How Do Teeth Aligners Work?

Invisible aligners can help improve the positioning of your toddler’s or teenage child’s gapped, protruded, or crowded teeth. The dental appliances gradually align poorly positioned teeth to enhance the shape and balance of the lips and cheek. Teeth aligners may also let the natural color and shape of your child’s teeth show through during their treatment. Here is information elaborating more on how removable aligners work to improve oral functioning:

Allow Customization

Removable, modified aligners can fit teeth appropriately without exerting excess pressure or causing abundant pain and discomfort. Orthodontists also personalize teeth aligners and develop proper treatment plans that can address particular issues like bite problems and jaw shifts. Tailored Invisalign makes the gradual alignment of your child’s teeth smooth by potentially reducing gum irritations. The pressure points on dental aligners allow for specific tooth shifting, unlike braces, which reposition all teeth simultaneously.

Orthodontic treatment practitioners conduct 3D imaging tests before creating customized aligners for your child. When an orthodontist performs this scan, they get to see and understand the jaw structure and predetermine how your child’s teeth will align over time. If your child experiences challenges when eating or speaking, 3D imaging can let the orthodontist see how each tooth moves during these oral functions. This accuracy helps achieve better tooth alignment control and outcomes.

Strengthening the Jaw

Removable aligners work to strengthen misaligned teeth by causing them to move and shift gradually into the right positions. Another impact of the gradual shifting of teeth is to increase the balance of the upper and lower jaw. This helps the teeth line up correctly when your child is chewing or speaking. Properly aligned teeth could also help prevent cases of underbites, overbites, and crossbites. Balanced jaws allow the forces exerted while chewing to spread evenly in the jaw muscles, minimizing the risks of temporal mandibular joint problems. When the teeth and the jaws are correctly repositioned, there is less abnormal contact and fewer chances of grinding, which causes teeth to wear.

Enhancing Oral Comfort

Removable aligners are ideal dental appliances because they exert gentle, targeted pressure, which could help your toddler or teen adapt more quickly. The unique plastic material used to make Invisalign is soft to protect the inside of the mouth from potential cuts and sores. An orthodontic treatment expert changes the set of aligners every few months to accommodate the shifting of the teeth and jaws. This eliminates the need for tightening, which happens to patients wearing braces with brackets and wires. Comfort also comes from the ability to remove and adjust dental aligners any time they need repositioning or when eating or cleaning the teeth. Enhanced comfort by Invisalign should minimize the number of visits your young child makes to an orthodontist for adjustments.

Promoting Consistency

Invisible aligners work even after your child’s teeth are aligned into new, correct positions. If your child once had crooked or protruded teeth, continuing to wear these appliances may reduce the chances of the newly positioned teeth reverting back to their previous places. The continued use of invisible aligners also allows for adequate strengthening of the jawbone and improved tooth stability. Correctly repositioned teeth are also easier to care for through brushing and flossing because they do not trap as many food particles or plaque in hard-to-reach spaces.

Tips for Choosing an Orthodontist for Teeth Aligners

When looking for an orthodontist for your child’s aligners, inquire about their particular treatments during a consultation. Ask about clear or transparent aligners and the material composition of these appliances. Removable aligners are made from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a unique soft plastic that does not wear out or deform quickly. Also, ask about the projected aligner adjustment schedule so you can plan ahead for future visits.

Visit an Orthodontist Today

Invisible teeth aligners are ideal for correcting your child’s oral issues like teeth crowding and impaction, as well as for solving bite issues. Their invisible nature allows for natural tooth color to show while the teeth and jaw are strengthened. Taking your child to an orthodontist for Invisalign allows them to get personalized treatments that improve the teeth and jaw positioning. Schedule a virtual consultation with a reputable orthodontic practitioner for the highest quality dental aligners.