At Shults Orthodontics, our mission is to help our patients achieve a healthy, beautiful smile as quickly and conveniently as possible. Our orthodontist and highly-trained team of orthodontic specialists work closely with patients to design deeply personalized treatment plans, and we strive to make every visit to our office a pleasant experience for everyone. We're proud to offer a wide range of treatments to patients throughout West Palm Beach and Wellington, FL, including two popular alternatives to braces: Invisalign and Spark, two forms of clear aligner treatment.

What Are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are an alternative orthodontic treatment that uses a series of clear, removable plastic trays, called aligners, to straighten the teeth instead of brackets and wires. Aligners are created using computer software to perfectly conform to your teeth, attaching directly onto the teeth and using a finely-calibrated shape to apply precise pressure on the teeth and influence them to move to new positions. The aligners are made in a sequence, with each pair in the sequence gradually moving your teeth closer to their final positions. You'll wear your aligners 20-22 hours a day for roughly one week before switching to the next set, and once you finish your final pair, your new smile is yours to keep.

The Benefits of Clear Aligner Treatment

Thanks to their unique construction, clear aligners offer a number of advantages compared to traditional braces. Here are just a few of the advantages patients can expect when choosing clear aligner treatment:

Clear aligners are nearly invisible when worn, which means they won't show up in photos and almost no one will realize you're undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Aligners are removable, meaning that you can take them out whenever you need to. As long as you wear them for at least 22 hours a day, the aligners will be able to do their job.
You can still eat whatever you want. Braces require patients to eliminate hard and sticky foods from their diets because of the harm that they can cause to the wires and brackets. Because you’ll be taking your aligners out before you eat, there’s no need to restrict your diet.

Cleaning is as simple as ever. Unlike traditional braces that require you to struggle to get your toothbrush to clean crevices that seem to be magnets for plaque, bacteria, and food particles, clear aligners pop out and allow you to brush as normal.
Clear aligners also offer a much more comfortable orthodontic treatment than braces. The aligners are made of smooth, polyurethane plastic which will irritate your mouth much less than the metal of brackets and wires.

 

Invisalign & Spark Clear Aligners

Clear aligner technology has advanced by leaps and bounds in the past decade, allowing us to treat many more conditions than has been possible in years past. That also means that several variants of the clear aligner system have popped up over the years, but our West Palm Beach orthodontist believes two stand out from the rest: Invisalign and Spark. Invisalign is the original clear aligner treatment, pioneering the format and reigning as a market leader since its inception. Millions of people have achieved a new smile with Invisalign, and it's gained a well-deserved reputation as one of the most convenient and discreet orthodontic treatments on the market. Spark is a newer competitor to Invisalign, but has created a highly-effective option for clear aligner treatment. Spark aligners are hailed as some of the clearest in the industry, providing the least-visible option for discreet treatment, and Spark aligners can be used to treat even complex malocclusions like openbite.

Schedule a Consultation with Your Wellington Orthodontist

Every patient is unique, and ultimately, only you and your orthodontist can decide on which treatment is right for you – and if you're ready to find out, we'd love to help. Contact us today to learn more about clear aligner treatment and to schedule a consultation at our office. We can't wait to hear from you, and we look forward to helping you achieve your dream smile through Invisalign or Spark clear aligners!