Home » It’s Time for Straight Talk About Clear Aligners and How They Are a Great Alternative to Conventional Braces in Ontario, California

It’s Time for Straight Talk About Clear Aligners and How They Are a Great Alternative to Conventional Braces in Ontario, California

Older and younger patients alike are straightening their teeth comfortably and discreetly with Invisalign clear braces at Ontario Dental Center in Ontario, California, the office of Dr. Mukesh Patel. Dr. Patel loves offering this cutting-edge treatment to patients looking for a way to correct various alignment issues without using conventional metal braces, which can be bulky and uncomfortable when worn.

Straight Talk About Invisalign

At Ontario Dental Center, we offer Invisalign clear braces. However, this treatment is not technically a braces system, but it effectively corrects misalignment and bite issues. Instead of braces, Invisalign utilizes a series of clear plastic aligners in conjunction with various oral appliances. These aligners are comfortable and can be removed while gently and gradually guiding teeth into their proper positions. You just have to commit to wearing them 20 to 22 hours a day for expected results. 

Patients who elect traditional braces must endure brackets and wires that are physically fixed to their teeth. You must have braces constantly adjusted regularly, meaning many more orthodontic appointments than what is required with Invisalign. With Invisalign, you do not have to concern yourself with wires that need to be constantly tightened or any other metal hardware. All of this metal can make daily tasks such as eating or brushing your teeth a real chore. With Invisalign, you can remove your aligners when it is time to eat or when you need to brush your teeth, but make sure to wear them as directed by Dr. Patel to make sure you see the gradual transformation of your smile that you desire.

What to expect

6 Months Smile – Cosmetic Braces
Cosmetic Braces Before & After Results
Before
After

If you are interested in Invisalign clear aligners, you will first need to set up a consultation with Dr. Patel to determine if you are a good candidate. While Invisalign is great for minor to moderate alignment issues, more serious issues may require traditional orthodontics, such as braces. If Dr. Patel concludes that Invisalign clear aligners are a good fit for your situation (as it has been for more than 8 million patients worldwide), the scans and data he has collected about your mouth will be fed into a state-of-the-art computer system that will generate a fully three-dimensional model of your mouth. This virtual model of your mouth can then be pulled up using a sophisticated software package developed by Align Technology, which can provide a timeline and visual representation of where your teeth will end up following treatment. It is an excellent way for Dr. Patel to show you the results before you decide to pay for this treatment. Think of it as a “try before you buy,” which allows you to see your future smile even before starting treatment.

This software is also used to guide the fabrication of each aligner. Invisalign aligners are crafted from smooth, transparent, BPA-free plastic. Each aligner within your set will be worn at a different stage of your treatment, so you must wear them correctly to get results. You will switch from aligner to aligner at around 2-week intervals. The number of aligners you will have in total will vary depending on your personal needs, meaning that those with more severe needs will have a greater number of trays than those with minor issues.

As mentioned previously, if you desire expected results, you must wear your aligner for about 22 hours daily. You can remove your aligner when it is time to eat, for you to perform your oral hygiene regimen, and if you need to rinse or clean the aligners. Other than that, you really should keep them on at all times. Failure to do so could negatively impact your treatment, create delays in how long it will take, and (in severe circumstances) even result in a regression of your treatment. Dr. Patel checks that treatment is progressing as it should and provides additional aligners as needed during visits, scheduled around every six weeks or so.

An Experience Worth Smiling About

Our patients appreciate that Invisalign is a comfortable yet effective method for straightening teeth that does not require wires and brackets to be affixed to their teeth. 

Best of all, Invisalign is incredibly discreet and almost invisible to others! To schedule an appointment with Dr. Patel to learn more about Invisalign, please call (909) 414-3535 today.