What Issues Can Clear Aligners Solve?

Braces are one of the most unpopular dentistry treatments—and with reason. Besides being uncomfortable for your gums and making it harder to maintain oral hygiene, they come with a series of dietary restrictions that make many patients look the other way and search for clear aligners near you instead.

Crowded, crooked, or even spaces between teeth are orthodontic issues that cause pain when eating, increased chances of tooth decay, and aesthetic concerns among many patients. To finally take your dental health in your hands with clear aligners, here’s a guide on how this treatment works—and what kinds of orthodontic issues it can solve.

What Are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are a brand of invisible, plastic traits used in orthodontic treatment. They’re made out of a flexible thermoplastic material that’s nearly unnoticeable and fits tightly over your teeth.

Each set of aligners is custom-designed to place pressure on your teeth. By exchanging them over time, you can urge teeth to move slowly, solving a variety of orthodontic issues, from crowding and spacing issues to mild and moderate bite problems.

Here are all the dental issues it can help treat:

Overbite

An overbite is one of the most common dental problems people face. It happens when the teeth on the top row are too separated from the bottom row, leaving an open gap when you close your mouth.  

This can affect your smile but also cause you trouble eating. Moreover, a severe overbite can cause you pain.

According to research, mild to moderate overbites can be effectively corrected with clear aligners. If the case is too severe, though, better results may be achieved with traditional braces.

Underbite

When your bottom row of teeth sits farther forward than your top row, you have an underbite, which is the opposite of an overbite.

Similar to an overbite, your teeth will not meet if you close your mouth. You may have trouble speaking and eating, have a clicking jaw, and experience associated pain such as headaches or earaches.

Mild to severe underbites can be resolved with clear aligners, but more severe ones—particularly skeletal ones brought on by the jaw's shape—may require surgery.

Crossbite

If you have an underbite on some teeth and an overbite on others, you are said to have a crossbite. Crossbites are typically a dental issue brought on by a baby's thumb-sucking habits.

Crossbites can typically be fixed with clear aligners. They can be used to move individual teeth, encouraging some to move backward and assisting others in moving forward. This will allow you to achieve a straight line.

A severe crossbite, on the other hand, might be more difficult to correct and may require braces or surgery.

Crowded Teeth

When a person's jaw is too small for the amount of teeth they should have, dental overcrowding happens. Oftentimes, this needs to be fixed with tooth extractions in combination with aligners.

Even after extractions, adult teeth won’t accommodate on their own, so you can get clear aligners to help move these teeth and fix your smile.

Excessive Gaps

While it can affect your dental health, excessive gaps between teeth might also affect your confidence.

If you’re unhappy with them, clear aligners can usually help by moving specific teeth to their right place to close any visible gaps.

Find Clear Aligners Near Me

Clear aligners are a fantastic option for those who wish to have a straighter smile without having to deal with the hassle of braces. They are easy to wear and discreet, and you can take them off to eat and drink.

If you want to learn more about this treatment and see if it can be used for your specific condition, contact Savannah Dental!