Clear Aligners in Cocoa Beach
A Discreet Answer to Crooked & Crowded Teeth
Many patients want to pursue straighter, more aesthetically pleasing teeth through orthodontic treatment, but the thought of wearing metal braces for months or even years on end understandably gives them pause. Thankfully, there’s an alternative: clear aligners in Cocoa Beach. This treatment consists of customized, transparent trays that each represent a different stage of the smile as teeth are gradually shifted. They are also removable, which allows patients to continue to eat their favorite foods, brush and floss, and even enjoy important occasions to the fullest.
Why Choose Lineberry Dental of Cocoa Beach for Clear Aligners?
- Completely Personalized Treatment Plans
- State-of-the-Art Dental Technology Always Used
- Dentist is an Accredited Member of the AACD
How Clear Aligners Work
After Dr. Lineberry has determined that you’re a good candidate for clear aligner treatment, our team will capture three-dimensional images of your smile and jaw and transfer them to the laboratory so they can create your new aligners. The number of aligners you’ll be provided with varies from case to case, but typically, anywhere from 20 to 30 are necessary. The patient will then be instructed to wear their aligners constantly, save for when they’re eating or drinking. This is important because food can become trapped against the teeth if the tray is left in place, contributing to decay.
In most cases, patients need to switch out their aligners for the next one every couple of weeks. You’ll also attend brief appointments with Dr. Lineberry so that he can gauge your progress. That’s all there is to it!
Who Can Clear Aligners Help?
As a versatile treatment option for various dental problems (i.e., overcrowding, gapped teeth, bite alignment issues), this highly sought-after method of orthodontic care allows patients to straighten their smiles without the harsh metal brackets and wires.
Crowded Teeth
When teeth appear too close to each other, you will experience difficulty brushing and flossing effectively. This will leave you vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease because of the accumulated plaque and tartar that cannot easily be removed. Clear aligners can move your teeth in the right direction, allowing for additional space between each tooth.
Gaps Between Teeth
Patients often assume that the gaps between their teeth are only an aesthetic concern. That’s not the case! This orthodontic problem can also negatively impact the health and function of your smile in the short and long-term. The good news is that clear aligners can eliminate this extra space, providing you with a more aesthetically pleasing appearance and cavity, as well as a disease-free smile.
Overbite
An overbite is when your front teeth sit in front of your bottom teeth, but there is a considerable space between the two that makes everyday things like chewing properly and speaking clearly difficult. Fortunately, clear aligners have a unique way of shifting teeth so you no longer suffer the negative effects of a poorly aligned bite. Instead, you will be able to embrace a new and improved smile that looks and functions normally!
Underbite
An underbite is when the lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth, placing your jaw in an unnatural position and increasing your risk of TMJ dysfunction, chronic jaw pain, and premature wear. Fortunately, we can often use clear aligners as well as other orthodontic accessories, like rubber bands, to realign bites, minimizing wear and tear in the process. If you want to find out if you’re a candidate, the next step is simple: contact us to schedule a consultation!
Crossbite
Essentially, a crossbite is a mixture of an overbite and an underbite. One of our biggest concerns with this orthodontic problem is premature wear and tear on your teeth. That’s why we recommend scheduling a consultation with us to find out if you’re a candidate for clear aligners! If you are, we can create a custom series of clear aligners to gently and meticulously guide your teeth and bite into their proper positions.
Open Bite
An open bite is when your teeth don’t come together evenly in the front or back. Sometimes, that means there is a small space between your back teeth. Other times, that means there is considerable space between your front teeth. In both cases, it’s important that you explore your orthodontic treatment options before problems like premature wear and chronic jaw pain arise.
Benefits of Clear Aligners
When choosing clear aligners, your cosmetic dentist in Cocoa Beach will go over all the advantages you’ll experience by wearing these clear aligners. Instead of the stricter, less flexible solution that is traditional braces, they enable you to undergo an orthodontic treatment that caters to the busy, image-conscious individual who wants fast and proven results. Want to learn more? Here are some of the benefits you can expect with clear aligners:
Braces That Are Completely Metal-Free
While traditional braces are reliable, safe, and have been a tried-and-true orthodontic treatment for years, they leave much to be desired when it comes to appearance. Clear aligners, on the other hand, are a more aesthetically pleasing solution that doesn’t compromise your daily appearance. In fact, unless they know what to look for, there’s a good chance that even those closest to you won’t be able to tell when you’re wearing the aligners and when you aren’t.
Freedom to Eat Your Favorite Foods
In an effort to prevent broken brackets, protruding wires, and other common orthodontic emergencies, patients with traditional braces are asked to eliminate certain foods from their diets, like whole apples. That’s not the case with clear aligners! Since the aligners are removable (and you’re required to take them off before eating or drinking anything other than water), you can enjoy all your favorite foods throughout the teeth-straightening process.
Hassle-Free Dental Care
Keeping your aligners clean and clear is easy because you only need three things: a soft-bristled toothbrush, clear soap, and lukewarm water. Turns out, keeping your smile happy and healthy is easy too, because the trays are removable. So, you don’t need to adopt a complex dental care regimen or buy any special oral hygiene products to effectively clean your teeth during your orthodontic treatment. Simply brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash as usual!
Shorter Average Treatment Timeline
If you have an important event on the horizon – whether it’s a wedding, a big move, or a dream vacation – you might not want to commit to 3+ years of wearing braces. Fortunately, the average treatment timeline with clear aligners is only 12-18 months! So, if you start within the next few weeks, there’s a good chance that you’ll have the smile you’ve always wanted by this time next year.
No Soft Tissue Irritation
In addition to being quite noticeable, traditional braces are quite uncomfortable at times. That’s not the case with clear aligners because the aligners are completely metal-free! Plus, the smooth plastic is crafted to fit the contours of your teeth perfectly, reducing the chances of you experiencing soft tissue irritation even further.
Tip: If one of your aligners is bothering you, let us know so we can file down the edge, making it fit perfectly in the process.
Living with Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are designed to fit your lifestyle without causing major disruptions. They’re discreet, comfortable, and easy to manage with a few simple habits. At Lineberry Dental of Cocoa Beach, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know from wearing and cleaning your trays to handling the occasional mishap. Whether you're at home, school, or work, living with clear aligners is easy, and the results are well worth the effort.
Wearing Your Trays
For the best results, wear your trays 20 to 22 hours per day. They should only be removed when you eat, drink anything besides water, or clean your teeth. The more consistently you wear them, the more effective and efficient your treatment will be. This can be the most difficult part of the process, but once you’ve mastered managing your time, your trays will become just another part of your daily routine.
Cleaning Your Aligners
Keeping your trays clean is essential to maintaining a healthy smile and avoiding delays to your treatment. Gently brush them with a soft toothbrush and lukewarm water at least twice a day—ideally every time you brush your teeth. Avoid using toothpaste, as it can scratch the plastic of your aligners. Cleaning crystals or gentle, clear liquid soap also works great!
Making cleanliness a part of your aligner routine every day will keep your aligners fresh, clear, and free of bacteria or buildup.
Eating & Drinking
One of the biggest perks is that you can still enjoy your favorite foods throughout your treatment. As long as you remember to remove your trays before eating or drinking anything other than water, anything is on the table. Just be sure to store your aligners in a protective case to avoid damaging them.
After meals, brush your teeth before putting your trays back in to avoid trapping food or sugar. Even if you take your aligners out, putting them back on before a good brushing will cause them to stain or could weaken your enamel, causing cavities.
Losing or Damaging a Tray
Accidents happen—and if you lose or damage a tray, there’s no reason to panic. Just contact us at our Cocoa Beach dental practice right away so we can help you move forward.
Depending on where you are in your treatment, we might advise moving to the next set, going back to a previous one, or ordering a replacement. This is another reason why keeping your aligners in their case when you’re not using them is so important.
Routine Check-Ins
Clear aligners don’t require as many visits as traditional braces, but routine check-ins are still a vital part of the process. Every 6–8 weeks, you’ll visit our team so we can track your progress and make sure your aligners are working as planned.
These appointments are quick and usually involve a brief exam before receiving your next set of trays. Staying consistent with these visits helps keep your smile on track and avoids unnecessary delays in your treatment.
Understanding the Cost of Clear Aligners
Since there is no set price for clear aligners, we can’t give you an estimate until you sit down with Dr. Lineberry to discuss your eligibility and treatment plan. After all, each patient is different and has unique needs, making the cost different for everyone. The good news is that we can provide you with a number at your consultation, and you can read on to learn more about the topic in the meantime!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Clear Aligners
Simply put, there are several factors that will contribute to the overall cost of clear aligners, including:
- How many aligners you will need to complete treatment
- How severe your problem is at the start of treatment
- Whether you will require any pre-orthodontic dental work (i.e., tooth extraction, periodontal therapy)
- The number of potential replacement aligners, should you accidentally lose or damage one
- The retainer you will need to wear when finished
Do Professional Aligners Cost More Than Mail-In Aligners?
Usually, professional aligners cost more than mail-in aligners. Why? To start, mail-in options completely bypass the initial exam, rely on DIY impressions, and often aren’t supervised by licensed dental professionals. If this sounds dangerous to you, it certainly can be! In fact, there have been several patients who have experienced worsened misalignment and even serious dental emergencies, like loose teeth. That’s why it’s best to opt for a reliable, professional, and safe orthodontic treatment.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Clear Aligners?
Your dental insurance company will likely cover orthodontic care in some capacity. So, make sure to double-check the fine print on your plan! If you need some help with this process, a member of our administrative team will be happy to check on your behalf if you prefer. We have years and years of experience working with our patients to help them maximize their coverage to the fullest so they don’t have to stress or worry, and we’d be more than happy to do the same for you.
Options for Making Clear Aligners Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, you’ll be happy to know that there are other financial solutions available to our patients. We welcome flexible financing with CareCredit! Simply put, there’s more than one way to get the treatment you need while staying within your budget. So, don’t let the lack of dental insurance stop you from scheduling a consultation with us. We’d be happy to provide you with further details on the financial solutions available, answer any questions you have, and help you determine which one is right for you.
Clear Aligner FAQs
Does wearing clear aligners hurt?
Traditional metal braces are notorious for their sharp wires and brackets that rasp against sensitive soft tissues like your lips, cheeks, and tongue. Thankfully, clear aligners are crafted out of a single smooth piece of biocompatible plastic. This should help you enjoy a much more comfortable straightening experience!
However, it is normal to experience some soreness when shifting your teeth into place. Typically, you can expect to feel some discomfort each time you start a new set of aligners, but it should be mild and fade on its own in no time. You can minimize your soreness by applying an ice pack, taking over-the-counter pain relievers as directed, or starting each new set of aligners right before bed.
How long do I have to wear my clear aligners every day?
While their removable nature is one of its most popular benefits, it’s also its largest responsibility. It’s up to you to wear your aligners for enough time every day to keep up with the predicted timeline of your treatments. You should wear your aligners for 20-22 hours each day. This should give you plenty of time to take them out to brush, floss, eat, drink, and play sports. If you frequently don’t wear your aligners for enough time every day, you could increase the length and cost of your treatment.
Are clear aligner results permanent?
The results have the potential to last for the rest of your life, as long as you take the right steps to protect your investment! It’s essential that you follow all of Dr. Lineberry’s instructions and wear your aligners every day for the right amount of time. In addition, just like any other orthodontic treatment, you’ll need to wear a custom retainer for a time once you’ve finished your treatment. This will help hold your teeth in the right position permanently so you can enjoy a beautiful smile for life.
Can I get clear aligners if I’ve had metal braces before?
Did you have traditional metal braces earlier in life, but now find that your teeth are crooked again? Unfortunately, this is a common problem, especially for patients who neglect to wear their retainers regularly. Thankfully, clear aligners are an excellent choice for correcting all sorts of misalignment and crowding, so there’s a very good chance that they can help you regain your results. However, every case is unique. During your consultation, Dr. Lineberry will carefully inspect your teeth, jaw, and bite alignment to see if they offer the most effective way to straighten your teeth.
Are you ready to start your journey towards a straighter smile? Give us a call today and schedule your consultation!