Clear aligners straighten teeth using a series of custom made, removable trays instead of metal brackets and wires. Each tray in the series is slightly different from the last, and that small difference is what does the work: it applies gentle, constant pressure that coaxes your teeth to move a fraction of a millimeter closer to their final position.
Treatment starts with a digital scan of your teeth, which is used to map out every stage of movement before you ever wear a single tray. That plan lets your dentist show you roughly what your smile will look like at the end of treatment, and it determines exactly how many aligners you will need and in what order.
You wear each set for about one to two weeks, for twenty to twenty two hours a day, only removing them to eat, drink anything besides water, and brush and floss. As you move through the series, your teeth shift gradually and predictably until they reach the position mapped out in your original plan. Some patients also wear small attachments bonded to a few teeth, which give the aligners extra grip for more complex movements.
Because there are no wires to tighten or brackets to catch food, most patients find clear aligners easier to keep clean and more comfortable day to day than traditional braces. At Oasis Dental in Aurora, we start every case with a full consultation and digital scan so you know exactly what to expect. Call (720) 680-2688 or schedule online to find out if aligners are right for you.