Hi, I'm Dr. Amy from Boulder Canyon Dental, and we get a lot of questions about clear aligner therapy to straighten out teeth. Today, I wanted to take some time to go over a lot of those common questions, hopefully getting you a better understanding of what it means to wear aligners.
What is clear aligner therapy?
Clear aligner therapy is similar to traditional braces in that we can realign teeth to be in a really beautiful, full aesthetic position. We can also move teeth out of interference positions which could be causing cracking, wear, chipping, or just general things that you wouldn't be happy with.
How does clear aligner therapy compare to traditional braces?
Clear aligner therapy, in general, is better than braces in terms of dental hygiene. You're able to remove these trays and brush and floss just like normal, instead of having to go around bulky wires and sharp edges. You also don't have the same issue with cutting up inside your cheeks because it is a nice smooth, rounded surface that's comfortable throughout the day.
Is clear aligner therapy really faster than braces?
Clear aligner therapy is not necessarily faster than braces. It can be in certain movements, but in general, the timeline of tooth movement is dependent upon the actual movement we need. The real benefit of clear aligner therapy is that we are able to brush and floss comfortably normally in our normal routine, and you don't have that same irritation on the inside of your lips and cheeks.
Why is clear aligner therapy often considered more comfortable than braces?
Clear aligner therapy is often considered more comfortable than braces because you don't have any sharp edges. You don't have wires that could be cutting up your cheeks and your tongue or the inside of your mouth. It's also more comfortable because you're not limited to the foods you can eat. Once you take those trays out, you're able to eat your normal meals. You don't have to worry about things getting stuck in awkward places and having to spend all that extra time digging out around all of the brackets.
How long does clear aligner therapy take to straighten your teeth?
Clear aligner therapy can take anywhere from four months all the way up to two years, depending on the movements that we need. This is something that here in our office, we're going to let you know before you even start your treatment. That way, you can make your best decision.
What are clear aligner trays and how many am I going to need?
Clear aligner trays are acrylic molds of your teeth that slowly shift the teeth into the desired position over time. Often, whenever we're doing these movements, we have to do some adjustments to your natural teeth, which could be smoothing of the enamel to make teeth that are more triangular a little bit straighter. It could also mean the addition of what we would refer to as buttons, which are essentially little squares that we place on your teeth to get really minor movements if we're rotating, if we're shifting down, depending on your desired goals.
Are buttons tooth colored?
The buttons we place on your teeth are always tooth-colored. Most patients don't even notice they're there whenever they're smiling, but you will be able to feel it with your lip over time. The benefit of these over a traditional braces bracket is that they are nice and smooth, so they're not going to cut up the inside of your lip, and they are completely smooth once the trays are in, as that acrylic rolls over the front of them.
Do I sleep with my clear aligner trays in?
When you're in clear aligner therapy, you're going to wear them 22 hours a day, which includes sleeping in them. We only want to take them out to eat or drink, and you never want to leave them out for more than 30 minutes because we want to make sure we are making these movements happen as efficiently and quickly as possible.
Is there anything that could disqualify me from using clear aligners?
There are some indications that we would not want to use clear aligners on patients. There are some patients that don't qualify for clear aligner therapy, which is why we go through an extensive design process before we make any of our recommendations. Common reasons why you may not qualify for clear aligner therapy would be if you have any kind of periodontal disease. It could also be if you're in a situation where you've already had braces in the past, and now your roots are not long enough to support any more movement. These are all important things to bring up whenever you come in for your consultation appointment.
Can clear aligners correct my crossbite?
Clear aligners can correct many misalignments of teeth, including crossbite, overbite, overjet, and a lot of rotations. There are very few things that clear aligner therapy cannot correct.
Is clear aligner therapy painful?
Clear aligner therapy is not considered a painful process, but you are going to experience discomfort during active movement. I always inform my patients whenever you start your new tray, you're going to have to prepare for about 48 hours of discomfort where you're going to want to avoid very crunchy things like granolas. After those 48 hours, the teeth are going to feel completely back to normal, comfortable, and you're going to be able to resume normal eating habits.
Will I have more cold sensitivity during aligner therapy?
Anytime we're moving teeth, there's always the risk of increased sensitivity to cold just because we're irritating the whole area. So it is something that is more aggressive during the active movement, which would be the first two days of the new tray, and then decreases over time.
Does most dental insurance cover the cost of Invisalign?
If you have orthodontic coverage through your dental insurance, they see Invisalign and any kind of clear aligner therapy exactly the same as traditional braces, so they will kick in and help you with your benefits.
What is the process of aligner therapy at Boulder Canyon Dental?
At Boulder Canyon Dental, the aligner therapy process is very simple. It starts by you coming in for your design diagnostics, where we do any necessary dental X-rays, which would include a full panoramic to see the entirety of your jaw. It also includes digital models, so no sticky, gooey, uncomfortable things in your mouth—just a camera we're going to wave around so we can get a nice 3D model. Two weeks later, you would come back in and see an actual 3D model of how your teeth are going to shift and what that final position will be. You and I will go over if you're happy with that position, if we want to make any changes, and that way we know we're both on the same page before you decide to move forward. That visit is also where you get to know exactly where your buttons are going to be placed, exactly how much time you're going to be dedicated to this movement, and how much it's going to cost you.
If you're interested in clear aligner therapy or if you want to know more, please give us a call here at (970) 514-0662. We're here to help.
Are Customizable, Clear Aligners Better Than Invisalign®?
SureSmile® Clear Aligners cost up to 30% LESS Than Invisalign®!
Yes. SureSmile® Customizable Clear Aligners offer the best clear aligner cost in Boulder. Boulder Canyon Dental is fully equipped to provide the most affordable orthodontic care with the best clear aligners and service in Boulder, CO. From the moment you enter our office for your SureSmile® clear aligners consultation, you'll understand why clear aligners are the most affordable solution for orthodontic care. You'll experience the difference first-hand, as Dr. Amy Smith DDS guides you through an assessment of the innermost workings of your teeth. Dr. Smith is certified in Invisalign®, and she offers SureSmile®. You'll benefit from the advanced technology of the 3D Cone-beam computed tomography system (CBCT), which allows us to visualize where the teeth are sitting in the bone for the safest possible orthodontic movement. Along with a digital CEREC® scan, and overlaid on a radiographic model, Dr. Smith can show you exactly what is happening inside your mouth, and help you understand the orthodontic treatment plan that is best for straightening your teeth and giving you a wonderful smile.
If your orthodontic evaluation shows any of the following, a clear aligners consultation is right for you:
- Crowding in your teeth
- Overbite and Underbites
- Crossbites
- Smaller Gaps in your teeth
- Open bites
How Much Do Clear Aligners Cost?
The cost of clear aligners in Boulder, CO averages $7,500, but can cost more or less depending on the amount of time you need to wear your clear aligner trays. This is because the average Invisalign® treatment time is 12-18 months and requires return trips to your dentist every six weeks, which can be an additional cost. Conversely, SureSmile® Clear Aligner trays can cost 30% less than Invisalign®! The team at Boulder Canyon Dental has extensive training and experience to guide your clear aligner treatment plan with in-house technology and equipment that cuts down overall costs.
Why Choose Boulder Canyon Dental Clear Aligners?
At Boulder Canyon Dental, Dr. Amy Smith DDS is a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, has extensive training in orthodontics, as well as Orofacial Pain, and has extensive and advanced training in clear aligners, even designing, fabricating and 3-D printing your clear aligners in-house. Following your consultation, if are right for SureSmile® clear aligners, our dentists perform every aspect of the clear aligner procedure at our Boulder office, which saves you money and time because most Boulder dentists have to use a third-party to have their clear aligner trays manufactured, which is partly why Invisalign® costs often amount to $7,500 or more. Other dentists simply do not have the technology, equipment or expertise that our Boulder dentist office employs to provide clear aligners at a fraction of the cost of Invisalign®. Our team has extensive training and experience to guide your clear aligner treatment plan from consultation to implementation and completion. In short, you can get your entire SureSmile® clear aligners procedure done at the lowest cost in Boulder, CO.
With the advantages of in-house cutting edge technology like SureSmile® software and 3D printing of your clear aligner trays, our doctors can control the thickness of the clear material to make stabilization of your orthodontic treatment more predictable, which also means you may not have to wear your clear trays for the length of time required by a typical orthodontic treatment. In fact, we customize our SureSmile® clear aligners specifically for your mouth, trimming the clear aligner trays to incorporate your gum tissue so that the force on your teeth is more stable and consistent. This gives you and our dentist complete control from start to finish with the minimal cost, and maximum comfort and predictability for the straightening of your teeth in record time. College students, working professionals, and teenagers love SureSmile® clear aligners because they are simply better than Invisalign® for cost, comfort, and efficiency.
If you're ready for your consultation call (970) 514-0662.
Why Straighten Teeth With Clear Aligners?
Invisible clear aligners provide the convenience of straightening your teeth without unsightly metal braces. Additionally, whereas the cost of Invisalign® can be prohibitive, SureSmile® clear aligners are significantly more affordable and offer a superior experience because they have been customized to your mouth at our dentist office. This also allows us to replace missing or lost clear aligner trays without delaying your treatment. There's minimal time for additional clear aligner trays or replacements because we're able to design, create, and service the clear aligners directly at Boulder Canyon Dental. 80% of all misaligned teeth can be treated effectively with clear aligner therapy. We're so confident in SureSmile® clear aligners that we no longer do braces, though we'll happily refer you to an orthodontist if you need them. We also have a Retainer For Life program, so if something happens to the retainers, we replace them at no cost, per the terms of your ortho agreement.
Why Use SureSmile® Clear Aligners Instead of Invisalign®?
Besides being a more affordable solution than Invisalign®, SureSmile® clear aligners are considered an orthodontic treatment, and this means you can receive insurance compensation covering $1000 to $1500 of clear aligners' cost. Which means your overall costs for clear aligner therapy is dramatically lower than Invisalign®. But more importantly, even for more complex orthodontic treatments, SureSmile® is an excellent choice because of the ability to customize each clear aligner treatment tray. The customization process allows your dentist to straighten your teeth in a shorter period of time than Invisalign®, as well as contouring your clear aligner trays for a more comfortable and far less painful process than Invisalign® treatment. This also means fewer trips to the dentist during your clear aligner therapy because your trays are already crafted specifically for your mouth, which means you'll require far fewer visits to make adjustments.
Does SureSmile® Clear Aligners Work Just Like Invisalign®?
Yes! SureSmile® clear aligners are just like Invisalign®, only better, and include the same main components:
- Clear Aligners Consultation
- 3D Scan and Treatment Plan
- Your Every Day Clear Aligner Trays
Prior to your consultation, we bring you in for a records appointment, where we take the 3D scan, ortho photo series, and ensure we have proper x-rays. That way, we'll have all of your personalized data available to develop a customized clear aligner treatment plan before your second appointment, where you'll receive an outline detailing your timeline, number of trays, attachments, cost, and anything else that Dr. Amy Smith deems necessary for your orthodontic treatment. These invisible trays are strong enough to move your teeth into alignment without too much discomfort, and you'll switch out your trays at designated points-in-time, as your orthodontic treatment plan progresses. During your orthodontic care, you'll be wearing your clear aligners for at least 22 hours every day for the most stable movement and best results, taking them out only for meals and to clean them.
*For new patients: before starting any orthodontic therapy we will need a full set of diagnostic x-rays as well as either a comprehensive dental exam or a letter from your current dental provider stating that you have no outstanding treatment.