Clear aligners address a wide variety of oral problems, and because of certain advantages, a growing number of patients and doctors prefer them over traditional wires and brackets. Some of these advantages include:

1. They are comfortable.

Made of plastic and customised to fit your teeth, clear aligners are more comfortable to wear¹. You may feel a slight discomfort when you first start wearing your trays but your mouth will easily adjust in a few days. Before long, you won’t notice you’re wearing them.

2. They are nearly invisible.

Perhaps the most popular reason people prefer clear aligners is that they are discreet. A lot of people who have crooked teeth might feel even more self-conscious with metal braces. It could even affect their work, especially for those whose job requires them to always keep a professional image.

Patients who wear clear aligners don’t have to worry about other people noticing them — except if someone gets really close and observant, only then will the clear aligner be noticeable. Nevertheless, clear aligners not only improve patients’ dental health, they could help boost confidence, too. 

3. There are no dietary restrictions.

Unlike with metal braces where you may need to avoid certain food like gum, sweets, popcorn, or meat, which may get stuck on your teeth and braces, clear aligners allow you to eat what you want — provided of course that you don’t forget to brush and floss right after.² Clear aligners are also easily removable, another advantage over metal braces.

4. They are easier to maintain.

Oral hygiene should not be a hassle and since clear aligners are removable, they make it more convenient to brush and floss³ since there are no wires to trap food or get in the way of a smoother cleaning experience. 

5. Fewer appointments

Wearing your clear aligners 22 hours a day is crucial for teeth alignment to take place effectively. Dentist appointments are usually much simpler and shorter as tooth movement is planned by your dentist⁴. In contrast, metal braces can take longer and more involved appointments, with active adjustments carried out in the dental chair and thus may need more frequent dentist appointments5. 

6. Achieve aligner retention with higher straight trimline.

Studies show that a smooth trimline extending 1-2mm above the gingival line, is able to provide a strong retention of the aligner.⁵ This means that the clear aligner is retained over the teeth without lifting or unseated.

7. Mobile monitoring options

Clear aligner treatment could also be monitored remotely, and your teeth’s progress tracked digitally, which means fewer dentist appointments.^5,6

ClearCorrect complements this with DenToGo, an AI-enabled technology and mobile application that allows for more efficient patient scheduling, increased patient compliance, and personalised messaging.

Ready to start your clear aligner journey? ClearCorrect can help. 

There are many more reasons to consider this treatment but it can never be stressed enough that there are many health benefits from having straighter teeth made possible with clear aligners. Whether you are a teenager, professional, or an adult, it’s never too late to start your smile transformation with clear aligners. 

Consult your doctor if clear aligners are right for you.

For more information to link up with a clear aligner provider, click here:  

Sources: 

1 “Clear Aligners in Orthodontic Treatment” by T. Weir in Australian Dental Journal, 2017

2 Celenza F. Implant interactions with orthodontics. Journal of Evidence Based Dental Practice. 2012;12(3):192-201. doi:10.1016/s1532-3382(12)70036-2

3 Wu, Y., Cao, L. and Cong, J., 2020. The periodontal status of removable appliances vs fixed appliances. Medicine, 99(50), p.e23165.

4 Tamer I, Oztas E, Marsan G. Orthodontic Treatment with Clear Aligners and The Scientific Reality Behind Their Marketing: A Literature Review. Turk J Orthod 2019; 32(4): 241-6.

5 Cowley DP, Mah J, O'Toole B. The effect of gingival-margin design on the retention of thermoformed aligners. J Clin Orthod. 2012 Nov;46(11):697-702

6 Buschang PH, Shaw SG, Ross M, Crosby D, Campbell PM. Comparative time efficiency of aligner therapy and conventional edgewise braces. Angle Orthod. 2014;84(3):391-396.