Many people wanting to straighten their smiles hope to avoid the frustration and hassle of traditional braces. The bulky brackets can detract from your appearance and are notorious for damaging the tender tissues inside your mouth.
Fortunately, your dentist can more comfortably reposition your grin with ClearCorrect. Instead of sharp metal, this alternative orthodontic treatment utilizes transparent plastic aligners that fit snuggly over your teeth to shift them over a designated period. However, there are a few things you should know before proceeding. Read on to learn about 3 of them!
Fact #1: You Might Feel Discomfort Sometimes
Plenty of teens and adults opt for ClearCorrect over traditional braces because the smooth material won’t abrade your lips, gums, or mouth insides. That said, any treatment that exerts enough pressure over your teeth to shift them has the potential to cause aches.
It’s normal to feel mild to moderate discomfort when you first start wearing your clear aligners. The good news is that it usually only lasts a few days and then naturally begins to fade as your teeth adjust. Then, it might hurt again for a little while when you switch to a new set of trays. Taking over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen is usually safe to ease the ache until it dissipates on its own.
Fact #2: There May Be Gaps Initially
Your ClearCorrect trays are custom-fitted to click over your teeth and gradually push them to their ideal placements. You must wear these aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily to prevent your pearly whites from reverting to their previous places. Then, after a week or two, you’ll be given a new set to wear to account for the ongoing movement of your teeth.
Some people spot bubbles between their pearly whites and the clear plastic when the trays are new and worry that they don’t fit correctly. However, these gaps are intentional, and your teeth will eventually close them as they shift into alignment. Once they do, you’ll likely be directed to switch to the next trays in your series.
Fact #3: You Might Develop a Temporary Lisp
Unlike standard orthodontics, your ClearCorrect is removable, so most patients consider it less invasive. Although it doesn’t impact your diet, it might result in slight changes to your speech patterns. It can take a few weeks for your tongue and the other supporting muscles in your mouth to adjust to the presence of your aligners, and you might develop a mild lisp.
Thankfully, it’s a temporary effect and tends to fade after a few days to a couple of weeks. You can ease this transition by practicing difficult words or reading aloud at home, where you feel free to make mistakes without judgment.
Understanding what to expect from ClearCorrect can help you make an informed decision for a straighter smile!
About the Practice
Patients at Rancho Park Dental Group benefit from two dentists with decades of combined experience. Dr. Sassounian and Dr. Silvera work together to provide a full array of top-quality services at one convenient location to people of all ages, including ClearCorrect aligners. They take the time to learn about your unique concerns and goals and devise individualized strategies to address them. Then, they utilize state-of-the-art equipment to enhance your comfort while delivering accurate results intended to last. You can request a cosmetic consultation on the website or call (310) 575-0886.