Clear Aligners in Rochester Hills
Clear Your Way to a Straighter Smile
At Barclay Dental, we’re proud to offer a full range of dental services — including clear aligners — to children, teens, and adults at our office in Rochester Hills, MI.
What Are Clear Aligners?
Dr. Meri and Dr. Salem believe that a straighter smile is a healthier smile. They also understand that you might not love the thought of wearing metal braces for a long time to straighten your teeth.
That’s why, at Barclay Dental, we offer a full range of dental services — including clear aligners — to children, teens, and adults at our office in Rochester Hills, MI. With aligners, you get a nearly invisible way to quickly straighten your smile without wearing metal.
Clear aligners treatment uses a series of customized aligning trays to gently nudge your teeth into a straighter smile. These plastic aligners are smooth, comfortable, and virtually invisible — and you can remove them for eating, drinking, brushing your teeth, flossing, and even special occasions.
Every few weeks, Dr. Meri and Dr. Salem will check the progress of your teeth and change out your set of aligners to fit your teeth’s new alignment while also continuing your progress to a straighter smile.
Full Contour In-House Aligners
At Barclay Dental, we’re proud to offer world-famous Invisalign—but we’re also excited to introduce our in-house clear aligners: Full Contour. Designed, printed, and quality-checked right here in our office, Full Contour gives you a faster, more streamlined treatment experience.
Precision You Can Trust
Every aligner is created using 3D models printed in-house, allowing for precise customization and full quality control. You get a snug, comfortable fit and a treatment plan built just for you.
No Waiting, No Delays
Because we design and print everything on-site, you don’t have to wait on third-party shipping or long turnaround times. Full Contour aligners are ready fast—so you can start your smile journey sooner.
Ideal for Most Cases
Around 90% of our aligner patients use Full Contour. For more complex needs, we also offer clear aligners or refer to a trusted orthodontist. Whatever your case, we’ll make sure you get the best treatment for your smile.
How Do Clear Aligners Work at Barclay Dental?
First, you’ll sit down with Dr. Meri or Dr. Salem to review your dental history, assess the current state of your teeth, and listen to your goals. We’ll also discuss your budget to make sure your treatment meets your financial needs.
If Dr. Meri or Dr. Salem determine that Invisalign’s clear, removable aligners are the best solution for your smile goals, we’ll devise an initial treatment plan.
To create your customized aligning trays, we’ll take 3-D digital images of your entire jaw, which will allow Dr. Meri or Dr. Salem to view your teeth and jaw from different angles, as well as move specific teeth around on the screen to show you how your aligners can help you get the smile you desire.
Once your treatment plan is finalized, your first customized set of aligners will be made. While your unique needs will determine the number of aligner trays you’ll require, full treatment typically takes 20 – 29 sets per arch.
What Problems Can Clear Aligners Correct?
Like traditional metal braces, your clear, BPA-free plastic aligners straighten your teeth by addressing the following issues:
- Overcrowding: When your teeth have too little space to align normally, overcrowding can occur, causing tooth decay and increasing the likelihood of gum disease.
- Excessive gaps: If you have missing teeth or your jaw continues to grow abnormally, large gaps can form between your teeth, which can cause bite and other alignment problems.
- Crossbite: A crossbite — when some or all of your upper teeth bite inside your lower teeth — causes uneven wear and can lead to bone erosion and gum disease.
- Overbite: When you have an overbite, your upper teeth completely cover your lower teeth when biting, which can lead to jaw pain and TMJ.
- Underbite: When you have an underbite, your lower teeth completely cover the upper teeth. Like an overbite, this dental problem can lead to jaw pain and TMJ.
One advantage to using aligners, instead of traditional metal braces, to correct these common dental problems is these removable aligners are so clear that most people won’t notice your treatment.
What Are the Advantages of Clear Aligner Treatment?
You have many options to perfect the alignment of your teeth, including clear aligners, traditional braces, and dental veneers. Each of these options has its advantages, and you’ll need to consider a number of factors when deciding which option will work best for you.
Aligners offer the following benefits over traditional braces:
- They’re nearly invisible. Unlike traditional braces, most people won’t even notice you’re correcting your smile with Invisalign clear aligners.
- They’re fully removable. You can also remove your trays when eating, drinking, taking care of your dental hygiene, or during a special occasion — such as taking senior pictures or giving an important speech.
- They typically provide identical results. Unless your bite issues are particularly severe, aligners can treat the same issues as traditional metal braces.
Compared to veneers, clear aligners actually straighten your teeth and promotes long-term dental health, whereas veneers are thin covers that are affixed to damaged or crooked teeth and that you may need to replace in 20 years.
They’re usually cheaper than veneers, and your results will typically last longer, so long as your wear your retainer according to Dr. Meri’s or Dr. Salem’s instructions.
What Should You Consider When Wearing Aligners?
It helps to manage your expectations anytime you’re considering long-term dental treatment. With aligners, you may need several weeks to get used to wearing your removable trays. The trays should be worn consistently, even while sleeping, for 20 – 22 hours a day.
You’ll need to remove your trays when eating and drinking, as food can become trapped between the tray and teeth, resulting in tooth decay. But you’ll also need to remember to put your aligners back in after meals and when you’re done brushing and flossing.
While this treatment option does require a little more discipline and awareness than traditional braces, you’ll likely be able to see progress between appointments, which should give you the motivation you need to complete your treatment and enjoy your healthy, brand new smile.
Talk to Us About Clear Aligners
Clear aligners have revolutionized orthodontics and is a great option for those who want comfortable, effective treatment. Schedule your free consultation with Dr. Meri and Dr. Salem at our Rochester Hills office to learn if clear aligners is the best fit for your teeth, bite, and lifestyle.