Aligner: Invisible aligners for adults

 More and more adults prefer this discreet type of treatment when their teeth are misaligned.

Aligners, also known as aligners, are becoming increasingly popular, especially with adults. They correct misaligned teeth discreetly and without any restrictions in everyday life. In this article, you will find all information about the topic of dental splints. Among other things, you will learn that

an aligner treatment can last 9 to 18 months.

Tooth correction with aligners is less painful than with fixed braces.

the costs of an aligner treatment amount to several thousand euros.

The principle of tooth splints

Aligners are  removable, wafer-thin, transparent tooth splints made of plastic.  They bring the teeth into the desired position. Individual aligners are adapted for each patient.

To do this, an impression of your teeth is first taken. The aligner is then modeled using special 3-D software. Depending on the course of treatment, you will receive  3 to 9 individual splints per jaw.  The splints are replaced every  2 to 3 weeks. In contrast to braces, the aligners have no adjustable elements. Instead, new ones are made for each individual step.

Treatment with an aligner lasts between 9 and 18 months.  The duration of treatment depends on the one hand on the degree of tooth misalignment. On the other hand, the decisive factor is how quickly the patient responds to the treatment.

How does a dental splint work?

Aligners move the teeth in controlled steps, and very gently. Each individual splint exerts a slight pressure on the teeth and thereby moves them into the desired position. Once the teeth are in the correct position, the plastic splint is used to hold the teeth in that position.

The teeth are moved step by step in the individual treatment phases. At the beginning of each phase, the patients usually feel a slight pressure from the new splint.  This is how they notice that the dental splint is working. After a few days, however, the feeling of pressure disappears and the splint is comfortable to wear.

Aligner treatments should only be performed by experienced specialists. Look for certification for the technique used. This will avoid painful side effects.

Differences between aligners and fixed braces

Dental aligners and braces differ in their basic functionality: Fixed braces bring the teeth into the desired position due to the tensile force. In contrast, the toothed splints exert a  compressive force. As a result of the pressure, your teeth rotate and correct themselves into the target position. The tooth rotation is very gentle. This means that aligners correct slight tooth misalignments painlessly and without additional stress on the gums. This makes tooth splints suitable for both adults and children.

Requirements and applications for tooth splints

You do not have to meet any special requirements for aligner treatment. Your teeth and gums should only be in good health. This will ensure that the orthodontic treatment is carried out optimally.

Treatment with a plastic splint is possible for both mild and severe malpositions. A transparent dental splint can be the method of choice if you have one of the following misalignments:

Crowding of teeth

Gaps between teeth

Crossbite

Overbite

Underbite

If the teeth are crowded, the jaw does not have enough space for all the teeth. This causes the teeth to lean forward or backward or to turn in easily. As a result, you can no longer reach all areas when brushing your teeth. This increases the risk of tooth and gum disease.

The reason for gaps between teeth is too large a jaw or small or missing teeth. The teeth have too much space, which creates free spaces. To fill them, they move.

In the case of a  crossbite,  the teeth do not fit together correctly. They are leaning forward or backward so they cannot bite each other cleanly. As a result, the teeth wear out over time. The result can even be tooth loss.

With an overbite,  the upper teeth protrude beyond the lower ones. Usually, the excessive development of the upper jawbone is to blame for this misalignment. The underbite is the exact opposite. The lower teeth protrude over the upper ones. In this case, the cause is the excessive growth of the lower jaw bone.

Professional support from the orthodontist

Do you have one of these misaligned teeth? Then seek advice from an orthodontist. Only have the invisible aligners made for you if he recommends this treatment. Therapy with the aligners is not recommended without professional supervision. Because the  wrong use of  the rails harbors many  risks:

Bleeding gums and the resulting damage to the gums

Tooth loss

Unwanted bite changes

Before starting orthodontic treatment, the orthodontist will check the health of your teeth. He will check whether your gums and teeth are strong enough to respond optimally to the treatment.

Your orthodontist will create a precise treatment plan for the use of the aligners based on your tooth profile. This includes the wearing times and the duration of treatment.

How long does the treatment with the aligners take?

The duration of treatment depends on how much you want your teeth to be corrected. Often, aligners achieve a visible adjustment of the teeth after just 24 hours. Removal is not recommended because the new position of the teeth has not yet been established. So your teeth can turn back to their old position.

Dental studies have shown that it takes around 14 days for the jawbones and gums to optimally assume the intended position. The new position is then fixed, your teeth will not turn back. Your orthodontist will discuss the individual duration of treatment and any treatment breaks with you in detail.

A dental splint corrects your teeth by up to 0.33 mm. If this correction is not sufficient for the desired position, you will receive another set of aligners after the first 14 days. These replace the previous aligners and continue the treatment. For a perfect result, your orthodontist will always determine which aligners are recommended.

On average, the treatment with the aligners lasts for  13 months.  During the day you do without the rails afterward. At night you wear tooth stabilizers, so-called retainers.  This allows the new position of your teeth to be fixed.

 

Dental aligners are in use day and night

You wear your aligners both day and night. In this way an optimal correction of your teeth is possible. When eating and during your daily teeth cleaning, you can remove the splints and then put them back in again without any problems. As a result, they offer greater comfort in everyday life than fixed braces, which remain in the mouth while eating.

At night, the aligners have a practical side effect: They work like bite splints. Thus, they prevent teeth grinding and prevent further damage to the teeth.

Use and care for aligners correctly

You take out your aligners several times a day to eat and brush your teeth. Always wash your hands thoroughly before removing them so that as few bacteria and germs as possible get into the mouth. It is also important that you reinsert the aligners correctly and take good care of them.

Carefully remove the aligners so that the plastic elements do not bend. Be careful not to interchange the rails for the upper and lower jaw. Keep the aligners in a clean jar while you eat or clean your teeth. Do not use sharp objects to remove the rails.

Like your teeth, the aligners also need  regular and thorough cleaning:

Use a  soft toothbrush to clean the aligners.

Use mild toothpaste to remove impurities, germs, and bacteria.

Do not use mouthwashes or denture cleaners to clean the aligners. Because both attack the plastic and can damage the rails.

After cleaning with toothpaste, rinse the aligners thoroughly with lukewarm water. The water must not be hot,  otherwise, the plastic will deform.

Use special cleaning products for braces once a week.  These clean the aligners more thoroughly and also loosen stubborn dirt.

Proper oral hygiene is important

In addition to cleaning the aligners, be sure to ensure optimal oral hygiene. How to prevent damage and  diseases to the gums and teeth  :

If you only drink water, the aligners can stay in your mouth. Remove the rails for all other drinks, especially hot ones. Because hot drinks can deform the plastic.

Remove the aligners before eating.

Thoroughly clean your teeth before inserting the aligners. Use either so-called interdental brushes or dental floss for the spaces between the teeth.

If you do not have the opportunity to brush your teeth thoroughly after eating, be sure to rinse your mouth. Then get back to brushing your teeth as soon as possible.

Before you put the aligners back in, rinse them under running, lukewarm water.

Quick help in the event of damage

Toothed splints are only made of plastic. A small amount of inattention can be enough to damage the material. Cracks, but also broken rails, make the aligners unusable.  Try to get help quickly: make an appointment with your orthodontist immediately. He will look at the damage and prescribe or give you new splints if necessary.

Always clarify even minor damage. Have the rails z. B. deformed, there is a risk that it no longer comes to the optimal correction position. At the same time, this increases the risk of complications.  Small edges and cracks can trigger bleeding gums, for example. Bacteria and germs then get into the deeper layers through open wounds in the gums. In the worst case, they cause infections and inflammation there.

Advantages and disadvantages of an aligner

Using a dental splint to correct misaligned teeth has a number of advantages. These include:

invisibility

No irritation of the oral cavity from metal or wires

Less painful than fixed braces

Comfortable to wear

Easy oral hygiene

Individual course of treatment

An aligner is almost or even completely invisible to others. This is particularly beneficial for adults in everyday life.

In addition, a dental splint is much more comfortable to wear than fixed braces: a dental splint has no metal or wire in your mouth. In contrast to braces, the metals cause injuries or inflammation in the oral cavity. And in some cases even trigger allergies.

In addition, the treatment is overall less painful compared to fixed braces.

Since the plastic rail is removable, you have fewer restrictions in everyday life.  For one, you can eat all foods without damaging your braces. On the other hand, you can continue to ensure optimal oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth is much easier than with fixed braces: after you have removed the splint, brush your teeth as usual. Then insert the cleaned dental splint again.

The individual tooth splints are individually adapted for you. This allows you to influence the course of treatment yourself.

If you find the pressure of the aligner too strong, your orthodontist can plan for smaller intermediate steps. In order to advance the treatment more quickly, intermediate steps can be saved. As soon as you are satisfied with the position of your teeth, it is possible to end the treatment earlier.  Let your orthodontist advise you on this.

Correcting misalignments with the help of aligners also affects other areas of the body. They help with muscle or joint problems such as headaches, jaw cracking, or grinding teeth at night: The jaw is permanently stressed by crooked teeth. The consequences are, for example, the tension that spreads from the jaw to the neck, head, and back. With a tooth correction, this tension can be released and headaches and back pain can be alleviated.

Despite the numerous advantages, you should also be aware of the disadvantages of aligners, such as B .:

Speech disorders at the beginning

Irritation of the tongue and cheek mucosa

Teeth sensitive to pressure

Wearing a dental splint to correct your teeth can cause side effects. During the acclimatization phase with a new splint, it is often difficult for patients to speak.  Therefore, there may be a slight lisp, just like with the first braces.

In addition, irritation to the lining of the tongue and cheek sometimes occurs. Occasionally, those who wear a dental splint also have problems chewing as the pressure makes the teeth sensitive.

It should also be clear to you that a plastic splint must be worn 24 hours a day during treatment   - except for eating and cleaning. You have to make sure to use the aligner again and again. That requires a high level of self-discipline.

Cost of a dental splint and coverage by the health insurance

The cost of a dental splint for adults is individual. They depend on the scope of the treatment: the more individual steps, the higher the costs. There are also price differences between manufacturers. Basically, however, the costs of a dental splint are comparable to those of conventional fixed braces. 

People with statutory health insurance usually have to pay this amount themselves.  In some cases, some statutory health insurances take over part of the costs for a dental splint if the regulation of a misaligned tooth is necessary for health reasons.

Conclusion

An aligner is a  sensible alternative to fixed braces for the correction of teeth in adults. The invisible splint can hardly be seen in everyday life and is comfortable to wear.

In most cases, however, legally insured persons have to pay the costs for the aligner themselves. Therefore, seek advice from an orthodontist. They can recommend the best treatment for your teeth.