Clear aligners gave me a perfect smile

As someone who has recently been gifted a new smile, I would like to throw some light on how those longing for the famed Hollywood smile can actually realise their dream. To start with I always had healthy teeth but the only problem was their crookedness. This not only made my smile look a bit awkward but also made it maintaining oral hygiene a difficult process. Every now and then a food particle would get stuck in between them and sometimes it became really difficult to dislodge them from the spaces. So, I had two reasons to undergo smile designing – for a perfect smile and better oral hygiene. I spoke to my aunt who had recently undergone tooth removal about how to start and she recommended her dentist and I immediately called her up and took an appointment. After a brief examination the dentist said that I have to wear an orthodontic appliance to get the perfect alignment. She presented with me different options in metal braces, clear braces, invisible braces and clear aligners. I had heard about the metal braces but didn't know anything about the rest. So, inquired about them. She began with clear braces. They are similar to metallic ones but the only thing that separates them is the material that is used in their making. They are made of composite materials varying in colours. The difference in colours is to match the teeth colour of different patients. The idea is to make them as less noticeable as possible. The invisible ones as the name goes are actually invisible but only to others. Yes! They, unlike the traditional methodology, are fitted to the back of the teeth which hides them from view. Hence, the name invisible braces. It was the last ones – the clear aligners -- that caught my attention. The aligners are plastic trays that are designed to fit on the teeth of individual patients after careful examination. Contrary to the braces, these are worn rather than being fixed and work on the same principle of applying steady, gentle pressure on the teeth to force them to their ideal positions. They are not only comfortable but are also flexible, invisible and don't interfere with your daily routines in anyway. I picked the last option – clear aligners. She also recommended me to undergo teeth whitening as my love for coffee and chocolates had stained them to an extent. I was more than happy to go for that. My curiosity also resulted in her telling me about other cosmetic treatment options available like veneers (for chipped tooth), implants (for missing tooth), crowns (misshapen tooth) and bonding (for damaged teeth to improve their appearance). I didn't need any of these but just the two – orthodontic (wearing aligners) and teeth whitening. You may need one or more of these options to design a perfect smile for yourself. Don't think too much about it. Go and see your dentist. She/he knows it better. And believe me – the feeling when you get after seeing your brand new perfect smile is incredible!

Invisible aligners: A secret way of getting perfect smile

So I was told about this magical dental appliance that goes by the name of invisible aligners. My parents wanted me to go for a dental makeover. I used to crib about my teeth all the time and how they were ruining my looks so my mother once took me to a nearby dentist. The dentist examined my mouth and what I could derive from the conversation he was having with my mother was that I don't have a severe case of malocclusion. Braces were the next thing that was suggested and I immediately protested. Obviously, I have friends of mine who have been wearing these clunky metals all the time. The thought of making conversations, giving speeches and partying with everybody noticing them made me shudder for a moment. So, the plan was dropped. After a few days, my father told me about these clear aligners that one of his friends from the office in turn told him about. All I gathered from his technical jargons was that they won't be visible to others while I undergo the treatment. I was happy.

The next day, an appointment with a dentist who was certified by Clearpath – a company we came across while searching about the various options on the internet. We were very much impressed by what the website said about the whole process of treatment. My only consideration was that it should happen discreetly and without causing me much trouble. The dentist took photos, impressions and X-rays of my mouth and said he was sending them to Clearpath for examination. They are the ones who will create customised invisible aligners for you. They also prepare a virtual setup to show you how your teeth will look after the treatment and how the entire process will shape out. The results were observed and after my father was satisfied with them, clearance was given to start manufacturing the aligners. The prospect of finally getting a set of bright, white, perfectly arranged teeth made me jump with excitement.

After my first set came, it actually made me even happier. They were nothing but crystal clear transparent plastic trays. I was told that they have been made from some medical grade plastic. The first time, they felt a bit tight and there was this odd feeling too. I told my dentist about that and he reassured that it is normal and I will eventually get accustomed to it. Another thing that troubled me was whether they will get stained when I eat something or how am I going to brush or floss my teeth with them on. I mean, the dentist isn't going to be there every time to get them off. However, he said it wasn't necessary. While, I have to keep them wearing all day long but they can be taken off when necessary. And he laid much emphasis on the word 'necessary'. It took ten weeks for my teeth to get perfectly straight and the best thing was the look on my close pal Peter's face when he came to know that I underwent dental treatment. He couldn't believe it but once I showed him my teeth, all he could do was gasp in surprise!

How Anna perfected her smile with clear aligners?

I have a friend who had a hard time when undergoing dental treatment for misaligned teeth. She is a working professional and has to deal with clients giving presentations. So, being presentable automatically becomes a part of her job. She is of the opinion that looking good involves not only a flawless skin but also a pleasant smile. While I do not agree with her former argument related to the skin but I do believe that smile plays an important part in enhancing the beauty. She used to suffer from mild case of malocclusion. So, she never gave it much emphasis. However, after joining the cut-throat world of advertising, she was forced to give her teeth a look. After a careful self-observation, she realised that indeed the slight crowding of teeth was affecting her smile. She went to her dentist who in turn recommended her to wear braces. Since she has to work, it was decided that clear braces should be used.

Now, one may ask what exactly clear braces are. I too was curious when she told me about them. However, once she started wearing them, things became clearer. These are like traditional metal braces but are made of materials that vary in colour. The change in colour is to match the natural colour of the patients' teeth. Some of them can be altogether translucent so that they are less noticeable then traditional ones. They are made of ceramics and thus I had to go closer and concentrate more than usual to notice that she was actually wearing braces. This worked well for the first few weeks and then...

But here comes the sad part, my friend, Anna, cannot live without coffee and cola drinks and candies too. While a low dose of these eatables won't hurt you but what if you are addicted to them? Well Anna is kind of and this proved to be bad for her braces. After three weeks, the braces were stained badly and became easily noticeable. The only reason that Anna had opted for clear braces was their invisibility factor which now became null and void. The same problem I found in some of my Indian friends whose ceramic braces got stained by spices in food. Anna could have continued with them if it wasn't for her work. Eventually, it was decided that she must get new braces. However, it was hard for her to rein in her food habits. So the dentist came up with new idea of ClearPath’s clear aligners and believe me it was the happiest that I had seen Anna in a month since her clear braces were stained.

ClearPath clear aligners are transparent plastic trays which are worn over teeth and just like braces, these push the misaligned teeth into their ideal positions without creating much fuss. What more, she can take them out while eating, drinking and cleaning teeth and the fact that they are virtually invisible came as a boon for her. The entire process of treatment involves minimal visits and she had to visit her dentist very occasionally. This was only after wearing those medical grade plastic trays that her dentist told are the popular options all over the world these days.