Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Clear Aligners

Clear aligners is a great option for certain patients who want to correct slightly misaligned teeth. Dr Amir Kiaee and Dr Valerie Baluyut are clear aligner dentists in Pascoe Vale who can help you attain a more symmetrical smile. Millions of people across the world have used clear aligns, such as Invisalign, and have been pleased with the results. Perhaps you will, too!

What Are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are an innovative orthodontic system that uses clear, BPA-free plastic aligners to gradually move a patient’s teeth into a more desirable position. Clear aligners are smooth, slick, and custom-made to fit over a patient’s teeth. Also called ‘invisible braces’, clear aligners are considered to be a faster and more discreet alternative to traditional metal braces. 

How Does It Work? 

If Dr Kiaee determines you are a good candidate for clear aligners, he will take a mold of your teeth and send it to a lab for fabrication. Once the aligners are ready, you will begin wearing them in a series.

Each set in the series is tighter than the last, which is how it moves the teeth. The length of treatment depends on your unique case, and Dr Kiaee will discuss all of these details with you during your consultation. 

Our Special Orthodontic Package 

We are delighted to offer our patients a limited offer for clear aligners treatment. The special includes:

• Free Consultation with the Clean and Check Package
• Clear Aligners treatment (using brands such as Invisalign)
• Retainers after treatment
• Regular cleans and checkups during treatment
• Professional teeth whitening after treatment

If this is an opportunity that interests you, we invite you to give us a call. 

Clear aligners, such as Invisalign, are an option available for straightening the teeth that uses clear plastic aligners rather than the traditional metal brackets and wires of regular orthodontics. The clear aligners use a gentle pressure to nudge the teeth into place over a period of about a year to 18 months. The aligners must be worn 22 hours each day in order for patients to achieve their smile goals.

Every couple of weeks, patients will change the aligners for a new set that will continue to move the teeth into the desired position.

The aligners are removable, so patients can take them out for eating and cleaning the teeth. They can also be removed for the occasional important social or business occasion.

Although there is a slight learning curve at the beginning while patients grow accustomed to speaking while wearing the aligners, most people adjust well.

Contact Our Pascoe Vale Practice

If you are interested in clear aligners such as Invisalign, we invite you to contact Dr Amir and Dr Valerie at our Pascoe Vale, VIC dental clinic, and they can tell you if you might be a good candidate for this discreet orthodontics treatment. Dr Amir and Dr Valerie primarily recommend clear aligners to older teens and adults who agree to be compliant with wearing the aligners for the allotted time each day.

If you are considering clear aligners such as Invisalign at our Pascoe Vale, VIC dental clinic, we welcome your call to talk to Dr Amir or Dr Valerie about whether this treatment is a good option for you. We have put together a list of pros and cons of treatment to help you make your decision.

Pros of Clear Aligners

• They are virtually invisible. When you are wearing the clear plastic aligners, even a person seated across the table would be hard-pressed to notice you are wearing them. Brands such as Invisalign suit the busy lifestyle of adults, from stay-at-home mums to business executives.
• Treatment is usually quicker than with traditional orthodontics. Most of our patients reach their smile goals after 12 to 18 months of wearing the clear plastic aligners.
• You can keep your teeth clean more easily. Because the aligners are removed for brushing and flossing, you can better keep up with your oral health.
• There are no food restrictions with clear aligners. Removed for eating, this means that the clear plastic aligners do not impede your desire to enjoy your favourite foods during treatment.

Cons of Clear Aligners

• It’s easy to misplace the clear plastic aligners. Perhaps you wrap them in a napkin before a meal—then toss the napkin into the bin and forget about the aligner.
• Compliance is crucial, and it might be difficult for some people to commit to wearing the aligners for 22 hours each day.
• There is a bit of a learning curve when you first get the aligners, so you will have to get used to speaking with them in your mouth. 

We invite you to call our Pascoe Vale, VIC dental clinic to find out more about clear aligners.

There is more to having straight teeth than just having a beautiful smile. Having straight teeth can actually improve health issues for some people.

Patients with the following issues might want to consider clear aligners:

TMJ—If you have a misaligned bite, this can contribute to issues with the jaw joint and lead to a disorder known as TMJ. This painful condition of the temporomandibular joint often causes earaches, headaches and neck pain.

Teeth grinding—People who have a tendency to grind their teeth do better when their bite is well-aligned. Wearing the clear plastic aligners can also help relax the muscles that cause teeth grinding and clenching, and in some cases, patients find that their symptoms have been alleviated.

Difficulty cleaning the teeth—When teeth are crooked or overlapped, flossing and brushing can be more of a challenge. Properly aligned teeth have fewer spaces for bacteria to get trapped in, which can lead to the formation of plaque. Crooked teeth also make people prone to a condition known as ‘food impaction,’ which is when food particles get caught between the teeth. Even with good oral hygiene, these areas are tough to keep clean.

Contact our Pascoe Vale Clinic

Our Pascoe Vale, VIC dental clinic welcomes your call to find out more about the benefits of clear aligners.