Clear Aligners – Gahanna, OH
Achieve a Straighter Smile Incognito
Metal braces aren't the only path to a straighter smile anymore. In fact, clear aligners have become a very popular solution thanks to their discreet, comfortable, and flexible design. These durable plastic trays fix misaligned teeth without the brackets, wires, or food restrictions that come with traditional orthodontics. At Claybrooke Dental of Gahanna, our team creates fully customized treatment plans designed around your smile, your goals, and your lifestyle. If you're ready to love what you see in the mirror, we’re happy to help you get there, whether it’s through clear aligners or other cosmetic treatments.
Why Choose Claybrooke Dental of Gahanna for Clear Aligners?
- Virtual Smile Design for Precise Planning
- Personalized Treatment from Experienced Dentists
- Flexible Dental Financing to Fit Your Budget
How Clear Aligners Work
Clear aligner treatment always begins with a consultation, during which our team evaluates your teeth, bite, and smile goals. Using digital impressions, we’ll design a series of custom-made trays that each apply gentle, consistent pressure to shift your teeth over time.
You'll wear each set for about one to two weeks before moving to the next, swapping them out at home on your own schedule. We’ll also have periodic progress visits that allow us to observe your results and keep your treatment on track.
Once your final tray is finished, we’ll check your bite and either suggest refinements or give you a retainer. These final steps ensure your smile stays straight and symmetrical in the long run.
Who Can Clear Aligners Help?
Clear aligners are an excellent solution for patients with mild to moderate alignment issues, including:
Crowded Teeth
When teeth overlap or rotate due to limited space, clear aligners can gradually create room and guide them into a more comfortable, natural position.
Gaps Between Teeth
Spaces between teeth can trap bacteria and affect your confidence. Clear aligners apply targeted pressure to gently close unwanted gaps, creating more symmetry, and making your smile easier to clean.
Bite Alignment
Overbites, underbites, and crossbites can all contribute to uneven wear and jaw discomfort. Aligners can help gently draw your bite into a better place.
The Benefits of Clear Aligners
Clear aligners offer several advantages that make them a popular choice for adults and teens alike:
- Discreet: The clear trays are virtually undetectable, so most people won't notice you're in treatment.
- Removable: Take them out to eat, brush, and floss—no dietary restrictions or special cleaning tools required.
- Comfortable: Smooth plastic trays eliminate the irritation that brackets and wires can often cause to soft tissues.
- Convenient: Clear aligner treatment follows a set routine that slips easily into any lifestyle.
- Quick Follow-Ups: Progress visits are typically short and straightforward, fitting easily into a busy schedule.
Understanding the Cost of Clear Aligners
There are several factors that impact the cost of clear aligners in Gahanna, including how many are needed to achieve the desired results. For that reason, we can’t provide you with an estimate of the cost. We can, however, share some helpful information on the topic. So, don’t hesitate to read on if you want to learn more, including if dental insurance usually covers a portion of the price.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Clear Aligners
As mentioned above, there are several factors that impact the cost, including:
- The complexity of your case
- Whether any preliminary treatments are needed
- How many aligners need to be made
- The type of retainer you need to preserve your results
Once we have all of this information, our team can provide you with an estimate of the cost, so you’ll know exactly what to expect. We’ll also share what steps you can take to avoid additional expenses, like wearing your aligners for a minimum of 20 hours a day.
Clear Aligners Vs. Mail-Order Aligners: Which Costs More?
Usually, mail-order alternatives are less. That’s because most of them cut corners by not offering an initial exam, having the patient take their own impressions, and not hiring licensed dental professionals to oversee the teeth-straightening process. Unfortunately, this also results in an increased risk of worsened misalignment and dental damage. That’s why it’s best to place your smile in the hands of a professional.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Clear Aligners?
Some PPO dental insurance plans may include orthodontic benefits that can be used to cover a portion of the cost. However, it’s always best to check with your insurance company directly. You can also ask our team for assistance since we are in-network with many major providers; we’d be happy to assist with the process of understanding and utilizing your coverage!
Options for Making Clear Aligners Affordable
No insurance? Good news: that isn’t the only financial solution that’s available at our office! CareCredit financing lets you break up the payments into monthly installments. That way, you don’t have to pay for the entire cost of your clear aligner treatment at once. If you are interested in learning more about flexible financing, including how to sign up, get in touch with a friendly member of our team.
If you are interested in getting an estimate of the cost, or you have a question about any of the financial solutions that are available at our office, there’s only one thing left to do: schedule a consultation with us! That way, we can determine if you’re a good candidate for clear aligners and, if you are, help you navigate the ins and outs of the price.
Clear Aligners FAQs
What do clear aligners look like in my mouth?
Plenty of patients choose clear aligners over more traditional orthodontic services, such as braces, because the plastic trays are considered more comfortable and discreet. If you’re worried that they’ll call a lot of unwanted attention to your smile, you can thankfully set your concerns aside.
These transparent trays are customized to fit snuggly over your teeth to shift them to their ideal positions, so they cling tightly to your teeth and are unlikely to become destabilized or dislodged. You might notice small gaps or air bubbles when wearing new trays, which eventually are reduced as your teeth shift to fill them. With that said, most people are unlikely to notice anything unusual about your mouth while wearing them, especially from a distance.
Can I eat with my trays inserted?
Clear aligners are only meant to be worn for a week or two, then you’ll be directed to switch to the next pair in your series. That means they’re strong enough to exert pressure over your arches, but they’re not made to be worn while eating. You might damage the trays by eating anything to hard or crunchy, warp them by consuming anything too hot, or stain them if they’re exposed to common culprits known to stain, such as tea, coffee, dark sodas, berries, tomatoes, or wine.
As a result, our team often recommends that you take them out if you plan to eat or drink anything other than room-temperature water.
How can I clean my clear aligners?
‘Invisible’ aligners allow your natural enamel to show throughout the duration of your treatment, which can help you avoid the extra feelings of self-consciousness that are often caused by standard orthodontics. But the transparent trays can also develop plaque that leaves them looking cloudy or dark if you don’t clean them properly.
To keep the materials clear and in good shape, you should remove your aligners at least twice daily to gently scrub all sides with a soft-bristle toothbrush and mild dish soap that won’t abrade the surfaces. You can also place them in a solution of special cleaning crystals for 15-minutes daily, which can help gently remove plaque and bacteria while preserving their shape.
What should I do if I break or lose a tray?
You might feel anxious if you lose or break a clear aligner, but you’re not the first patient to do so and likely won’t be the last! It’s not always an emergency when this occurs, but please contact our team to let us know sooner rather than later so we can provide appropriate instructions for moving forward based on how long you wore the now-missing tray(s).
For instance, if they were still relatively new, we might ask that you switch back to a previous set while we reorder them for you. But if you had already worn them a week or two, we might direct you to switch to the next pair in your series earlier than initially anticipated.