What comes to your mind when you hear “clear aligners”? Most likely, it’s Invisalign or an orthodontist’s in-house clear aligner. But let’s dig deeper. Did you know there are direct-to-consumer (DTC) aligners? However, just because these appliances are easily available online doesn’t mean they work like a charm. This is why you should see an orthodontist for your clear aligners.
When you see Dr. Kevin Williams — our leading orthodontist at Williams Orthodontics — you can be sure that you’re receiving high-quality clear aligner trays and expert care from our team.
What Are the Benefits of Seeing An Orthodontist?
With their affordability and accessibility, DTC clear aligners are the epitome of temptation. But remember, when it comes to perfecting your smile, nothing beats investing your time and hard-earned money in an orthodontist.
Below, we round up six reasons why you start seeing an orthodontist for your clear aligners:
Orthodontists Are Specialized Professionals: Both dentists and orthodontists are dental professionals. If dentists are your go-to individuals for general oral health, orthodontists are your go-to doctors for anything related to aligning your smile.
Like most orthodontists, Dr. Williams attended dental school and received additional education and training to specialize in orthodontics. With Dr. Williams’ expertise, he can correct bite problems and prescribe orthodontic treatment — which includes clear aligners — to patients in Monroe and El Dorado.
Tailored-Fit for Your Teeth: DTC clear aligners are cheaper, more convenient alternatives to conventional treatment. While commercial aligners are appealing, chances are, there’s no guarantee they’re tailored to your smile — even if the brand claims they’re approved by dentists or orthodontists or provides a DIY impressions kit.
These kits may not accurately capture your specific orthodontic condition or the structure of your teeth and jaw, resulting in improper fitting and unwanted teeth movement. At Williams Orthodontics, we capture images of your mouth using X-ray and digital scanning and use 3D imaging to create your clear aligners, ensuring a proper, snug fit when worn. This allows your teeth to shift into their proper positions.
Professional and Comprehensive Treatment: Treatment in our practice always begins with an office tour and an initial consultation with Dr. Williams and his team. Using digital imaging and other cutting-edge technologies, we’ll conduct a thorough assessment of your smile to determine your specific orthodontic needs and your eligibility for clear aligners.
Once you start your clear aligner journey, we’ll monitor your progress and make adjustments to your treatment until your smile straightens. It’s a different story with DTC aligners. Because you might not receive follow-up appointments or the same level of care and supervision as that of a professional orthodontist, achieving your ideal smile may take longer than usual.
Peace of Mind: Though DTC aligners are accessible, their safety is questionable. They can even worsen your orthodontic problem or cause serious oral complications. Of course, we don’t want this to happen to you or any of our patients in Monroe and El Dorado.
This is why we stick to the clear aligner brands Invisalign and Clarity. Both brands use BPA-free plastic in their clear aligner trays, so they’re safe to put in your mouth. They’re also comfortable to wear, making those 20 to 22 hours pass by quickly.
Transparency of Treatment Costs: A clear aligner treatment is one of the best investments you can make. But that doesn’t mean it has to cost an arm and a leg. The cost of treatment boils down to the following factors:
- Severity of your orthodontic condition
- Treatment duration
- Treatment type
As a clinic that places high value on transparency, we’ll provide a cost breakdown of your clear aligner treatment, so you can make an informed decision and understand what you’re paying for.
Insurance Coverage: Orthodontic clinics, including Williams Orthodontics, accept insurance plans. However, it’s important to remember that different health insurance companies have different policies and coverage.
In this case, you may contact your insurance company or our smile team for help. We’ll do what we can to help you get the most out of your insurance plan’s benefits.
How Often Should I Set An Appointment With My Orthodontist?
It depends on Dr. Williams’ recommendations. But in general, you should check in with us every six weeks for 9 to 15 months. Through regular appointments with our expert team, we can replace your clear aligners, check for proper teeth tracking, assess your oral health, and provide feedback on your progress.
Start Your Smile Journey Right
Knowing the benefits of seeing an orthodontist for your clear aligners sets you off on a path to a better smile. Because our clear aligners are created with the supervision of Dr. Williams, they’re safer and track better than their DTC counterparts.
If you want to get rid of your DTC aligners for good and kick off your smile journey with a bang, schedule a consultation with us today and you’ll be wearing your first clear aligner set in no time.