DO YOU WISH THAT YOU HAD A STRAIGHT SET OF PEARLY WHITES? DO YOU WANT STRAIGHT TEETH WITHOUT THE DISADVANTAGE OF HAVING BRACES?

Clear aligners are virtually invisible trays that are manufactured from transparent, strong medical grade plastic and are generally undetectable by other people.
The removable aligners can be used to treat a range of tooth alignment problems without metal brackets, wires or screws. A series of aligners or trays are custom-made to fit over your teeth and gradually straighten crooked teeth, gaps or rotation in an organised manner.

Dr Fareed Amod of Crown Dental Studio says, "Once we have confirmed that you're eligible for clear aligners, we will arrange a comprehensive consultation in which we will take photos, X-rays and digital scans of your teeth in order to create a treatment plan which is specifically suited to your individual needs." A 3D computer model of your mouth and bite is used to create the complete treatment plan from the initial position to the final desired position. Consequently, patients have a good indication of what their teeth will look like at the end of treatment, before they begin the process. Aligners can potentially be used together with other cosmetic dental solutions, such as veneers if teeth are particularly deformed or discoloured.

The aligners are also well suited to patients who have undergone previous treatment involving braces in their past. Often teeth shifting occurs over time after braces have been removed, which is commonly referred to as relapse. The treatment plan is used to produce a series of custom-made aligners. Each aligner moves teeth up to 0.3mm per stage and is worn for about two weeks, then replaced by the next tray in the series until the desired position of the teeth is achieved. An advantage of the system is that patients are able to change the aligners at home themselves, without needing to come to the practice every two weeks.

The aligners must be worn every day for at least 22 hours a day except when eating, brushing and flossing to maintain good oral hygiene. Also, it is important that you brush your teeth after each meal and prior to re-inserting your aligners to maintain proper hygiene. The total duration of treatment depends on the complexity of the treatment as every patient is different and outcomes vary.

The average treatment time is between 6 and 7 months, however treatment times may vary between 2 to 12 months. If the aligners are not worn the minimum recommended time each day, the treatment may not be effective and the length of treatment time may be extended. Most patients experience some temporary discomfort for a few days at the beginning of wearing each new tray. This discomfort is a normal response to the gradual movement of teeth and is often described as a feeling of pressure rather than pain, which generally goes away after a couple of days.

As the aligners don't have any metal wires or brackets, no irritation or sore spots occur in the inside of your mouth. Similarly to all orthodontic treatments, the speech of some patients may be temporarily affected by the aligners. Patients may have a slight lisp for a day or two which should soon disappear.

Following the course of treatment, wearing a retainer is critical to keeping your new smile.

Crown Dental Studio is one of the few truly 24-hour dental practises in Durban as this is not limited to emergency dentistry treatment. We will be happy to produce a detailed treatment plan to straighten your teeth and will transform your smile. 

T: +27 81 207 8621
E: info@dramod.co.za
W: www.dramod.co.za