You have the perfect summer vacation coming up. It’s on the books for the start of next summer. You’ve been planning with your friends for months already, and you’ll keep planning all this year in anticipation. The only problem? You know you’re going to take pictures there, and your teeth have always been crooked. Traditional metal braces seem so clunky and obvious. If this is you, clear aligners might just be the solution you’re looking for. Today, we’ll share with you three simple steps that can get your smile photo-ready in time for the vacation of a lifetime.

1- Learn about clear aligners.

Do you have crooked teeth? A misaligned bite? Do you look in the mirror and think to yourself that you need to get braces? Before you have your dentist attach the traditional set of wires to your teeth, you might want to hear about clear aligners. Often referred to simply by their most popular brand, Invisalign, clear aligners are an alternative to traditional metal braces. The American Association of Orthodontists describes them as “nearly invisible plastic shells that snap over your teeth.” The aligners apply a gentle and gradual pressure to the teeth so that over time, the teeth get shifted to a new position. Users go through multiple sets of aligners, each one taking them closer and closer to a corrected smile. Through this subtle method, clear aligner treatment can resolve “mild to moderate orthodontic problems.”

2- Consider whether getting clear aligners now is right for you.

Clear aligners aren’t for everybody. But if you think they might be for you, you might want to consider getting them over the summer. Whether you are a student who has the benefit of being out of school over the summer or an adult who simply gets to enjoy the more relaxed tone of the summer season, you might find that the nature of these few months make it the optimal time to seize the day and start your clear aligner treatment. As Lifetime Smiles points out, starting clear aligners in the summer lets you have:

Time to Acclimate

       It can be difficult at first to adjust to having dental gear in your mouth! You may find them a bit uncomfortable at first. There are certainly more appointments that you have to go to at the beginning of your treatment, as the dentists ensure that your treatment is on the right track. A more relaxed schedule is the best way to accommodate this added demand on your emotional and physical energy, as well as on your time.

Practice with Aligners in a Lower-Intensity Season

      Similarly, you might just find that the more relaxed pace of summer allows you to establish more solid routines with them than you could have in the rush of the school year. Building up good habits with your aligners will help your treatment to be as effective as possible. 

Full Enjoyment of Summer Foods

      As Lifetime Smiles notes, another benefit of starting clear aligners in the summer is that it won’t interfere with summer treats at all! You may think that if you start aligners now, you’d have to give up summer barbeques, popsicles, movie theater popcorn, and all the other staples that go into making summer what it is. But clear aligners should never be kept in when you eat anyway, so they won’t prevent you from enjoying all the foods that make it really feel like summer to you.

A Summer-Ready Smile

Unfortunately, no, not this year. Users typically need to wear aligners for about a year, sometimes a bit more, to see the full effect. However, if you start the process now, you’ll have a summer-ready smile just in time for that big vacation with friends you’ve spent so long planning.

3- Talk to your dentist about your options.

Do clear aligners sound like they might be for you? If so, you’ll want to start by getting in touch with your dentist and discussing the possibility with them. They can help you discern whether you are an optimal candidate for this treatment. It may be that the severity of your malocclusion (misaligned bite) requires the strength of traditional braces. They may have another reason why they think it’s wise for you to wait or to choose a different option. Or they may recommend that you should start as soon as possible. Whatever the specifics of your situation, your dentist is the one who can help you navigate the choice.

            When you talk to your dentist, they can also help you figure out how much it would cost you to go through clear aligner treatment. Such treatment can cost anywhere from $1,200 to $8,000, depending on factors like the brand used and the amount of time you need to wear your aligners. This helpful page breaks down what you could potentially expect to pay.

            In conclusion, clear aligners can be an excellent way to correct mild or moderate orthodontic issues. While they are not for everyone, they can be the perfect solution for those who would like to correct their misaligned bite in a discreet manner. If you think clear aligners might be right for you, consider starting your treatment over the summer, when you’ll have increased flexibility to establish good routines, make follow-up appointments, and get used to your new gear. If you have further questions about clear aligners or would like to schedule your next appointment, please contact our office today.