Don’t you like your smile? Are those slightly crooked teeth conditioning you and not making you laugh frankly?
It is never too late! Today it is possible to solve the discomfort of misaligned teeth quickly and without too much sacrifice. How? With invisible sequential aligners.
This is a formidable and innovative orthodontic tool used to align teeth.
It takes the form of a transparent resin dental mask, custom-built for the patient. Worn steadily and replaced regularly as progress is made, it leads to proper and progressive alignment of the teeth, discreetly and steadily. A true orthodontic treatment that, thanks to the special feature of the materials used, also has an aesthetic value: the template is completely transparent and is not noticeable at a conversational distance.
This technique is particularly attractive, especially for adult patients who need to align their teeth but want to avoid the blemishes of traditional orthodontic treatments.
What are the most frequent problems to be solved?
- Diastema: presence of a space between the incisors.
- Dental crowding: the space available in the arch is not sufficient to accommodate all the teeth adequately so they tend to overlap each other.
- Teeth with excessive spacing: the dental arch has excess space thus leading the teeth to spread apart from each other.
- Deep bite: the upper teeth overlap significantly over the lower teeth, covering them.
- Reverse (crossed) bite:The upper teeth, in reverse, do not overlap the lower teeth but vice versa. If this condition affects the lateral teeth, it is called a lateral reverse bite while, if it affects the front teeth, it is called a frontal/anterior reverse bite. Sometimes the reversal may affect a single tooth (often the lateral incisor).
- Open bite: the front teeth do not touch, although the closure of the two arches seems correct.
The advantages of the dental mask
- Tailor-made for the patient.
- Made of transparent plastic and covers the teeth without clutter.
- It is a removable tool; it can be taken off and put back on in a few simple steps, whenever the need arises.
- Does not cause irritation to the mouth and oral cavity.
- It is of no hindrance in speaking.
How does the treatment take place?
From the survey of tooth impressions (best done through the newest intraoral scanners), after a thorough study, undertaken on the dental situation, a computer simulation(rendering) can be obtained that allows a preview of the course of treatment that will lead the patient to the correct alignment.
3D rendering will allow you to see the virtual results before you begin, so you know in advance what your teeth will look like when the treatment is complete.
Thus, the customized sequential aligner system is created, depending on the gradualness of the alignment process: approximately every 3 weeks, the dental template in use exhausts its task and must be replaced by the next one.
At the end of the therapy period, it will be necessary to use a restraining mask (night only) to maintain the final position obtained.
Is it painful to wear clear masks?
This technique does not involve any pain. Some may complain of mild temporary discomfort for a few days at the beginning of each new phase of treatment when a new mask is worn.
This is a normal condition, usually described as a feeling of “pressure or tension” on the teeth. It is a sign that the aligners are working and gradually moving the teeth toward the final result. The discomfort usually disappears within a couple of days.
How long does dental treatment last?
Each treatment with the sequential aligner system has a different duration according to the complexity of the case to be solved. Simple cases can be resolved in 2 to 3 months while other, more complex cases may require as much as 16 to 18 months of treatment.
For treatment to be effective, it takes consistency: the mask should be worn at all times, both day and night, removing it only to eat and to undergo proper daily oral hygiene. In addition, the mask is also washable with warm water and specific self-cleaning tablets.
How much do tooth masks cost?
The final cost of treatment depends on the number of aligners needed to achieve the planned result. Broadly speaking, we can say that a treatment can cost about €200 per month per arch. The orthodontic preliminary study and 3D design (which also includes video rendering) costs € 150.00.
Why align the teeth?
The most common motivation is certainly for cosmetic needs, but proper dental alignment allows for easier and more effective oral hygiene: aligned teeth are easier to clean.
Not only that, perfecting the arrangement of teeth is important to prevent the onset of diseases that with the passage of time, could prove to be even serious. So-called crooked teeth cause insufficient or painful chewing, gum irritation, and premature tooth wear.
With invisible sequential aligners, dental alignment is achieved and proper oral hygiene is maintained.
For information and reservations contact AIRAM Medical Center where experienced orthodontists can advise for the best all patients who want to evaluate this type of alignment technique.
This requires a follow-up visit (at no cost) to assess the health of the teeth and mucous membranes and draw up a treatment plan best suited to the patient’s needs.
