Why doctor – Lately on social networks, we see a lot of advertisements for dental aligners, sold as miracle products to have a beautiful smile. Can you explain to us what it is?
Lisa Hanrad – Alignment gutters, also called “aligners” or in English “clear aligners“, are orthodontic appliances used to align teeth. Aligners can perform light to medium corrections in much less time and at a lower price than conventional appliances. The function is similar to metal braces: a continuous pressure on the teeth causes them to assume a new position. Attachments (small ceramic parts) are placed, in order to further increase the effectiveness of the aligner.
Transparent, these plastic gutters are made of PET and PU, which allows a discreet and barely visible port.
Does a dental aligner replace the famous braces?
Despite constant technological developments making it possible to treat an increasingly wide range of cases, aligner treatments do not currently allow all clinical situations to be treated. Bands remain the best option for achieving therapeutic goals.
Do you have to wear it all day?
To have a perfect smile once the treatment is finished, it is advisable to wear your aligner for up to 10 p.m. during the day, day and night. It must be removed to eat and drink, and changed every 15 days by the patient over a period of one or two years on average.
How to take care of your teeth with a dental aligner?
As in normal times, it is recommended to brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes, morning and evening, ideally with an electric toothbrush. This effectively removes plaque and tartar and performs up to 40,000 vibrations per minute once morest only 300 movements for a conventional manual toothbrush. Complementary care, such as the use of mouthwash and interdental brushes, allows for optimal oral hygiene.
In addition, daily cleaning of the aligner is essential throughout the duration of the treatment.
How to clean it?
Brush the aligner, outer side and inner side, at least twice a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Then rinse it by also brushing the outer and inner face.
Can it be dangerous to use a dental aligner?
The treatment itself when it is carried out by an orthodontist, is not dangerous on condition, however, of following the instructions given and above all of having impeccable hygiene. However, many companies manufacture these aligners and sell them directly without going through a specialist, which can be dangerous. Influencers and social networks are also the first vectors of their communication, unfortunately encouraging people to take care of themselves.
Apart from this problematic tendency, in rare situations, it is possible to observe in the patient an allergy to the materials used to manufacture the aligners.
