Choosing the right treatment plan for your needs means weighing a few real options, and clear aligners are one of the most popular. If you’ve ever wondered how clear aligners work, what treatment actually feels like day to day, and how they compare to traditional braces, you’re in the right place. Here’s what clear aligner treatment looks like at our Fort Collins and Windsor offices, start to finish.
What Are Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners are a modern alternative to traditional braces. When you get clear aligners, you’ll get a set of custom-made, transparent, removable trays that fit snugly over your teeth to gradually move them into the desired position.
Benefits of Clear Aligners
Invisible Appearance
Clear aligners are nearly invisible, making them a popular choice for adults and teens who want a discreet orthodontic option.
Comfortable
Made from smooth plastic, clear aligners are more comfortable than traditional metal braces.
Removable
You can take them out to eat, drink, brush, and floss, which makes maintaining oral hygiene easier.
Fewer Orthodontist Visits
Clear aligner treatment typically requires fewer check-ups compared to traditional braces.
How Do Clear Aligners Work?
Initial Consultation
Your journey with clear aligners begins with an initial consultation at our Fort Collins orthodontic office. During this visit, Dr. Goings and his team will examine your teeth and discuss your treatment goals. If clear aligners are a good fit for you, we will take digital impressions or scans of your teeth.
Custom Treatment Plan
Using the digital impressions, Dr. Goings creates a customized treatment plan. This plan maps out the precise movements of your teeth and estimates the duration of your treatment. You’ll even get to see a digital preview of your new smile!
Receiving Your Aligners
Once your aligners are ready, you’ll receive a series of trays. Each set of aligners is designed to be worn for approximately one to two weeks. You’ll wear them for 20 to 22 hours a day, only removing them to eat, drink, brush, and floss. Every set of aligners will move your teeth slightly until your teeth reach their final position.
What to Expect During Treatment
Adjusting to Your Aligners
When you first start wearing clear aligners, you might feel some discomfort or pressure. This is normal and a sign that the aligners are working. The discomfort should subside after a few days. Remember, it’s important to wear your aligners as prescribed to achieve the best results.
Monitoring Progress
Throughout your treatment, you’ll have regular check-ups with Dr. Goings to monitor your progress. These visits are typically less frequent than with traditional braces. Our team will ensure that your treatment is on track and make any necessary adjustments.
Maintaining Your Aligners
Keeping your aligners clean matters as much as wearing them. Rinse them every time they come out, brush them gently with water rather than toothpaste, and soak them daily. We’ve covered the full routine in our guide to taking care of your aligners.
Clear Aligners vs. Traditional Braces
Appearance
Clear aligners are nearly invisible, while traditional braces are noticeable due to their metal brackets and wires. If you prefer a discreet option, clear aligners are the way to go.
Comfort
Clear aligners are made from smooth plastic, which is gentler on the gums and cheeks compared to the metal wires and brackets of traditional braces.
Convenience
With clear aligners, you can eat and drink whatever you want since they are removable. Traditional braces come with dietary restrictions to avoid damaging the brackets and wires.
Oral Hygiene
Clear aligners make it easier to maintain good oral hygiene. You can brush and floss normally after removing the aligners. Traditional braces require extra effort to clean around the brackets and wires.
Are Clear Aligners Right for You?
Clear aligners handle a wide range of orthodontic issues, from crowding and gaps to overbites, underbites, and crossbites. Some complex cases still do better with braces. We’ve broken down which cases aligners can and can’t correct in our guide to the bite issues clear aligners can fix.
During your consultation, Dr. Goings will look at your teeth and your bite and tell you honestly whether clear aligners are the right option for you, or whether something else would get you a better result.
Clear Aligner Treatment FAQs
How long does clear aligner treatment take?
It depends on how far your teeth need to move. Each set of trays is worn for roughly one to two weeks, and Dr. Goings estimates your total treatment length during the planning stage, before you start.
Do clear aligners hurt?
Most patients feel pressure or mild soreness for a few days after switching to a new set of trays. That pressure is the aligner doing its job, and it eases as your teeth settle.
How many hours a day do I have to wear my aligners?
Twenty to twenty-two hours a day. Aligners only work while they are on your teeth, so the most common reason treatment runs long is trays that spend too much time out.
Can I eat with clear aligners in?
No, and you shouldn’t want to. Take them out to eat and drink anything other than water, then brush before putting them back in. That is also why aligners come with no food restrictions the way braces do.
Are clear aligners as effective as braces?
For most common alignment and spacing problems, yes. Braces still have an edge on severe rotations and complex bite corrections, which is what the consultation is for.
Smile with Us
Clear aligners are an excellent option for achieving a beautiful, straight smile without the hassle of traditional braces. At Goings Orthodontics, we are dedicated to providing you with the best orthodontic care and helping you achieve your dream smile. If you’re ready to start your journey with clear aligners, schedule a consultation with us today!
