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Straighten Your Smile With Clear Aligners
Straighten your teeth discreetly with virtually invisible aligners that fit seamlessly into your lifestyle.
The desire for straighter teeth shouldn’t mean compromising your professional image or enduring years of metal braces. If you’ve been postponing orthodontic treatment because traditional braces don’t fit your lifestyle, clear aligners offer a modern solution that works around your life, not against it. These removable, nearly invisible aligners straighten teeth effectively while allowing you to maintain your appearance and enjoy your favorite foods throughout treatment.
At South Hills Dental Arts’ Ingram / Crafton location, we combine 35 years of cosmetic dentistry experience with advanced digital technology to create precise aligner treatment plans. Our comprehensive approach addresses not just tooth alignment but overall bite function and long-term stability. With our convenient location at 2725 Center St. and flexible scheduling, achieving your dream smile has never been more accessible.
How Clear Aligners Work
Clear aligners utilize a series of custom-made, removable trays to gradually shift teeth into their proper position. Each aligner is precisely calibrated to move specific teeth by fractions of a millimeter. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, most patients wear aligners 20-22 hours daily, removing them only for meals and oral hygiene.
The process begins with detailed 3D scanning of your teeth using our advanced intraoral scanners. This digital impression captures every surface and contour with exceptional accuracy. Sophisticated software then plans the exact movement pathway for each tooth, breaking the total movement into a series of incremental steps. Each aligner in your series represents one step in this carefully orchestrated process.
You’ll typically wear each aligner for one to two weeks before progressing to the next. The consistent, gentle pressure gradually shifts teeth into alignment while the surrounding bone remodels to accommodate the new positions. This biological process is the same whether using traditional braces or aligners; only the method of applying force differs.
Advantages of Clear Aligner Treatment
The most obvious benefit of clear aligners is their near invisibility. The medical-grade plastic is transparent and fits snugly over teeth, making them virtually undetectable in normal conversation. This discretion proves invaluable for professionals, public speakers, or anyone who prefers to keep their orthodontic treatment private.
Removability offers lifestyle advantages impossible with fixed braces. You can eat whatever you want without restrictions, simply removing aligners during meals. Oral hygiene remains simple and effective since you can brush and floss normally. Special occasions, such as weddings or important presentations, allow for temporary removal; however, we recommend minimizing these interruptions for optimal results.
Comfort is another significant advantage. Without brackets or wires, there’s nothing to irritate cheeks or gums. The smooth plastic rarely causes the mouth sores common with traditional braces. Many patients find aligners so comfortable they forget they’re wearing them.
Ideal Candidates for Clear Aligners
Clear aligners effectively treat many orthodontic issues, including crowding and spacing problems, mild to moderate bite issues, and relapsed previous orthodontic treatment. They work particularly well for adults whose bones have stopped growing and who have the discipline to wear aligners consistently. The removable nature requires commitment to wearing them the prescribed 20-22 hours daily for successful treatment.
However, aligners have limitations. Severe bite problems, significant jaw discrepancies, or complex tooth movements may require traditional braces or combination treatments. Teeth needing vertical movement or significant rotation sometimes respond better to fixed appliances. During your consultation, we’ll assess whether aligners can achieve your desired results or if alternative treatments would be more appropriate.
The Invisalign Treatment Process
Your clear aligner journey begins with comprehensive digital imaging at our Ingram/Crafton office. Our 3D scanners eliminate the need for messy impression materials while providing superior accuracy. We also capture photographs and X-rays to ensure a complete understanding of your orthodontic needs.
Using specialized software, we create a virtual treatment plan showing exactly how your teeth will move throughout treatment. You’ll see a 3D animation of your teeth shifting from their current position to the final result. This isn’t just a simulation – it’s the actual blueprint used to manufacture your custom aligners. We can adjust the plan based on your input, ensuring you’re thrilled with the projected outcome before treatment begins.
Once you approve the treatment plan, your custom aligners are precisely manufactured using advanced 3D printing or milling technology. You’ll receive several sets at once, allowing you to progress through treatment with fewer office visits. We’ll monitor your progress regularly, ensuring teeth are moving according to plan.
Living With Clear Aligners
Adapting to clear aligners typically takes just a few days. Initial speech changes are minimal and quickly resolve as your tongue adjusts. Some patients experience temporary increased saliva production, which typically normalizes within one to two days. Mild pressure when starting a new aligner indicates the treatment is working and usually subsides within hours.
Maintaining aligners is straightforward. Rinse them when removing and brush gently with a soft toothbrush. Avoid hot water, which can warp the plastic. Special cleaning crystals or tablets keep aligners fresh and clear. Always store aligners in their case when not wearing them to prevent loss or damage.
Your oral hygiene routine becomes even more important during treatment. Food particles and bacteria can become trapped under aligners, increasing cavity risk. Brush after every meal before reinserting aligners, and floss daily. This extra attention to hygiene often results in patients finishing treatment with healthier teeth and gums than when they started.
Clear Aligner Treatment Timeline and Monitoring
Clear aligner treatment typically takes 12-18 months, though simple cases may finish in as little as six months. Complex cases might extend to 24 months. Several factors influence the duration, including case complexity, patient compliance with wear time, age, biological response to treatment, and whether any refinements are necessary.
You’ll visit our office every 6-8 weeks for progress checks. These appointments are typically brief, involving an assessment of tooth movement and the delivery of your next series of aligners. We use our advanced imaging to compare actual progress with the treatment plan, making adjustments if necessary. This regular monitoring ensures optimal results and allows us to address any concerns promptly.
Combining Aligners With Other Treatments
Clear aligners can be part of a comprehensive smile makeover. Many patients combine alignment with teeth whitening for a dramatic smile transformation. The aligners can even serve as custom whitening trays, allowing you to brighten your smile while straightening your teeth.
After alignment, some patients choose additional cosmetic treatments, like dental bonding to perfect the tooth shape or veneers for ultimate smile enhancement. By straightening first, we minimize the amount of tooth preparation needed for these procedures. This comprehensive approach, available entirely at our Ingram/Crafton location, creates stunning smile transformations.
Retention and Long-Term Success After Invisalign Treatment
Like all orthodontic treatments, clear aligner results require retention to remain stable. After completing active treatment, you’ll wear retainers to prevent your teeth from shifting back. We often use your final aligner as a temporary retainer while creating custom permanent retainers using the same comfortable, clear material.
Retention protocols vary by individual needs. Some patients wear retainers nightly indefinitely, while others can reduce to a few nights per week after the first year. We’ll develop a personalized retention plan tailored to your specific case and monitor stability during regular dental check-ups. With proper retention, your beautifully aligned smile will last a lifetime.
Begin Your Clear Aligner Journey With South Hills Dental Arts
Don’t let the thought of traditional braces keep you from achieving the smile you deserve. Clear aligners offer a discreet, comfortable path to straighter teeth that fits seamlessly into your adult lifestyle. At South Hills Dental Arts’ Ingram / Crafton location, we make the process convenient and comfortable from consultation through retention.
Take the first step with our free virtual consultation. Send us photos of your smile along with your goals, and our treatment coordinators will provide a personalized video response outlining your options. Contact us today at 412-922-9292 or fill out our contact form to schedule your clear aligner consultation at our 2725 Center St location.
