Clear Aligners

Want a straighter smile without the hassle of metal braces? Clear aligners are a modern, nearly invisible way to correct crooked, crowded, or gapped teeth. Each set of custom-made, removable trays gently shifts your teeth into place a little at a time, so you can straighten your smile without anyone noticing. Since aligners come out to eat, brush, and floss, there are no food restrictions and keeping your teeth clean stays simple. At Dentistry on the Ponds, Dr. Monil Mehta and our team will create a personalized treatment plan designed around your goals and lifestyle. Read on or give us a call today to learn more about clear aligners in Chanhassen.

How Clear Aligners Work

Instead of using metal brackets and wires to straighten your teeth, clear aligners slowly shift your teeth into their new places. You will wear each set for about two weeks before moving on to the next one. Over time, your teeth will gradually move to their aligned locations. Unlike traditional braces, you won’t have to have anything tightened throughout your treatment, but you will still need to come to the office from time to time to ensure that the treatment is going as planned.

Indications for Clear Aligners

Clear aligners can correct a variety of different alignment issues. Here are some of the most common ones.

Crowded Teeth

For teeth that have become crowded and overlapping, clear aligners are an excellent solution. Clear aligners apply gentle pressure to different parts of the teeth to shift them to a more aligned position. This helps to prevent problems from arising, like cavities and gum disease, that are common for people who have overcrowding.

Gaps Between Teeth

When teeth are too far apart, gaps can become apparent. They also put you at much higher risk for oral health issues and tooth damage because food debris and plaque become more easily trapped and difficult to remove. Clear aligners can move your teeth to be the perfect distance apart.

Bite Alignment

If your bite is misaligned, you can develop problems, like temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) and bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding). Clear aligners are effective when it comes to correcting overbites, underbites, crossbites, and more!

The Benefits of Clear Aligners

If it’s determined that you make a good candidate for the treatment, here are some of the benefits that you can expect to experience:

Comfort: No brackets and wires mean no soft-tissue irritation. Occasional discomfort is normal, but it doesn’t last very long and is easy to manage. You can even start a new set of aligners before bed so you can sleep through the initial soreness.
No Eating Restrictions: As long as you remove your aligners beforehand and take the time to brush and floss before putting them back in, you can eat pretty much anything you want.
Discreet: Clear aligners are virtually undetectable. It is unlikely that anyone will be able to tell that you’re wearing them.

How Much Do Clear Aligners Cost?

Numerous factors contribute to the cost of your Clear Aligners treatment, like the complexity of your misalignment and bite issues, your age, and how often you wear your aligners. To find out exactly how much your treatment will cost, schedule an initial consultation with us. This way, your dentist can give you a cost estimate and take the time to discuss your financial options with you. At Dentistry on the Ponds, we are in-network with various PPO dental insurance plans, including HealthPartners and Delta Dental Premier, and we also welcome patients with out-of-network providers.