Clear Aligners

Thanks to clear aligners, you can treat orthodontic problems like crooked teeth or crowding without metal braces. At Smiles for Maple Valley, in Maple Valley, Washington, Narges Lotfi, DDS, offers orthodontic treatment with clear aligners to teens and adults. To request a clear aligner consultation for yourself or your child, call the office today or book online.

What are clear aligners?

Clear aligners are removable plastic appliances that fit over your teeth. They place mild pressure on your jaw and teeth, improving their position and symmetry.

Traditionally, orthodontic treatment required metal brackets and archwires. Clear aligners provide the same stunning results but more discreetly.

What types of problems can clear aligners correct?

Smiles for Maple Valley uses clear aligners to treat various orthodontic problems, including:

• Crooked teeth
• Crowding
• Overlapping teeth
• A malpositioned jaw
• Gaps between the teeth

You might also benefit from treatment with clear aligners if you have a bite problem, like crossbite, overbite, or underbite.

What are the types of clear aligners?

Smiles for Maple Valley offers two types of clear aligners:

Invisalign®

Invisalign aligners are made of SmartTrack®, a thermoplastic free of gluten, latex, and BPS. During treatment, you wear the aligners for 20-22 hours a day, only removing them to eat or brush and floss.

OrthoFX™ aligners

OrthoFX aligners are similar to Invisalign aligners, with the largest difference being the material. OrthoFX aligners feature a thin, polymer plastic. Their unique design helps guide your teeth into the proper position.

What does treatment with clear aligners involve?

At Smiles for Maple Valley, clear aligner treatment begins with a review of your dental records, an oral exam, and a discussion of your goals. Your provider also takes X-rays to check the alignment of your teeth and jaw.

If your X-rays confirm an alignment problem, your provider takes digital impressions of your mouth with an intraoral scanner. Then, they send your scans to a nearby orthodontic lab that creates your custom aligners.

Over the course of treatment, you visit Smiles for Maple Valley around every four to six weeks. At each checkup, your provider monitors your progress and gives you a new set of custom aligners. Each new set complements the previous one, helping you achieve your desired results. 

How long does treatment with clear aligners take?

Treatment with clear aligners typically takes between 12-18 months. Still, it may take longer, depending on the alignment problems addressed. To ensure everything goes according to plan, attend each checkup and follow your provider’s instructions. 

To explore the benefits of orthodontic treatment with clear aligners, call Smiles for Maple Valley or book online today.

*Individual results may vary.