Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are an innovative orthodontic treatment that straightens crooked teeth and corrects misaligned bites. Instead of using metal wires and brackets of traditional braces, we use clear, plastic aligners to realign your teeth and perfect your bite. Clear aligners can correct many of the issues traditional braces can, from twisted teeth and overcrowding to gaps.
How Do Clear Aligners Work?
Dr. McDonald uses leading-edge technology to design your clear aligner treatment. We then send the digital oral scans of your mouth to our trusted lab partners, where a specialist fabricates your custom clear aligner trays.
When your trays are complete, you're ready to begin your treatment. We recommend wearing your clear aligners throughout the day and at night, only removing them to eat, brush, and floss. Because clear aligners are virtually invisible, most people will never even know you're wearing them!
Treatment times vary based on each patient's needs, but it can take 12 to 18 months on average.
Who Can Wear Clear Aligners?
Adults and teenagers commonly opt for clear aligners. If you have any of the following concerns, you may be a candidate for clear aligners:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Open bite
- Crossbite
- Crooked teeth
- Twisted teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Protruding teeth
- Gaps or uneven spacing between teeth
For patients with more complex bite problems, we may recommend traditional metal braces to move your jaw and teeth into place.
Why Choose Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners have several benefits:
- Clear aligners don't require as many maintenance appointments as traditional braces. With clear aligners, you switch to the next set of trays until treatment is complete. You only need to see your dentist every few months to check your progress.
- Clear aligners make oral hygiene and teeth whitening much easier. Traditional braces can permanently mark your teeth, and plaque can build up around the brackets, leading to enamel damage.
- Unlike metal braces, clear aligners allow you to enjoy your favorite meals without restrictions.
- Metal braces can be uncomfortable and poke or irritate your mouth's soft tissues, while clear aligners are smooth plastic.
Caring for Clear Aligners
Practicing good oral hygiene is easy during clear aligner treatment. You can remove the aligners to brush and floss your teeth just as you always have. Also, make sure you brush and rinse your aligners with lukewarm water (not hot!), or you can sanitize them using a clear aligner cleaning kit. Properly cleaning and storing your clear aligners will keep them free from bacteria and in good condition.
We advise against using hot water to clean your aligners or drinking hot liquids while wearing aligners because the heat will warp the plastic. If your aligners crack or break, please get in touch with our dental office so we can get you another set. Using a cracked, warped, or damaged aligner can impede your progress and fail to move your teeth correctly.
What If I Can't Wear Clear Aligners? 
Can't wear clear aligners? Dr. Ben McDonald and our team at Smile Designs of Southern Ohio also offer traditional braces! According to Colgate, traditional braces are highly reliable and effective at treating extreme overcrowding and alignment problems. With advancements in dental technology, traditional braces are more comfortable and sleek than ever before.
Clear Aligners in West Union, OH
If you have crooked or crowded teeth, please contact Dr. McDonald today to schedule your consultation for clear aligners. We can help you get the dream smile you've always wanted!