Do you have crooked teeth but don’t want metal braces? ClearCorrect is a modern alternative to traditional metal braces that uses clear aligners to straighten teeth. These aligners are a non-invasive, comfortable option for patients with mild to moderate orthodontic issues.
At Gunbarrel Dental Center, we offer clear braces for adults in Boulder, CO. ClearCorrect is a cosmetic dentistry treatment that can help patients create a healthier and straighter smile.
Why Straighten Crooked Teeth?
Patients come to us mainly wanting to straighten crooked teeth because of their appearance. A bad smile makes you hesitant to show it off, causing anxiety in social situations. The more you smile and feel comfortable with it, your overall mood will improve. But straightening crooked teeth doesn’t just have cosmetic and psychological benefits. It improves your oral health as well.
To start, crooked teeth are harder to clean than straight teeth. When teeth are crooked, they come together at odd angles and are often cramped and crowded. Brushing doesn’t reach all of the places it needs to, and you may not be able to get floss between teeth. Even our specialized dental tools may not be able to clean your teeth properly. You can do everything right with your oral healthcare but still be at high risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
Our teeth are designed so that when our bite comes together, the pressure evenly distributes throughout our smiles. But when our teeth are crooked, certain teeth take on more pressure than others. These teeth wear down prematurely and are more likely to crack, chip, or break, requiring restorative dental treatments to fix them. They’re also more likely to be sensitive and cause pain and discomfort when you eat or drink certain things.
An uneven bite is one of the top causes of TMJ disorders. When the bite doesn’t come together properly, the jaw doesn’t track properly, and the jaw joint starts to break down. You may experience popping and clicking noises, pain, soreness throughout your jaw and face, and jaw joint dysfunction. It can get stuck at certain points, or you may not be able to fully close or open your mouth properly.
Benefits of Clear Braces
ClearCorrect comes with many benefits over more traditional methods of straightening crooked teeth. Clear braces are usually the top choice for patients seeking treatment because of their aesthetic value. ClearCorrect uses clear plastic aligners instead of metal brackets and wires. They’re virtually invisible on your teeth if you care for them properly. You don’t have to be self-conscious of the metal braces in professional and social situations.
ClearCorrect aligners are made with smooth plastic that’s comfortable to wear. It minimizes your risk of sores and irritation to the soft tissues in your mouth. Metal brackets and wires can hurt the gums and rub against the inside of your lips and cheeks. With braces, you usually have to get dental wax to put on brackets and areas where the metal rubs against the soft tissue.
One of the biggest benefits of clear aligners is that they’re removable. Though you must wear them for 20-22 hours daily, you can take them out to eat and perform your oral healthcare routine. You don’t have to remove any foods from your diet because they may break a wire or get stuck in your brackets. And you don’t have to learn new techniques to ensure you’re brushing your teeth correctly with new hardware. You just brush and floss like normal.
You don’t have to visit the office as often, either. Metal braces work because an orthodontist tightens the wires each month to shift your teeth. You change your aligners every two weeks to shift your teeth with ClearCorrect. Each set has a slightly different alignment. Typically, treatment with clear braces is faster and less expensive than that with braces.
Treatment with Clear Braces in Boulder, CO
ClearCorrect uses a series of clear, custom-made aligners to straighten the smile gradually. To create the aligners, Dr. Barone takes digital images to create a 3-D smile model. The computer software then generates models of the progression of the teeth over time.
Once the aligners are complete, Dr. Barone will provide patients with their first set. Patients will replace their aligners with a subsequent pair every two weeks until they complete treatment.
Patients only need to remove their aligners to brush, floss, and eat. It is important to keep the aligners clean. After every meal, patients should brush and rinse their aligners. Cleaning the aligners at least once daily by soaking them in a denture cleaner or brushing them will keep the trays clear. This hygiene routine also removes bacteria and plaque that can cause problems like gum disease and tooth decay.
Clear Braces FAQs
Do you want to know more about clear braces? Read answers to these frequently asked questions:
Am I a candidate for ClearCorrect?
Patients with mild or moderate orthodontic problems benefit from ClearCorrect. We also recommend ClearCorrect for adults with healthy teeth and gums. ClearCorrect is best for patients who require less complicated tooth movements. Patients with severe overcrowding, underbite, overbite, or crossbite will benefit from metal braces.
Do I need to wear ClearCorrect aligners during sleep?
Patients must wear their aligners for the most effective treatment for 20 to 22 hours daily, which means they will have to wear their aligners during sleep. Wearing the aligners for the allotted time will help treatment progress promptly.
Are clear braces painful?
Although it may take a day or two for patients to get used to each new pair of aligners, patients should not feel pain. While they will not feel pain, they may feel some soreness. Patients should never use force to put their aligners on their teeth. We will show patients how to push the trays gently in their mouths with their fingertips.
Straighten Your Smile Today
Do you want to try ClearCorrect clear braces? Request a dental appointment with Dr. Barone on our website. You can also call Gunbarrel Dental Center for care today at 720-881-0614. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about orthodontic treatment, and we can help.