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Dentistas Málaga

Clear aligners in Málaga: treatment guide and clinics

· General information: it does not replace seeing a dentist.

Clear aligners in the province of Málaga

What clear aligner treatment is

Clear aligner treatment straightens teeth with aligners: custom-made, transparent plastic trays that are changed every few weeks. Each set moves the teeth a little, until they reach the planned position.

Who it is for

Many cases of crowded, gapped or slightly crooked teeth, in adults and teenagers. Some bite problems or jaw problems are better treated with braces or need other treatments. The orthodontist decides after assessing your case.

How the treatment works

  1. Assessment at the clinic: examination, X-rays, photos and a scan or impressions of your mouth.
  2. Planning: the orthodontist designs the tooth movements and shows you the expected result.
  3. Treatment: you wear the aligners almost all day and night and only take them out to eat and to brush your teeth. Small tooth-coloured bumps (attachments) are sometimes bonded to the teeth to help move them.
  4. Check-ups at the clinic to make sure the teeth are moving as planned.
  5. Retention: at the end you need a retainer, fixed or removable, so that the teeth do not move back.

How long it takes depends on the case: from a few months for simple cases to more than a year for complex ones.

Treatment without in-person check-ups

Some companies sell aligners online, with an initial scan and remote follow-up. Orthodontics is a healthcare treatment: the diagnosis, with an examination and X-rays, and the check-ups should be done in person by a dentist, who is the one who can spot a problem with the gums, the roots or the bite in time.

Risks and aftercare

  • It is normal to feel pressure or discomfort for the first few days of each aligner.
  • If the aligners are not worn for the recommended hours, treatment does not progress as planned.
  • Brush your teeth before putting the aligners in, to avoid tooth decay.
  • Without a retainer, teeth tend to move again.

Alternatives

Metal braces, aesthetic (ceramic) braces or lingual braces, which are fitted on the inside of the teeth.

What to ask the clinic

  • Who makes the diagnosis and follows up the treatment, and whether they are trained in orthodontics.
  • How many in-person check-ups are included.
  • Whether the quote includes the extra aligners for final corrections (refinements) and the retainer.
  • What happens if the treatment takes longer than expected.
  • Which brand of aligners the clinic uses.

What affects the price

The complexity and length of the case, the number of aligners and refinements, the type of retainer and the brand. Compare quotes that include the same check-ups and the retainer.

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