Clear Aligners – Lockport, IL

Increased Comfort

Metal braces often contain protruding brackets and archwires that rub against the backside of your lips, cheeks, and tongue. Over time, they can cause sores to form, making it uncomfortable and even painful at times. While orthodontic wax is available to create a barrier between the two, why not consider Clear Aligners? With a smooth surface and snug-fitting material, they will not cause oral sores or discomfort for your soft oral tissues.

Inconspicuous Trays

No one ever has to know that you are wearing Clear Aligners. These discreet trays are crafted with advanced technology to ensure a clear, virtually unnoticeable material. They fit snuggly against your teeth so that when you speak or smile, it is not obvious to others that you are wearing them. This is drastically different than metal braces, as their material shines brightly for all to see during treatment.

Improved Dental Hygiene

Keeping up with your dental hygiene is easier with Clear Aligners in Lockport. Not only can you successfully remove plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth and gums, but you can also clean your trays without anything else getting in the way. Trying to maneuver your toothbrush and dental floss around brackets and wires is not easy, but Clear Aligners can be removed to make your morning and nighttime routine easy and more successful.

Speedy Follow-Ups

Unlike traditional braces that require you to visit your orthodontist every few weeks to have your wire tightened, Clear Aligner treatment doesn’t entail lengthy follow-up appointments. Instead, these visits only require enough time for our dentist to check the progression of your smile and ensure no adjustments are necessary.

Enhanced Confidence

Patients who choose to wear metal braces have to wait until after treatment is complete before feeling more confident in their smile. With Clear Aligners, you can begin to experience greater self-esteem while wearing them. As you watch your smile move into alignment, you will become more pleased with what you see and how others admire your appearance. Because of their discreet look, you never have to worry about your braces interfering with your daily aesthetics.

Non-Invasive Treatment

Traditional braces require metal brackets be affixed to the surfaces of your teeth before an archwire is threaded through. Clear Aligners are entirely removable, so you never have to worry about anything being attached to your natural smile. This makes treatment a non-invasive process. This is good news, especially if you prefer to avoid sitting in the dentist’s chair for prolonged periods.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Clear Aligners

The first step to determining the cost of Clear Aligners aligners is for patients to schedule a consultation with an Clear Aligners dentist in Lockport . During this visit, our team examines the individual’s mouth to determine the severity of the damage, the number of aligners they will need, and the timeline for expected results.

Clear Aligners vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?

It is natural for patients to want to save money on orthodontic treatment. But falling for one of the many corporate, over-the-counter options tends to produce lackluster results. Kits like Smile Direct Club™ seem cost-effective and easy to use, but their process can result in more serious problems for a person’s smile.

There are many reasons orthodontists strongly suggest patients choose Clear Aligners over do-it-yourself (DIY) options like Smile Direct Club™. A few of those reasons include:

• The requirement is to take one’s impressions using cold dental putty. These are often less accurate and can produce ill-fitting trays.
• The lack of orthodontic oversight from a professional. Instead, individuals are told to participate in regular follow-up virtual appointments, explaining their own progress.
• The potential hazard it can cause is that an individual may not be eligible for Clear Aligners; however, without proper consultation, it cannot be determined.

Choosing Clear Aligners and opting to see a qualified professional can make a drastic difference in the way people view their results and their confidence.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Clear Aligners?

It depends on whether an insurance company will cover Clear Aligners. Many policies do not offer orthodontic coverage, which means a person must apply for a separate plan. Those that are included in the original policy may have terms associated with coverage. In many, there are age limits or types of braces a person can receive. However, if Clear Aligners is included, our team will work with individuals to maximize their benefits and identify alternative ways to pay should it be required.

Options for Making Clear Aligners Affordable

Apart from dental insurance, we are pleased to provide our patients with two alternative ways to pay:

• Flexible Financing – Through CareCredit, individuals can apply for low or no-interest financing that makes it easy to spread out payments for months or years, making it easy to stay within budget.
• Grand Advantage Plan – By paying one single fee each year, patients receive access to basic preventive dental care as well as discounts on all other available services.

Does Wearing Clear Aligners Hurt?

When you begin your Clear Aligners treatment, you can expect some minor discomfort. Your mouth has to get adjusted to the clear aligners, and your teeth will start to shift. Within the first few days, you can expect your slight pain to slowly go away, allowing you to feel comfortable and happy. That said, this process will occur each time you switch your current set of aligners to the new ones. A significant advantage of Clear Aligners is that you won’t have to experience the mandatory wire tightening that typically comes with traditional orthodontics.

Are Clear Aligners Results Permanent?

Clear Aligners results are permanent if the patient follows their completed treatment with a retainer. During the next weeks, and years after Clear Aligners, our cosmetic dentist in Lockport will give patients custom-made retainers that keep new, straight smiles in their aligned positions. Your teeth shift in general, however they are especially prone to movement after orthodontic treatment. This makes wearing a retainer and following our instructions integral if you want to avoid undoing all the time you put into your Clear Aligners clear braces.

What Should I Do If I Lose My Clear Aligners Trays?

During your first visit to our Lockport office, we will highly recommend purchasing a protective case for your aligning trays. This will not only help to prevent oral bacteria from spreading on your aligners, but it will also keep you from accidentally throwing away or losing them – simply place your Clear Aligners back in its protective case when necessary.

If one or both of your aligners becomes damaged or lost, wear the last set of trays that you have until we can determine the proper next steps. In some cases, you can move on with treatment, however we may also need to have new aligners created.

Can I Be Treated with Clear Aligners If I’ve Worn Braces in the Past?

Even if you have had traditional braces in the past, it is possible to take advantage of Clear Aligners treatment. Primarily, your candidacy for Clear Aligners will depend on the severity of your misalignment (overcrowding, misaligned bites, crooked teeth, or gapped teeth). We use advanced technology combined with a thorough evaluation of your smile to determine if Clear Aligners can provide the results you need. Once we see that you’re a good candidate, we will create a personalized treatment plan that will ensure that you achieve a healthy, straight set of teeth.