Indiadens is a centre of excellence for dental treatment and oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures. It is one of the leading centres across DELHI NCR for Dental Implants, Smile Design, oral surgeries, dental lasers and cosmetic dentistry. It is one of the very few centres to be equipped with inhalational sedation facilities.
We come across many patients who are looking for smile makeovers, facial cosmetic procedures, alignment of teeth. Braces and aligners are also a part of treatment planning in many such cases.
We are listing a set of questions and answers which are very frequently asked by our patients.
If you are also curious about braces and clear aligners (aka invisible braces) and want to know what to expect on a daily basis from the overall treatment process, here are some of the questions we hear and our answers to them:
What is the duration of orthodontic treatment?
Orthodontic treatment usually takes 18 – 24 months. Some patients may finish treatment earlier and others may take longer to complete.
Factors determining the duration of treatment include the severity of the problem, the type of treatment rendered, and the patient’s cooperation.
What is the use of retainers in orthodontic treatment?
Wearing braces is called the active part of orthodontic treatment. Once that phase is over, the braces are removed, and retaining appliances are fitted to hold the teeth steady in their new position. These appliances may be removable (plates) or fixed (wires) fitted behind the teeth.
Retainers play an important role in the treatment. If they are not worn according to instructions, the teeth may move back towards their original position. They are usually worn for a year or more as determined by the orthodontist. The corrected teeth are then observed periodically for about five years after the retainers have been phased out.
What are the benefits of orthodontic treatment?
- A beautiful and healthy smile is more attractive and boosts your confidence
- It is much easier to brush, clean, and floss well-aligned teeth. Hence, there is a reduced risk of tooth decay
- Protruded/prominent teeth are more prone to injury. So orthodontic treatment helps prevent trauma to the teeth
- There is reduced grinding and chipping of teeth as they are in proper alignment
Do clear aligners work as well as braces? Does it take longer?
Clear aligners work as well as braces when patients wear them at least 20-22 hours a day. It will take longer if you don’t. However, there are some circumstances where braces work better than clear aligners. Consult with an orthodontist to find out which is the best option for you.
What should I do if the edges of the aligners are scratching me?
Take a nail file/emery board and use it to smooth the edge that is scratching your gums. If that does not work, please make an appointment at Indiadens to see our orthodontist adjust your clear aligner.
What should I do if I lose or break my aligners?
In the event that a clear aligner is lost or broken, please schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible, and we will evaluate whether we need to order a replacement clear aligner.
While waiting for your next appointment with us, try the next aligner. If you can get it to fully seat, continue wearing the next aligner. If the next aligner does not fully seat, go back to your previous aligner, and we will order you a replacement clear aligner.
Make sure to keep all your clear aligners for this reason. Sometimes, if teeth are not moving as they should, our orthodontists may request for you to move back to a previous clear aligner.
What should I do if I lose or break an attachment?
In the event that an attachment is lost or broken, please schedule an appointment with our office as soon as possible. Attachments are vital for tooth movement to occur predictably, so we will need to replace them as soon as possible.
Will the treatment be painful?
Most patients feel some tooth soreness for the first few days when starting clear aligner treatment. This is normal. The soreness should gradually go away after a few days. Over-the-counter pain medication can be used as needed following the medication’s instructions.
What are the different aligner companies in India?
There are many companies that manufacture custom-made or clear aligners. The industry pioneer in clear aligner technology is Invisalign by a US multinational medical device company called Align Technology.
However, with competitors cropping up in every field, there are various other companies that are now manufacturing clear aligners and are available in India. For example, 3M (USA), Straumann (Switzerland), K-Line (Germany), Dentcare (India).
