What makes an you an ideal ClearCorrect (clear aligner) patient?
The best results are usually achieved in individuals with slight to moderate amounts of crowding (crooked teeth) who don’t have significant bite alignment issues. You also need to be committed to wearing aligners (trays) 24/7.
To learn more about the process, we are going to follow Melissa S. as she progresses through treatment.
This is what Melissa’s teeth looked like before treatment. What you can see here is the overlapping of her two front teeth. What you don’t see, is that there is also overlapping of the lower front teeth and that the way the front teeth fit together has caused the edges of the upper and lower front teeth to become worn. Otherwise, her bite is pretty close to ideal.
Below, Melissa has her trays in place. (Can you tell?)
Melissa’s treatment plan consists of a series of 12 trays to be worn sequentially over the next 12-15 months. Each tray moves the teeth closer and closer to their final destination. When treatment is complete, she will be fitted for fixed (permanent) retainers for both the top and bottom teeth.
Q & A with Melissa S.
Q: Why did you decide to seek treatment?
A: I have had increasing sensitivity in my lower incisors. My dentist recommended straightening my teeth as a way to address this issue.
Q: Did you ever consider traditional braces? Why or why not?
A: Absolutely not! I have a lot of issues with food getting stuck in my teeth. I was worried that braces would worsen that situation causing additional sensitivity.
Q: What are the pros of this type of treatment?
A: A huge pro is that I can brush and floss my teeth thoroughly, making it much easier to keep them clean. It’s also nice that I do not have to avoid eating certain foods that could damage traditional braces.
Q: What are the cons?
A: You definitely need to plan ahead when eating out with friends because the trays need to be removed when  eating. I am getting good at being very stealthy about it.
Thank you, Melissa. We’ll check in with you next month.