Wish you could straighten your smile without traditional metal braces? Book a consultation with one of our clear aligner dentists in Kalamazoo, MI. During your appointment, they’ll be able to determine whether you’re a candidate for CandidPro™ clear aligners.

CandidPro treatment uses nearly invisible aligners that fit over your teeth. As the aligners exert gentle pressure, your teeth move little by little into their optimal positions. Every CandidPro case is also reviewed by a licensed orthodontist who works directly with your dentist on your treatment plan.

Here’s what you need to know about the pros and cons of clear aligners.

Pro: No Food Is Off Limits

One of the main disadvantages of metal braces is that you can’t eat foods that are sticky and/or hard to chew. Otherwise, you risk damaging your metal brackets and wires. Since CandidPro aligners are removable, you won’t have this problem.

Instead you’re able to remove your aligners right before you eat so you can continue enjoying your favorite foods during orthodontic treatment. The only catch is that you’ll need to brush your teeth after eating so you don’t stain your clear aligners.

We also recommend that you always keep your aligners in their case when they’re not in your mouth. There are too many stories of patients who accidentally placed their aligners on a napkin or lunch tray, only to throw them away.

Likewise, we don’t recommend cramming your aligners in your purse or pocket. This will bend them out of shape.

Pro: Aligners Are Clear and Discreet

Many of our adult patients appreciate that clear aligners are discreet. Unless someone is standing close to you, they probably won’t even realize that you’re wearing them. That makes CandidPro a good fit for people who want to maintain a professional appearance at school or work. When you want to make a great first impression, consider clear aligner treatment for your smile.

Pro: Aligners Instill Confidence

It can be hard to smile with confidence when you feel self-conscious about crooked and/or crowded teeth. However, you may also feel embarrassed about having metal wires and brackets on your teeth. For this reason, clear aligners are the perfect compromise. Not only are they a discreet form of orthodontic treatment, but they’re barely visible.

Pro: Brush and Floss Normally

It’s hard to brush and floss crooked teeth. Also, patients with bite issues may experience discomfort while eating or wear away the enamel on the biting surfaces of their teeth. No matter your unique circumstances, straightening your teeth can help greatly improve your oral health in the long run.

Also, keep in mind that it’s easier to practice good dental hygiene with removable aligners. Metal braces force you to thread the floss between each individual bracket, which is a hassle.

One small note on cleaning: skip the toothpaste. The abrasive particles in toothpaste can scratch the aligner material and give bacteria a place to grow. Rinse your toothbrush first, then gently scrub your aligners while they’re out of your mouth.

Pro: Fewer Trips to the Office

With metal braces, you come in regularly to have your wires adjusted. CandidPro works differently. Instead of an office visit before every aligner change, you send your dentist a scan of your teeth every 7 to 14 days using the ProMonitoring app, and they tell you when you’re ready to move to your next set.

That means fewer appointments to work around, and your dentist still sees you in person whenever your treatment calls for it.

Pro: Clear Aligners Work for a Range of Ages and Cases

Both teens and adults may be candidates for clear aligner treatment, and some younger patients are as well, depending on how far along their adult teeth have come in. Whether a child or teen is ready for aligners is a clinical judgment your dentist makes after looking at their stage of dental development.

Clear aligners also handle more than mild crowding. CandidPro can treat a wide range of cases, from simple to complex, and our dentists will tailor a treatment plan to your situation.

Con: Aligners Must Be Worn Consistently

In order for clear aligner treatment to work, you’ll need to wear your aligners about 22 hours per day, taking them out only to eat, to drink anything hot, and to brush and floss. Otherwise, your teeth won’t move according to schedule and you’ll fall behind on your treatment plan.

To be a candidate for clear aligner treatment, you’ll need enough self-discipline to wear your aligners as directed by our dentists. The same applies to your check-in scans: remote monitoring saves you office visits, but only if you send your scans on time.

We recommend that you keep your eyes on the prize by remembering why you wanted clear aligner treatment. Find a reason to stay motivated and imagine how beautiful your smile will look when you’re finally done.

Con: Expect Some Soreness With Each New Set

There’s usually some soreness during the first few days you wear a new set of aligners, along with a general adjustment period when you first start treatment. That’s normal. When pressure is applied to a tooth, the ligament around the root is stretched on one side and compressed on the other, and the resulting inflammation is your body responding.

It passes within a few days. Biting down on the Chewies that come with your aligners can help work the soreness out faster.

Con: You May Notice a Slight Lisp at First

Your tongue needs a few days to adjust to the changed spaces in your mouth, so you may notice a slight lisp early on. You will probably notice it longer than anyone else does, because you hear your own voice differently than other people do. After a few days, no one will hear a difference in your speech, and no one will know you’re wearing aligners unless you tell them.

Con: Some Cases Need Attachments or Elastics

Clear aligners are not always invisible in the strictest sense. More complex cases may call for what are known as adjuncts: elastic bands, or small tooth-colored bumps bonded to your teeth to help the aligners grip and move them where they need to go.

They are small and discreet, but they are worth knowing about before you start. Your dentist will tell you at your consultation whether your treatment plan is likely to need them.

Schedule a Clear Aligner Consultation

Our clear aligner dentists in Kalamazoo, MI, are ready to help you achieve your best smile yet. To schedule a consultation and learn whether you’re a candidate for CandidPro clear aligners, please call one of our convenient Kalamazoo Smiles locations. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.