If you are serious about straightening your teeth with clear aligners, you might want to know if the cost will be worth it. In this blog, our dentists in Edmonton talk about the factors you should take into consideration when deciding on treatment with clear aligners.
What are clear aligners?
There are several brands of clear aligners available, and they all come with a series of removable, custom-made clear aligners that you would have to wear on your teeth and switch out approximately every 2 weeks. Every set gradually shifts your teeth in tiny increments.
The benefits of clear aligners
One possible advantage of clear aligners is that you are able to take them out to eat, drink and brush your teeth.
Depending on your orthodontic condition and the brand you select, your clear aligners could resolve various orthodontic issues such as crowding, bite issues, and misalignment of teeth. This treatment option is popular with both adults and teenagers because of their discreet appearance. Plus, because they are removable there are no dietary restrictions.
Your clear aligners also won’t require tightening or adjustments which can sometimes be uncomfortable. You just have to check in with your dentist on a regular basis to review your progress.
How much will clear aligners cost?
A few factors will determine the cost of your clear aligners:
- Your location and average prices for clear aligners
- Your oral health requirements and how much work you will need
- Any coverage you can get through an insurance plan
Depending on your circumstances and the brand of clear aligners you choose, you will likely end up paying around the same amount as you would for braces - perhaps slightly more.
How long would my treatment be?
Investing in clear aligners for the improvement of your smile is a commitment to following the instructions of your treatment, so you will be able to enjoy straighter teeth in the future. Only your dentist will be able to determine your exact requirements, therefore the length of your treatment. Elements that could impact the duration of your treatment include:
- The severity of your misalignment
- The number of aligners in your series
- Your compliance with your custom treatment plan
If you follow the treatment plan exactly as prescribed, clear aligners should be able to help straighten your teeth and improve your smile. Once you know how many aligners are in your series, you should be able to find out how long your treatment will be by doing some basic math.
Assuming you have 16 sets of aligners and switch them every 2 weeks, you’d use 2 sets of aligners per month. 16 divided by 2 is 8, meaning your treatment will take 8 months.
Most patients should start seeing results near the 4- to 6-week mark. You may want to take a photo of your smile each week so that you can get a good idea of how much your teeth are moving, and thus the value your clear aligners are bringing to your smile - and your oral health.