Clear Aligners – Glen Ellyn, IL

A More Comfortable Way to Straighten Your Smile

Woman blurry in background holding clear aligner to foreground

Do you have gapped, overcrowded, or crooked teeth making you feel self-conscious about your appearance? Traditional braces are the tried-and-true way to correct tooth and bite misalignments, but the bulky metal brackets and wires can be uncomfortable and attract more unwanted attention.

Our onsite expert, Dr. Golden, thankfully offers clear aligners, which are considered a more comfortable way to straighten your smile. Continue reading to learn more about this popular service and who it might benefit!

Why Choose Glen Ellyn Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics for Clear Aligners?

  • Orthodontics Offered to Patients of All Ages
  • Customized Transparent Trays
  • Less Invasive Treatment Option

How Clear Aligners Work

Gloved hands inserting clear aligner over woman’s upper arch

Unlike standard orthodontics, which utilize metallic brackets and wires attached to your teeth, this popular alternative solution uses a series of smooth, transparent plastic trays that are less likely to damage the tender tissues inside your mouth.

Your clear aligners are also custom-fitted to fit snugly over arches to exert enough gentle but consistent force to shift your teeth to their ideal places. You must wear them for 20 to 22 hours daily to prevent things from reverting to their starting places. Then, after a week or two, you’ll be directed to switch to the next set in your series to account for the ongoing movement of your smile.

Who Clear Aligners Can Help

Man in dental chair smiling at dentist holding clear aligner

This treatment continues to gain popularity among teens and adults because it’s considered a more comfortable and discreet alternative to standard braces. But that doesn’t mean it’s the best way to meet everyone’s unique needs.

Before proceeding, you must consult Dr. Golden to ensure you’re a good candidate. Then, based on his findings, he might recommend clear aligners to address the following concerns:

Crowded Teeth

Woman pointing to her lower arch of overcrowded teeth

You might think overcrowded teeth are ‘merely’ an aesthetic concern, but they can also make it harder to brush and floss all their surfaces, which increases the risk of developing dental problems, like cavities, gum disease, or other damage.

Clear aligners can often be used to help shift everything to its rightful place, improving your oral health and enhancing your appearance.  

Gaps Between Teeth

Woman with gap between upper front teeth smiling

Wider spaces between teeth leave parts of the gum tissue exposed and can trap food and other debris that attract disease- or decay-causing bacteria. Not only that, but you might feel self-conscious about gaps, especially if they’re in the front of your mouth where they’re likely to be noticed. Clear aligners can help pull your teeth closer together to perfect their arrangement.

Bite Alignment

Nose-to-neck view of man smiling with clear aligners with attachments

These transparent trays can also be used to address mild to moderate bite misalignments, such as overbite, underbite, or open bite, by correcting your jaw position. This ensures your upper and lower arches meet where they should each time you bite down, though it may require additional accessories, such as ‘buttons’, attachments, or elastic bands.

The Benefits of Clear Aligners

Woman outside smiling holding clear aligner

There are several excellent reasons to consider getting clear aligners with our Glen Ellyn team, including:

  • Fewer dietary restrictions. The trays aren’t intended to be worn during meals, so patients can enjoy all their favorite foods without worrying about damaging their orthodontics.
  • Easier to clean. These removable aligners allow you to brush and floss twice daily as usual, without the need for special products, like an interproximal brush or oral irrigator, which are often required for braces.
  • Improved confidence. The transparent material allows your natural enamel to show through to enhance your self-esteem.
  • More comfortable solution. The smooth trays are unlikely to poke or cut the insides of your cheeks, gums, or lips, the way sharp brackets and wires often do
  • Faster timelines. Many patients complete treatment with clear aligners in 12 to 18+ months, as compared to the 24+ months usually required for more traditional orthodontics.

How Much Do Clear Aligners Cost?

Hand holding out card to device reader for payment

Our Glen Ellyn office is in-network with Delta Dental Premier PPO insurance, and are also happy to work with other plans if there are applicable benefits. However, not all policies include orthodontics or clear aligners, and it’s natural to have questions about the price.

But the price of your treatment can vary depending on your unique circumstances and can be affected by different factors, including:

  • The number of aligners needed. The number of trays needed to help reach your goal is one of the primary factors that determines cost. Those with severe misalignments may require more trays to shift their teeth, increasing the total amount due.
  • How many arches are treated. In some cases, a single arch can be straightened, minimizing the number of aligners required.
  • Patient compliance. If you don’t wear the trays long enough or break or lose them, you might add weeks or months to your treatment timeline, requiring additional aligners and follow-up visits.
  • Other accessories. If your service requires elastic bands, chewies to help insert your aligners, or other add-ons, you’ll be responsible for the additional expenses.