Cosmetic Dentistry
Do you have crooked, crowded, overlapping, or misaligned teeth? Does having large gaps between some teeth make you feel self-conscious when you smile? You could benefit from orthodontic treatment. However, standard braces may not be a good choice for adults who do not want to wear traditional braces or those who are prone to cavities.
For patients who hesitate to agree to wear traditional braces on their teeth containing brackets and wires, we have good news for you. Clear braces in Elk Grove Village, IL, enable you to get the orthodontic treatment you need while keeping it discreet. Remember that improperly aligned teeth are more than just a cosmetic concern. The alignment of your teeth can significantly negatively impact your ability to keep them clean and enjoy good oral health.
What Are Clear Braces?
Clear braces, also known as invisible braces, are a set of see-through plastic aligners. You wear one customized aligner over your top row of teeth and the other over your bottom row of teeth.
Unlike traditional metal braces, you can remove your aligners whenever necessary. Dr. David Schumer and Dr. Stefan Schumer recommend that you only remove your aligners to eat when brushing and flossing your teeth and when cleaning the aligner.
We ask that you commit to wearing your aligners at least 22 hours a day until you have completed your orthodontic treatment. Our dentists also recommend that you rinse your aligner off after eating and scrub it with a separate toothbrush at least once a day.
Our laboratory creates a set of customized aligners for each patient based on their X-ray results and impressions of their teeth. You should wear the first aligner for two weeks before discarding and replacing it with the next aligner in the set. Our patients typically wear 18 to 30 different aligners. The exact number of aligners you receive in your set depends on the severity of your orthodontic issues.
You will see Dr. David Schumer or Dr. Stefan Schumer every six weeks until you get to your last aligner. The total orthodontic treatment time when wearing clear braces ranges from nine to 15 months. The timeframe is significantly lower than traditional braces with an average of 24 months of treatment time.
How to Obtain Clear Braces
If you know that you or your child needs braces, the first step is to schedule a consultation with Dr. David Schumer or Dr. Stefan Schumer. You should come prepared to discuss your medical and dental history, including any prescription or non-prescription medications you take. Your dentist will explain the orthodontic treatment process with clear braces in detail and answer any questions you have about it at that time.
During this first appointment, your dentist takes X-rays and impressions of your teeth with dental putty. He also ensures you are a good candidate to receive clear braces. Although most patients can wear them without an issue, those with a significant overbite or underbite typically do better with traditional metal braces.
If you are a good candidate and want to proceed with getting clear braces, Dr. David Schumer or Dr. Stefan Schumer will send your X-rays, impressions, and visit notes to our laboratory, where technicians will create your set of customized clear aligners.
Clear braces offer many benefits compared to standard braces. They are removable and discreet, and the total treatment time is shorter. For this reason, the cost of clear braces is higher than that of metal braces. We are happy to provide a written estimate and discuss payment methods during your initial consultation.
We invite you to reach out to request an appointment with Dr. David Schumer or Dr. Stefan Schumer to learn more about clear braces in Elk Grove Village IL.
