More and more adults are seeking orthodontic treatment to help create the smile they have always dreamed of. Fortunately, we are keeping our teeth our entire life in today’s dental world, and many adults want them to look their best.
Spectacular Smiles, Superior Customer Service: Today’s Orthodontics
Bill M. Dischinger, DMD
Key Takeaways
- Adults are increasingly seeking orthodontic treatment not just for aesthetics, but also to correct bite issues that can cause cracking, wear, and gum recession.
- Clear aligner technology, especially systems like Spark Clear Aligners, has advanced to the point where it can treat cases as effectively as traditional braces.
- Clear aligners offer significant benefits, including the use of even lower forces than Damon braces, better hygiene, increased comfort, and fewer appointments.
- Aligners are an excellent option for patients with metal allergies, as they provide a healthy, sustainable treatment alternative to traditional metal braces.
Not only is a smile important for adults, but the bite is even more important. Now that we are not losing our teeth to decay and disease, they must be protected from harm. If a bite is off, the teeth may eventually crack, wear down or notch at the gumline along with risking gum recession.
Due to all these reasons, more and more adults are seeking orthodontic treatment. One of the first concerns is if they will have a mouth full of metal? The answer is no!
The Evolution of Clear Aligner Technology
There are cosmetic or clear options available. Possibly the most popular treatment (at least the most asked about) is clear aligners. While I took the first clear aligner Training course offered in the northwest back in 1999, very few of the early cases I treated with it turned out right. Fast forward to today and it’s much different.
In 2016, many of clear aligners patents expired, and other companies began to develop their own Clear Aligner systems. Just like any technology, when you get competition and other manufactures, you have innovation and improvements.
Clear Aligners are now a very good product, and in my opinion, and according to some really good data, the best on the market right now is the Spark Clear Aligner System from Ormco. With this product, I can now treat everything with Spark Clear Aligners equally well as braces. The beauty of it is that the low forces we have talked about earlier? We can deliver even lower forces with Spark Clear Aligners than the Damon Braces.
Key Advantages of Clear Aligners
Another advantage of Clear Aligners is for patients with metal allergies. Most metal braces and wires contain nickel, which ironically, is the most common metal allergy. For patients with nickel allergies, Aligners have provided us with an avenue to treat them in a healthy, sustainable way.
The final advantage. Hygiene. Not having to clean around the braces has lead to a much cleaner, healthier orthodontic experience.
With the advancement of Clear Aligners, particularly the Spark Clear Aligner System, I know would prefer to treat patients with this technique rather than braces. It is more comfortable, you the patient don’t need to have as many appointments during treatment, and as mentioned, the hygiene is so much better.
At this point, we allow our patients to decide what they feel is the best fit for them for their treatment. We will get equal results with either method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are clear aligners as effective as traditional braces?
A: Yes. With modern advancements, particularly with systems like Spark Clear Aligners, orthodontists can now treat a full range of cases just as effectively with aligners as they can with braces. The results achieved can be equal with either method.
Q: What are the main benefits of choosing clear aligners over braces?
A: Clear aligners offer several key advantages. They are more comfortable, require fewer appointments, make oral hygiene much easier since they are removable, and are a great alternative for patients with metal allergies. They also use extremely light forces to move teeth.