-one with patients to provide high-quality and effective care.
Treatment With Clear Braces
We start all treatment with a cosmetic consultation. We’ll examine your teeth and discuss your cosmetic goals and budget to determine if clear braces suit you. Six Month Smiles treats mild to moderate orthodontic concerns. If you have more severe problems, we may refer you to a trusted orthodontist for more intensive treatment.
When we move forward with treatment, we take impressions of your teeth. We send these to a dental lab so they can craft your sets of aligners. Each set is slightly different from the last, so they can slowly shift your teeth. You wear each set of aligners for about two weeks. We’ll schedule frequent checkups in our office to ensure the treatment is progressing as it should.
Six Month Smiles Vs. Traditional Metal Braces
Many patients prefer clear aligner treatment over the traditional methods. Mostly, this is because it’s a subtle way to straighten teeth. The clear aligners are virtually invisible on your teeth, while traditional braces have metal brackets and wires that are visible on the teeth. Treatment with aligners also usually takes less time than with braces. The average treatment time for clear aligners is 12-18 months instead of multiple years with braces.
It’s also easier to take care of your oral health with aligners. They’re removable, so you can take them out to brush and floss your teeth normally. The only additional thing you have to do is clean your aligners regularly, too. With braces, you must learn new methods to brush and floss around all brackets and wires. We have to teach you the proper way, and you sometimes need special tools.
Because they’re removable, you don’t have to worry about removing any foods from your diet. You can eat anything you normally would. Braces require you to give up chewy and crunchy foods because they can get stuck in the braces or break the wires. You just have to take out the aligners when you eat. You should only drink water when you have your aligners in.
Taking Care of Your Clear Aligners
Clear aligners can’t do their job properly if you don’t care for them. When you remove them from your mouth, rinse them thoroughly with cool water. This helps get rid of bacteria and debris. You should clean them more thoroughly at least once a day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a mild soap or non-abrasive toothpaste to gently scrub the aligners. This removes any odor-causing bacteria or residue on them.
At least once a week, deeply clean and sterilize your aligners. Use specialized cleaning crystals or denture cleaners to soak your aligners for the specified time. This is a more thorough cleaning that covers anything the daily cleaning has missed. Bacteria can be extremely dangerous and make you sick if you wear contaminated aligners.
When you’re not wearing the aligners, you should put them in a designated carrying case. Make sure that it’s ventilated. Bacteria thrive in a warm, wet environment, so it’s important that they get regular airflow. A case ensures you know where they are, so you don’t lose them when you take them out to eat. Clean your case regularly, too. Otherwise, it can harbor bacteria that’ll get on your aligners.
Always use cool water when you clean your aligners, and never leave them in a hot area or near a heat source. Hot water or heat can warm the aligners and render them unusable. Don’t keep your aligners in a hot car or anywhere where they’ll be in direct sunlight.
Clear Aligners FAQs
Want to know more about clear aligners? Read on:
Are clear aligners painful?
You may experience slight pain or soreness as you adjust to your Invisalign aligners or tightened brackets. However, this will fade as you get used to your braces or aligners. Six Month Smiles is noted by many patients to be more comfortable than traditional metal braces because the aligners do not irritate the gums.
Does insurance cover treatment with Invisalign or Six Month Smiles?
Cosmetic dental treatments are not typically covered by insurance. Dental insurance usually only covers treatments that are deemed medically necessary. However, our team can help you with any billing and paperwork. We can help you maximize your dental insurance benefits for your treatment.
Do I have to wear clear aligners all day?
It’s necessary to wear clear aligners for at least 22 hours a day to ensure effective treatment. However, you can take them out to eat and proceed with your normal oral healthcare routine. You don’t have to eliminate anything from your diet when you choose this treatment option.
What can’t I do with clear aligners?
Two of the most important things to avoid with clear aligners are getting them dirty or scratched. It’s important to make sure that you take good care of them. Getting your aligners dirty can cause staining, making them unattractive to wear. If you scratch or damage your aligners, it can compromise the integrity of your treatment.
Can you make your clear aligners treatment go faster?
Trying to speed up the rate of treatment can have dire results for your teeth. This treatment works by slowly shifting the teeth and moving them into place. If you try to push the teeth to move faster, their stability is undermined, and the teeth can become loose. This makes them more likely to fall out in the future.
How do I know when to change out my aligners?
Your aligners need to be changed out every 1-2 weeks. Before starting treatment, we’ll develop a personalized treatment plan for you. We’ll guide you on how often aligners should be changed based on your unique case. You can always call our office if you have questions about any step during your treatment.
Can I eat or drink with my aligners still in?
You should only drink water when you still have the aligners in. Other beverages and food can contribute to staining or damage of the aligners.
Will aligners impact my speech?
You may sound a little off for the first few days as you’re getting used to the aligners. However, once you’re fully adjusted to wearing the aligners, you’ll be able to speak clearly and comfortably.
Schedule a Dental Consultation
Do you want a healthy and more balanced smile? Are you seeking a treatment that can quickly straighten crooked or misaligned teeth? Try clear aligners today. Call Bladenboro Family Dentistry today at 910-469-4592. You may also request a dental appointment with our team online.
Our goal is to ensure your comfort and satisfaction during treatment. Let us know if you have further questions or concerns about your care; we will be happy to help.