Clear Aligners – Franklin Park, IL
Ditch the Metal Brackets & Wires for Clear Aligners
Teenagers and adults are often hesitant about starting orthodontic treatment because that means they’ll need to commit to having metal brackets and wires in their mouth for up to 24 months. For our patients who are more image-conscious, we offer Clear Aligners in our Franklin Park, IL dental office as a discreet and more comfortable alternative to traditional braces. That way, you can maintain your regular appearance while undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Why Choose Grand Dental - Franklin Park for Clear Aligners?
- Discreet Orthodontic Trays
- Licensed Orthodontist Specialist On Staff
- All Dental Services Available at One Location
What is Clear Aligners Treatment?
Clear Aligners treatment begins with a consultation with our on-staff orthodontic specialist at Grand Dental in Franklin Park. Every two weeks, you’ll advance to your next set of easily-removable Clear Aligners trays that will apply slightly more pressure on your teeth to shift them into their ideal positions. You’ll need to wear them for at least 22 hours every day, being sure to only take them out of your mouth when you eat, drink anything besides water, or brush and floss your teeth.
How Does Clear Aligners Work?
You will receive several series of customized Clear Aligners trays that are made from BPA-free, clear plastic. Each set of aligners will provide a gentle and strategic amount of pressure on your teeth to address crowding, gaps, misalignment, and bite problems. Every six to eight weeks, you’ll visit our dental office to pick up your new series of trays and get a quick progress check.
What Happens During Routine Appointments?
During your initial consultation, we’ll take X-rays, impressions, and photos of your mouth as well as conduct a thorough examination of your teeth and gums to make sure that you’re a good candidate for treatment. Once you start the process, you’ll visit our dental office every six to eight weeks, depending on our recommendation, to collect your new series of trays and so we can make sure that you’re staying on track with your treatment timeline. These visits are relatively quick, only lasting 15 to 30 minutes, so you can easily squeeze them into a lunch break.
Are You a Candidate for Clear Aligners?
During your initial consultation, our orthodontist will examine your mouth to determine if you have all of the characteristics for a good Clear Aligners candidate. In some cases, we may recommend a different appliance to address orthodontic problems, including:
- Patients who have lingering, untreated oral health problems.
- Patients who smoke.
- Patients who won’t be diligent about keeping up with their treatment.
- Children who are too young to undergo treatment.
- Patients who aren’t dedicated to keeping up with their oral hygiene.
- Elderly candidates who may not have the manual dexterity needed to remove and put on the aligners.
The best way to learn whether Clear Aligners is right for you is to schedule an appointment with our team today!
The Benefits of Clear Aligners
Many unique benefits of Clear Aligners cannot be obtained with any other form of orthodontic treatment. These clear aligners make it easy to undergo treatment without fear of others seeing bulky metal, and they offer a more flexible solution that is easier to navigate day to day. To better understand why so many people are turning to Clear Aligners to straighten their smiles, review the list of added benefits below.
Day-to-Day Benefits
A patient’s smile is never the same as another. Several different factors can impact the overall price of your ClearCorrect treatment, including:
- The ability to remove Clear Aligners trays to eat and drink. It eliminates the need to restrict certain foods for fear of debris getting caught between brackets and wires.
- Clear aligners that are discreet and offer a more subtle form of treatment. This allows patients to feel less self-conscious about wearing braces.
- Improved confidence in the way a smile looks and feels as it moves in the right direction.
- More control over treatment, as patients are responsible for switching out trays at home, not in a dentist’s office.
Oral Health Benefits
- Improved oral health because the trays must be removed before cleaning teeth and gums. Also, the cleaning process for Clear Aligners trays is easy to perform and requires no specialized tools.
- Aligners that only require a soft-bristled toothbrush, clear soap, and lukewarm water to keep clear of any debris or bacteria.
- Minimized risk for plaque or gum disease because of the changing position of one’s teeth. By closing gaps, creating space for overcrowding, and realigning bites, teeth have the opportunity to become healthier.
Long-Term Benefits
- Lower risk of health problems commonly linked to oral health issues, such as TMJ, bruxism, dental decay, and gum disease.
- Clear Aligners is a cost-effective option that produces faster results than traditional braces.
- Healthier teeth, gums, and jaw that will help to improve oral health and reduce jaw pain and worn-down tooth enamel.
What is Clear Aligners Teen?
Clear Aligners Teen works in the same way as traditional Clear Aligners treatment, but the aligners feature small indicators on the trays that alert your teen when they need to be replaced. It’s also a great way to help teach your teen about responsibility and reaping the rewards of their efforts! To learn whether your teenager is a good candidate for this advanced orthodontic treatment, schedule a consultation with our board-certified orthodontist today!
Understanding the Cost of Clear Aligners
Treatment with Clear Aligners in Franklin Park does not cost the same amount for every patient. Our orthodontist tailors the procedure to your specific needs, taking into account how many aligners you’ll need, the severity of the dental problem, and the timeline of treatment. At Grand Dental – Franklin Park, our experienced, compassionate team will make sure you fully understand the process and pricing as well as available payment options.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Clear Aligners
When estimating the cost, we consider the following information:
- The patient’s dental issue(s) needing to be corrected (e.g., gapped teeth, overcrowding, bite misalignment) and the severity
- The number of aligners needed for the desired results
- The timeline of treatment
Clear Aligners vs. Smile Direct Club™: Which Costs More?
We understand the appeal of do-it-yourself (DIY) clear aligner systems, which are growing in popularity. However, no one mentions the many potential issues that can arise with this method. Solutions like Smile Direct Club may be cheaper than Clear Aligners in Franklin Park, but not having an orthodontist supervise your treatment can create oral health problems that ultimately cost you more.
Please consider the following before deciding to try a DIY solution:
- You are required to take your own impressions. If this process is not done properly, the aligners will likely not fit correctly.
- No orthodontist oversees treatment or examines your smile face-to-face. Instead, you can only have virtual appointments and report your own progress.
- Although Clear Aligners can be used for many cases, it is not right for everyone. In certain cases, moving forward with this treatment can harm teeth.
- If you encounter problems, you must find a local orthodontist or dentist for assistance.
When you choose Clear Aligners, you can be comfortable and confident knowing that is safe and effective. Our Grand Dental – Franklin Park team is here to oversee your treatment and ensure optimal results.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Clear Aligners?
Although orthodontic coverage is included in some insurance policies, this is not always the case. You need to review your plan and determine what your benefits are. Sometimes carriers offer coverage but with stipulations, such as providing only for individuals 18 and under or only coverage for traditional braces. If you aren’t sure about this information, you may certainly ask a member of our team for assistance. Our administrative staff can help and discuss the financial side of dentistry with you.
Options for Making Clear Aligners Affordable
At Grand Dental – Franklin Park, we provide various payment options for uninsured patients. For instance, you can consider joining the Grand Advantage Plan. For a single yearly fee, you receive basic preventive care as well as a 20% discount on dental treatments completed within the first year of enrollment.
We also offer flexible financing through CareCredit. Instead of a one-time payment, this option breaks up the cost of Clear Aligners treatment into a smaller amount you pay monthly, which can be helpful if you’re on a tight budget!
Clear Aligners FAQs
Although Clear Aligners has been around for more than 20 years, many patients still have questions about this revolutionary treatment. If you want your Clear Aligners smile to be successful, you need to know certain information, such as how to care for aligners, what to do if one is lost, and more. Our team is here and happy to answer these questions for you during your consultation. Review our responses below to get a few of your questions answered and contact us to learn more about clear aligners.
Does Wearing Clear Aligners Hurt?
While Clear Aligners is much more comfortable than metal brackets, you can expect some slight discomfort when you first receive and wear your aligners. Your mouth must adjust to the oral appliance. Within a couple of days, the discomfort should go away. Don’t be surprised, however, when this process reoccurs when switching to a new set of aligners. It’s just a sign that treatment is working, and it’s better than having your traditional braces tightened every few weeks.
Are Clear Aligners Results Permanent?
The results achieved with Clear Aligners can last a lifetime—if you wear your customized retainer. Following treatment, your cosmetic dentist in Franklin Park strongly recommends wearing your retainer to hold teeth in their new, permanent positions. Without the retainer, teeth may shift and revert back to their original alignment, especially soon after treatment is complete. Wearing your retainer as instructed is crucial if you want to avoid undoing months of work.
How Long Does Clear Aligners Take?
Every patient’s experience is different, so it will depend on various factors that will be determined by our Grand Dental – Franklin Park team. These might include how many aligners you will need, the severity of your orthodontic issues, and whether you require any preliminary treatment before undergoing Clear Aligners treatment. In most cases, results can be achieved in 12-18 months; however, this is not always the case, as it may take longer for some. However, when compared to traditional braces that often require 2-3 years, Clear Aligners is considered a faster orthodontic solution.
What Should I Do If I Lose My Clear Aligners Trays?
At your consultation at Grand Dental – Franklin Park, we will encourage you to purchase a protective case for your aligners. This isn’t just a nice accessory; it helps keep harmful bacteria from getting on the trays and helps you keep track of your clear aligners and avoid throwing them away or damaging them.
Just in case you lose or damage one or both aligners, we recommend calling us, keeping the last set of aligners, and wearing those until we provide further instructions or need to order new aligners.
Can I Be Treated with Clear Aligners If I’ve Worn Braces in the Past?
If you had traditional braces in the past and have relapsed or still don’t have a perfectly aligned smile, there is no reason why Clear Aligners can’t work for you this time around. As long as you have only mild or moderate misalignment, we can give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of with clear aligners. During our consultation, we will create a treatment plan that can straighten your teeth for good.
Can I Get Clear Aligners If I Have Crowns, Veneers, or Bridges?
It will ultimately depend on your unique case. When meeting with a member of our dental team, your cosmetic dentist will evaluate your smile to determine if Clear Aligners will work. If you have a dental bridge, you’ll likely need to consider another form of orthodontic treatment simply because of how it is positioned inside the mouth. Because Clear Aligners clear aligners move teeth individually, this makes certain cases impossible to treat because of the way various restorations are created and put into place.
Do I Need to Wear a Retainer After Clear Aligners?
Yes, you can expect that you will need to wear a retainer after undergoing Clear Aligners treatment. The reason is that your teeth can easily shift back in the original direction, which means that without retention, all of your hard work can quickly be undone. But with a customized retainer, you can keep your teeth in the appropriate place, ensuring that your pearly whites stay in their new location permanently.
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