Clear Aligners

Orthodontic treatment with clear aligners provides a simple and convenient way to straighten your teeth or jaw. At Plaza Dental Group in West Des Moines, Iowa, the dental team regularly prescribes clear aligners from Invisalign® to children, teenagers, and adults. To request a clear aligner consultation for yourself or your child, call the office or use the online booking feature today.

What are clear aligners?

Clear aligners are removable orthodontic appliances that fit over your upper or lower dental arch. They place mild pressure on your teeth and jaw, slowly improving their alignment and position.

Clear aligners provide a discreet alternative to traditional metal braces. As a result, they’re quite popular with teenagers and working professionals.

What types of problems can clear aligners treat?

At Plaza Dental Group, the team uses clear aligners to treat various orthodontic problems, including:

• Crowding
• Overlapping teeth
• Crooked teeth
• Gaps between the teeth

You might also benefit from treatment with clear aligners if you have a bite problem, like crossbite, overbite, or underbite.

What does clear aligner treatment involve?

At Plaza Dental Group, clear aligners treatment begins with a review of your dental records, a series of digital X-rays, and a discussion of what you like and dislike about your smile. Your dentist also completes an oral exam, checking the alignment of your teeth and jaw.

If you have crooked or crowded teeth or a misaligned jaw, your dentist can proceed with clear aligner treatment. They take digital impressions of your mouth with an intraoral scanner and upload them to a computer program. Then, your dentist uses the program to develop a custom orthodontic care plan, mapping out the precise movements of your teeth and jaw.

After finalizing the treatment plan, your dentist sends your scans to an Invisalign lab. The lab creates a pair of custom orthodontic aligners that fit perfectly.

When the Invisalign lab finishes your clear aligners, you return to Plaza Dental Group and try them on. Your dentist checks your bite, ensuring they fit properly, and provides care instructions.

How long does treatment with clear aligners take?

Orthodontic treatment with clear aligners typically takes 12-18 months*, but it may take longer depending on the alignment issues addressed. To ensure a positive outcome, wear your aligners for 20-22 hours each day, only removing them to eat or brush and floss.

You should also follow your dentist’s instructions carefully and attend each of your regularly scheduled checkups.

Call Plaza Dental Group to request a clear aligner consultation, or use the online booking feature today.

*Individual results may vary