When you want to straighten your teeth, you basically have three options: traditional braces, porcelain veneers, or invisible braces. With traditional braces you have to wear uncomfortable wires and brackets for up to two years. Dr. Potts also offers a new variation on traditional braces, called Fastbraces. As its name implies, Fastbraces is much faster than most traditional braces. It is also less expensive. The second option, porcelain veneers, does not actually straighten your teeth, but makes them appear straight. These can fix your smile in just two appointments. Click here to learn more about how porcelain veneers work.
Invisalign vs Clear Correct
There are two major brands of invisible braces—Invisalign and Clear Correct. Dr. Potts is certified to place either brand, but he prefers Clear Correct. Not only are their lab fees less expensive, but they are also more flexible during treatment if adjustments need to be made. The procedure is similar no matter which brand you choose.
Clear Correct Procedure
Dr. Potts will start with a complete examination. If you are a good candidate for invisible braces, we start treatment by taking an impression of your teeth. That impression is then scanned onto a computer. Dr. Potts programs instructions into the computer, and the computer then creates the custom aligners for your teeth.
You will wear each set of aligners for about two weeks. At first they will feel like they don’t fit. This is intentional. Within a few days your teeth will shift to a new position that makes the aligners feel more normal. It is important you keep the aligners in for the full two weeks to give the roots of your teeth time to stabilize. Then it is time for the next set. Depending on the severity of your case, you will have a beautiful, straight smile in anywhere from three months to a year.
If you’d like to see if you’re a candidate for invisible braces, you may call our office to schedule a complimentary consultation at (847) 362-6540, or if you prefer you may click here to request an appointment online.