ClearCorrect – Los Angeles, CA
Straighten Your Teeth the Metal-Free Way
Are you unhappy with your smile because your teeth aren’t straight? If so, there’s good news: metal brackets and wires are no longer the only orthodontic treatment available! At Rancho Park Dental Group, we can align your teeth and your bite discreetly and comfortably with ClearCorrect. If you want to learn how the aligners work, the benefits, and more, then keep reading or schedule an appointment with us.
Why Choose Rancho Park Dental Group for ClearCorrect?
- Focus on Fantastic Dental Quality
- Easy-to-Understand Treatment Plans
- Convenient Appointment Times
How ClearCorrect Works
Instead of moving your teeth into their properly aligned positions with brackets and wires, ClearCorrect applies a gentle pressure with a series of custom-made trays. Each set will move your teeth incrementally closer to where they should be, and the following one will pick up from there. This process will repeat until your teeth are perfectly aligned.
Indications for ClearCorrect
Patients with all sorts of orthodontic problems have used ClearCorrect, including crowded teeth, spaced-out teeth, and overbites. Here’s a little more information on each:
Crowded Teeth
If there isn’t enough space in your mouth, your teeth will overlap, negatively impacting the look, health, and function of your smile. The good news is that the aligners can discreetly and gently move your teeth from where they are now to where they should be.
Gaps Between Teeth
Spaced-out teeth are another common orthodontic problem that can result in everything from low self-esteem to a high risk of gum disease. That’s why patients are encouraged to see if they are a candidate for ClearCorrect – the look and health of your smile can benefit from it!
Bite Alignment
If your upper and lower teeth don’t come together evenly, you can experience premature wear, chronic jaw pain, TMJ dysfunction, and several other problems. With the help of other orthodontic accessories, like rubber bands, ClearCorrect can correct overbites, crossbites, and the like.
The Benefits of ClearCorrect
A few of the many reasons patients love ClearCorrect include:
- There are fewer check-in visits
- No complicated oral hygiene regimens
- The average treatment timeline is shorter
- The trays are removable
- There aren’t any metal brackets or wires
Understanding the Cost of ClearCorrect
You might be surprised to hear that there isn’t a flat fee for ClearCorrect. The reason why is that every treatment plan is customized depending on factors like how complex the patient’s case is. Rest assured, we will provide you with an estimate of the cost at your consultation. Not only that, but we will go over the financial solutions we offer to make the price as affordable as possible as well! In the meantime, you can read on to learn more on the topic.
Factors That Affect the Cost of ClearCorrect
As we mentioned above, the cost of ClearCorrect is dependent on several factors. A few of those include:
- If any preliminary treatments are needed
- The severity of the patient’s case
- How many aligners need to be made
- If other orthodontic accessories are needed
- The type of retainer needed for the retainment phase
At your consultation, we will provide you with an estimate of the cost with all of this information in mind. We will also answer any questions you have and review the financial solutions available so the cost isn’t the only thing standing between you and your best smile.
Are Mail-In Aligners Cheaper?
If you’ve seen commercials on TV or ads on social media for mail-in aligners, then you know that their marketing centers mainly around one thing: how cheap they are. That’s true: they are cheaper than ClearCorrect. Of course, they aren’t better. To cut costs, they usually bypass the initial exam, rely on DIY impressions, and don’t have a licensed dental professional overseeing the treatment plans. So, it’s not surprising that many patients end up experiencing problems, like worsened misalignment. In short, the upfront price of mail-in alternatives may be cheaper, but they certainly aren’t better.
Does Dental Insurance Cover ClearCorrect?
Some dental insurance providers do cover a portion of the cost of clear aligner treatment. So, if you haven’t already, take a look at your plan to see if you have any available benefits. Our Los Angeles dental team is happy to be in-network with several providers as well, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of California, Delta Dental, Dental Benefits Providers, and United Concordia. That means that we can help you understand your out-of-pocket expenses, file the paperwork for you, and answer any questions you have along the way!
How to Make ClearCorrect Affordable
Don’t have dental insurance? That’s okay – we have two other options. The first is CareCredit flexible financing, which allows you to space out the cost of your clear aligner treatment into smaller, monthly chunks that work with your budget. The second is our periodic special offers, like getting ClearCorrect aligners for as low as $249/month! If you are interested in learning more about the financial solutions we offer outside of dental insurance, then take the next step: schedule a consultation.
Living with ClearCorrect Aligners
If you had traditional braces in the past, then you may not be thrilled over the idea of undergoing orthodontic treatment again. However, life with ClearCorrect is vastly different; there aren’t any dietary restrictions, it’s easy to brush and floss, and there are fewer check-in visits. If you want to take a deeper look at life with clear aligners, read on!
Wearing Your Trays
Basically, there is one rule: you need to wear your aligners for a minimum of 20 hours a day. This is essential because – if you consistently miss the mark – it’s only a matter of time until you’ll fall off-track with your treatment plan. So, make sure you only take your aligners off when absolutely necessary and that you multi-task where you can, like soaking them in a cleaning solution while you eat dinner.
Cleaning Your Aligners
Speaking of cleaning solutions… soaking your aligners for 15 minutes each day can help keep them stain and odor-free. It’s also important that you get in the habit of rinsing them with cool water each time you take them off and that you use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean them before putting them back on.
Tip: You can ask us to give your aligners a deeper clean at your check-in visits too!
Eating & Drinking
With traditional braces, everything from hard pretzels to raw almonds and whole apples is off the table since they can lead to a serious orthodontic emergency. The same dietary restrictions aren’t in place with ClearCorrect because the aligners are removable. So, as long as you take them off and store them properly, you can maintain your usual diet throughout your teeth-straightening journey.
Losing a Tray
If you lose one of your aligners, do your best not to panic. Instead, try to remember the last place you had them and retrace your steps from there. If you can’t find them, that’s okay – call us right away so we can get to work determining what to do next. Oftentimes, it’s moving onto the next set of aligners in the series, but sometimes we ask patients to wear their previous ones while a replacement is made.
Attending Progress Visits
Although there aren’t monthly adjustment appointments with clear aligners, you do need to come to our office throughout your teeth-straightening journey for progress visits. Basically, we need to make sure your teeth are moving as anticipated and, if they aren’t, that the necessary changes are made to your treatment plan to get you back on-track.
ClearCorrect FAQs
Can You Eat with ClearCorrect Trays In?
Sadly enough, you can’t eat while wearing your ClearCorrect trays. Doing so would damage the aligners, causing them to suffer cracks and stains. You can only consume water while the trays are in your mouth.
The bright side is that this restriction is a minor one. Since ClearCorrect trays are removable, you can simply take them out before you have a meal. You’ll then be free to have your favorite foods and drinks without disrupting your treatment. (Of course, you must still store the trays in a safe place while you eat.)
How Do I Clean My ClearCorrect Trays?
Like natural teeth, ClearCorrect trays need daily cleaning to work well. Neglecting them could lead to delays in your treatment progress. That said, keeping the aligners clean isn’t a hard task.
Most patients can safely clean their trays with a soft-bristled toothbrush. To do so, brush the aligners gently at least twice daily – once in the morning and once at night. You should also rinse the trays whenever you remove them, as debris can easily build up on their plastic surfaces. (Just ensure you don’t use hot water; it’ll permanently warp the aligner material.)
Does ClearCorrect Hurt?
ClearCorrect is one of the comfiest orthodontic options you can get. Since it uses a smooth plastic design, the treatment involves little to no pain for patients. You won’t have to deal with brackets or wires poking around in your mouth.
The only thing to note is that ClearCorrect has a brief adjustment period. This phase could make your mouth slightly sore or achy when you start treatment. Even so, any discomfort you feel will be temporary and fade quickly; it won’t stick around. You can also manage your adjustment with over-the-counter painkillers, cold compresses, and so on.
How Long Will I Need to Wear My Aligners Per Day?
While ClearCorrect trays are removable, that doesn’t mean you can pick and choose when to wear them. Patients must keep the aligners on their teeth for 20-22 hours a day, only taking them off for meals or teeth cleaning. You’ll otherwise face delays that greatly extend your treatment’s duration.
If you need help reaching your ClearCorrect wear time, there are tips and tricks you can use. Many patients benefit from tracking the amount of time they wear their trays. Given that fact, you may want to consider using specialized apps or portable timers.