When it comes to teeth straightening treatments, there are a lot of options out there nowadays. From traditional braces to various name-brand and generic clear aligner solutions, even some that claim to be able to straighten your teeth without visits to the dentist, you may find it difficult to choose the treatment that’s right for you. In this post, we’ll explain some of the differences.
Guided Clear Aligner Treatment vs Mail Order Aligner Treatment
Before discussing the benefits of dental supervision, it’s essential to understand the nature of mail-order aligners. Marketed as a DIY solution, these aligners promise straighter teeth without the hassle and cost associated with regular in-person dental visits. Typically, the process involves receiving an impression kit, crafting molds at home, and sending them back to the company for aligner production. While mail-order aligners might seem appealing at first glance, this approach is prone to less-than-ideal outcomes and increased risks of oral health complications.
Clear aligners can be a wonderful tool when it comes to moving teeth, however clear aligners alone can be very limited in what they are capable of doing. When you get clear aligner treatment in person with an orthodontist, there are some auxiliaries used to help the clear aligners in moving the teeth. One important auxiliary is tooth colored bumps called “attachments”. Attachments are placed on certain teeth to help the plastic of the aligner move the teeth more effectively. Another auxiliary are buttons that can be used to connect elastics to help fix bite issues. IPR, or interproximal reduction, is a procedure sometimes performed to help make room when there is significant crowding. There are many types of tooth movements that are physically impossible to achieve without the help of these auxiliaries. Undergoing mail order clear aligner treatment without these auxiliaries can lead to less than ideal results and bite issues that likely didn’t exist before starting treatment.
When straightening teeth with clear aligners, precision is extremely important and there are obvious drawbacks to guiding your own treatment, even if you’re checking in with a dental professional remotely. Clear aligners help patients achieve straighter smiles by moving individual teeth fractions of a millimeter at a time until your entire smile is beautiful and straight. In order for a treatment plan to work effectively and to ensure treatment is on track, it’s important to be guided by an experienced orthodontist who can monitor your progress, use advanced tools like scanners and xrays to create your treatment plan and spot issues that only a trained eye could catch. Opting for clear aligners under the guidance of an experienced orthodontist provides unmatched benefits for the success and safety of your orthodontic journey, ensuring individualized comprehensive planning and expertise that minimize the likelihood of treatment stops and starts for rescans, less-than-ideal results and oral health issues.
How Do 3M Clear Aligners Compare to Invisalign?
If you’re being treated with 3M clear aligners versus a brand name like the Invisalign system, one of the only places you’d recognize the difference is likely to be on the packaging. Regardless of the brand, 3M clear aligners are the same quality as other brand name options, made out of similar materials and are crafted using similarly safe and precise methods.
Getting treatment from an experienced orthodontist is the most important part and, regardless of the specific brand of trays used, will allow you to get the results you desire.
Trust Your Smile to the Experts at Fort Washington Dental Associates
At Fort Washington Dental Associates, we prioritize regular checkups and adherence to recommended guidelines to ensure that your orthodontic treatment progresses smoothly. Trusting your orthodontic journey to our experienced team, led by our board-certified orthodontist, guarantees personalized care and optimal outcomes for your smile. Schedule a consultation with us today to begin your journey towards a confident smile.
