Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Dr. Ricardo S. Bocanegra, DDS
ClearCorrect is a clear aligner system used to straighten teeth as an alternative to traditional braces. Similar to other clear aligner brands (like Invisalign) available to dentists or orthodontists certified to offer them to their patients, ClearCorrect straightens teeth using a series of clear, custom-made, removable aligners that gradually move teeth a little bit at a time, eventually correcting the teeth and smile to elicit a new, revitalized look.
What You Should Know
Your records — including impressions, photographs and radiographs, along with a prescription for your custom-made aligners — are sent by your dentist to the ClearCorrect laboratory, where an exact 3-D model of your teeth is created. Your treatment team then maps out a complete treatment plan showing the gradual realignment that will reposition your teeth from their current position to where your dentist wants them to be.
The “treatment set-up,” a computerized representation of your teeth before and after treatment, is available for viewing after treatment planning. You receive your treatment set-up by email and respond with your approval or any adjustment requests. Using the most up-to-date digital mapping and molding technology, custom aligners then are created with computer precision.
How it Works
ClearCorrect treatment involves four phases of aligner therapy. Each phase requires a new set of aligners that are worn for a three-week period. The time between each phase allows for control and flexibility.
ClearCorrect aligners are worn all the time, except when eating and drinking, or while brushing and flossing. Designed with aesthetics in mind, the aligners are barely noticeable and won’t have an impact on your daily routine.
After wearing each aligner set, results will be noticeable as your teeth begin slowly adjusting and aligning to your desired smile. Periodic check-ups with your dentist are required so your progress can be evaluated and you can be given the next set of aligners. This sequence will continue until you have achieved your new smile.
Treatment time can vary from one to two years, depending upon your specific condition and degree of misalignment. There are three treatment options available:
• Unlimited: Patients are provided with as many aligners needed to complete the case.
• Limited 12: Patients are provided with 12 sets of aligners.
• Limited 6: Patients are provided with 6 sets of aligners.
The cost of treatment varies from option to option, with Unlimited at the top of the cost spectrum. To determine the best treatment option for you and to further evaluate costs, setup a consultation with a ClearCorrect provider in your area.
Who Can Benefit?
ClearCorrect currently is available to treat adults and teenagers. (Compare with Invisalign Teen.) Children who might not have all of their molars and senior citizens who present with more complicated dental cases also may be candidates for ClearCorrect, but should consult with their dentists to determine the treatment option that best suits their needs.
ClearCorrect can be used to treat the following orthodontic conditions:
• Crowded teeth
• Spacing between teeth
• Overbites
• Underbites
• Crooked or turned (rotated) teeth
ClearCorrect vs. Traditional Orthodontics
In cases where ClearCorrect is not suitable for certain misalignment cases or complex bite problems, traditional orthodontics can be used. However, traditional metal braces are attached to the teeth and adjusted periodically by your dentist, and they are not removed until your treatment is complete. Also, traditional braces might hinder your ability to perform routine oral hygiene tasks and might interfere with eating and speaking.
On the other hand, the aligners are custom fit to your teeth to provide an irritation-free treatment, with nearly no adjustment discomfort.
ClearCorrect vs. Invisalign
ClearCorrect and Invisalign both are a series of clear, custom-fit, removable aligners that slowly realign teeth into the desired position. Fabricated impressions then are used to create a 3-D model of the teeth. Both are possible solutions to correcting problems such as crowded or spaced teeth, overbites, underbites and crooked (turned) teeth. ClearCorrect aligners offer enhanced clarity (meaning they’re virtually invisible) and are minimally invasive. They’re also resistant to clouding from wear.
Both aligners are provided in sets, and periodic follow-up appointments with your dentist are required so he/she can check your progress. Invisalign requires 20 to 30 aligners for both the upper and lower teeth, and most adults complete their treatment within a year. ClearCorrect treatment for moderate cases requires 32 steps of treatment, which are delivered in eight phases. Minor cases require 12 steps of treatment, delivered in three phases. However, treatment times vary from one to two years, depending on the specific alignment problem.
Getting Started
Only your dentist can determine if ClearCorrect is the right orthodontic treatment option for you. Call Porto Fino Dental to schedule a consultation to determine if ClearCorrect is the right option for you!
Porto Fino Dental
6805 Porto Fino Cir., Fort Myers, Fl 33912
239-482-8806
www.portofinodental.org
