Clear aligners in Waxhaw sometimes seem too good to be true. Especially as an adult, flaunting metal brackets and clunky headgear doesn’t feel very mature or chic. While clear aligners may appeal to you because of their discreet nature, you have to wonder: do they actually work? And if they do, how well?
At Dogwood Dental Spa, we partner with OrthoFX, a clear aligner company that delivers personalized trays fit to your unique mouth without irritation. These aligners work for mild-to-moderate cases of crooked and crowded teeth, and they boast a 92% success rate when used correctly.
To learn more about the science behind clear aligners in Waxhaw, keep reading.
About OrthoFX Clear Aligners
OrthoFX specializes in custom-made, FDA-cleared aligners that gradually straighten teeth—without the look or hassle of traditional braces. Patients wear a series of aligners, each new set for 1 week, which slowly move the teeth into the desired position.
At Dogwood Dental Spa, we offer OrthoFX’s newest technology: the AirFlex aligners.
Traditional aligners require you to wear them for 23 hours a day. The AirFlex accomplishes tooth movement within 12 hours a day—ideal for busy adults and teenage patients, who can now wear aligners at home and overnight instead of during work or school hours.
Custom Fit
Just like how your favorite pair of pants looks and feels best when tailored to your body, clear aligners work best when tailored for your mouth. In this case, we fit them to be discreet, comfortable, and effective. Everyone has a different mouth shape, so an initial scan serves as a blueprint and provides insight into the specific movements required to help shift your teeth.
We send this information to OrthoFX, who designs a series of custom trays for you.
When we receive your clear aligners in Waxhaw, we fit the trays in the office and adjust them if necessary. We want them to be as comfortable as possible—if they dig or cut into your gums, you’re less likely to wear them. That’s why OrthoFX’s aligners feature smooth, scalloped edges for comfort.
Plus, OrthoFX’s patented HyperElastic polymer technology helps minimize aligner unseats, or gaps between your tray and teeth. While these unseats can prevent teeth from moving properly and extend treatment time, OrthoFX’s polymer technology helps keep your treatment on track.
Gradual Pressure
Using HyperElastic polymer, OrthoFX trays conform to your tooth’s surface—comfortably. As you wear each tray for 1 week, the material applies gentle, consistent pressure to targeted teeth. While traditional aligners use up to 8x the force, the OrthoFX trays prioritize precision to ensure patient comfort.
Throughout your treatment, your trays gradually shift your teeth into the desired position.
New Trays Weekly
Each new tray has slight adjustments from the one before, accommodating your newly shifted teeth. Every set makes small adjustments with a specific amount of shift designated for each tray, and over time, the gradual movement creates significant results.
Crafted from premium, stain-resistant materials, OrthoFX aligners are designed to withstand daily exposure to coffee, tea, and wine. Because our treatment plan includes weekly tray swaps, you also enjoy a fresh start every seven days, ensuring your smile remains crystal clear throughout the entire process.
Monitoring
Clear aligners boast such a high success rate because you have monthly check-ins with our team and OrthoFX. When you visit Dogwood Dental Spa, we track your progress and send you home with 4 new sets of trays. Following the placement of your second monthly tray, you’ll send progress photos of your teeth to OrthoFX.
If the company identifies any issues, they can prevent concerns early on by sending a rescue tray directly to your home to get you back on track. This extra step helps keep your results noticeable and predictable.
Benefits of Clear Aligners
While often viewed as a cosmetic fix, clear aligners in Waxhaw do much more than refine your smile: They protect long-term tooth, gum, and jaw health.
While crooked or crowded teeth can make people self-conscious, they can also hinder dental hygiene. Straighter teeth are easier to keep clean, resulting in less plaque buildup and tooth decay.
Crowded teeth create hidden crevices where food and bacteria linger, increasing the risk of cavities. Achieving proper alignment and even spacing with clear aligners eliminates these ‘hiding spots,’ making it easier to maintain a healthy, cavity-free smile.
Additionally, clear aligners can address uneven wear and tear. Misaligned teeth lead to an uneven bite. This often forces one side of your mouth to do all the chewing, causing those teeth to wear down faster than they should. Correcting tooth alignment allows for more even pressure distribution across the teeth, increasing their longevity.
Who Is the Ideal Candidate for Clear Aligners?
At Dogwood Dental Spa, we’re proud to offer the latest dental technology to help our patients achieve their ideal smiles. That’s why we recommend OrthoFX’s clear aligners to almost every patient—there are very few cases when these trays aren’t suitable.
If a patient has cavities, those need to be filled first. We also don’t use clear aligners for patients with severe periodontal (gum) disease.
If you’re an adult with healthy teeth who doesn’t want to wear traditional metal braces, or you prefer a less visible option, clear aligners in Waxhaw may be the treatment for you. By gently shifting teeth into their ideal positions, these aligners correct mild-to-moderate crowding and misalignment, providing an alternative to traditional metal brackets or headgear.
Unsure of your eligibility? Contact our office to schedule your consultation with Dr. Amos. Together, we can personalize a dental strategy for your smile.
Time to Straighten Up!
Clear aligners in Waxhaw are discreet, comfortable, and effective. Not only do they improve your smile, but they also make dental cleaning easier for you!
To learn more about these trays, try our treatment planning tool. Once we receive your submission, a member of our team will reach out with more information regarding clear aligners.
Alternatively, you can request a consultation or meet with us in person. You can even use this as an opportunity to book professional teeth cleaning services from us.
