Have you been wanting to fix your misaligned bite for a while now, but aren’t quite sure where to start? Maybe you’ve thought about getting traditional braces, but are hesitant about their obvious appearance. Maybe you’ve considered trying clear aligners for exactly that reason, but have never had the confidence to take the plunge. Here we are, on the verge of summer yet again, and we want to give you the confidence you need to say yes to a straightened smile. Clear aligners are a popular and simple way to go about that. We believe that there are three great reasons to put off waiting and start your clear aligner treatment this summer, and that’s what we’ll discuss today. Starting clear aligners this summer gives you:

1 – A Discreet Alternative to Traditional Braces

            While classic metal braces are firmly fastened to your teeth and easily visible, clear aligners—often simply referred to by their most popular brand, Invisalign—are designed to be sleek and undetectable. The American Association of Orthodontists describes them as “nearly invisible plastic shells that snap over your teeth.” Over time, the gradual pressure from the aligners shifts the teeth into a new position. As the teeth move, the user transitions to a new set of aligners, each closer and closer to a fully corrected smile.

            As you can see, this is a gradual process, and it is not obvious to others. Their subtlety is a large part of what makes clear aligners like Invisalign such a popular option for orthodontic correction, especially with adults. Those out of middle and high school and participating in the workforce may be more hesitant to show up with a traditional set of braces on their teeth, affecting their professional appearance. However, if someone has a misaligned bite, that still requires correction.

            Thus, Invisalign and its fellows have risen to great popularity. If you are entering the summer season and have a calendar full of weddings, big events, and important trips, you too may be hesitant to have a set of clunky metal braces fastened to your smile. However, that misaligned bite isn’t going to correct itself. Clear aligners are the perfect way to get going on the process of fixing your teeth without affecting every wedding photo booth or family vacation photo you take this summer.

2 – Built-in Time to Adapt

            If you’ve been thinking that you need to do something about your misaligned bite anyway, now is the time to jump on that thought. Like any orthodontic treatment, it might take you a bit of time to get used to having the clear aligners in your mouth and establish good oral hygiene rhythms with them. Whether you’re off school or just enjoying a few long weekends off work, summer is the best time to adapt. That process also comes with more appointments at first as your orthodontist makes sure your treatment is on the right track. What better time to accommodate those extra appointments in your schedule than summer, when things are a bit more relaxed?

            The flexibility of clear aligners also works well with the flexibility of summer. If you’re planning to travel, no worries! It’s easy to travel with clear aligners. If you want to enjoy your favorite summer foods like sticky saltwater taffy at the boardwalk or a juicy barbeque, no worries! Because you take your aligners out to eat, there aren’t any restrictions on your diet. There’s no need to worry that having clear aligners will slow your roll.

3 – A Photo-Ready Smile for Next Summer

            Everyone wants to know—when will I be done? That’s a question that can really only be answered by your orthodontist. Each person’s situation is unique. Clear aligner treatment takes, on average, 12-18 months. However, it could be more or less depending on the specifics of a person’s situation. The important thing is, the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll have the smile you’ve been waiting for! If you begin this summer, you could have a corrected smile in time for all the weddings, trips, and events on the calendar for next year.

Cost

            If cost is what’s been causing you to hesitate, consider speaking with your dentist or orthodontist about payment plan options. You can browse this page if you’d like to see a breakdown of what you could potentially expect to pay. The dentist or orthodontist can help you figure out exactly what it’d cost based on the specifics of your situation. Typically, clear aligner treatment can cost anywhere from $1,200 to $8,000. According to the AAO, if your dental insurance plan includes orthodontic coverage, then it will usually consider braces and invisible aligners equally.

Conclusion

            Keep in mind that Invisalign cannot fix every orthodontic issue. Clear aligners are most effective at providing “mild to moderate bite correction,” as the AAO puts it. If your bite is severely misaligned, traditional braces are likely the most dependable route for you. Please feel free to reach out and speak to your dentist about what might be the best option for you. Clear aligners are a great way to solve mild orthodontic problems, and we’d love to speak with you about making them work for you. 

           Wynne Downtown Dental is your home for clear aligner services. Learn more about our state of the art clear aligner services here. If you have questions about clear aligners or braces or would simply like to schedule your next appointment, please contact our office today by calling (870)-238-9190 or schedule online.