Clear Aligners

Clear aligners work by applying gentle but constant pressure to your teeth to move them into position. Because of this, some level of discomfort or soreness is to be expected, but it is generally considered less painful than braces.

Initial Discomfort

When you first start wearing a new set of clear aligners, your teeth and gums will likely feel tight and a little sore. The most significant discomfort usually lasts a day for most people. But some people may feel discomfort for 3 days after placing a new tray. After this initial period, the discomfort fades as your teeth adjust to their new position. Typically, a tray is worn for 10 days before moving on to the next tray. Most people feels the discomfort as a pressure or a dull ache. It can be particularly noticeable when you are chewing or when you remove the aligners. 

Irritation: The edges of the aligners can sometimes feel sharp or rub against the inside of your cheeks, lips, or tongue, causing minor irritation or sores. This usually subsides as your mouth toughens up. If it's a major issue, your orthodontist can smooth the edges for you.

Pain when removing: Because the aligners fit so snugly, they can be difficult to remove at first, which can cause some temporary pain. This gets easier with practice as your teeth become accustomed to the process. 

Headaches or Jaw Pain: In some cases, the pressure can lead to a headache or soreness in your jaw muscles.

Managing the Pain

Over-the-counter pain relievers: Medications like ibuprofen or paracetamol can help reduce inflammation and discomfort. It's often recommended to take them right before or after you put in a new set of aligners.

Switch aligners at night: By putting in a new tray right before bed, you can sleep through the most uncomfortable first few hours.

Stick to soft foods: For the first few days with a new tray, eat soft foods like soup, yogurt, mashed potatoes, and smoothies to minimise pressure on your sensitive teeth.

Consistent Wear: Consistent wear for 22 hours a day will relieve pain faster.

Cold compresses: Applying a cold compress to your cheeks can help numb the area and reduce any swelling.

What are the differences between Aligners and Braces?

• Appearance: Aligners is almost not visible throughout the therapy. Braces can be unsightly with the metal brackets and wires. Even with ceramic brackets, the wires are still visible and can be a hindrance for adults to commit for therapy.
• Removability: Aligners are designed to be removed when eating, drinking, and brushing. This means there is less changes required to the daily habits. However, braces require your dentist to remove. This means more adjustments required for eating. and cleaning because of the many metal pieces and wires attached to the teeth.
• Convenience: Invisible aligners allows you to remove for special event (eg. a wedding, or special night out). Aligners often only need to attend the dentist once in a few months. Braces does not offer this flexibility. Braces tend to have more minor issues such as bracket coming off or wires poking into the cheek, which require additional attendance to the dentist for adjustments, besides the essential monthly attendances.
• Compliance: Aligners require the discipline to wear the appliance 22 hours a day. If not worn for this length of time, therapy will fail to achieve the planned result. Hence, aligners are not suitable for those undisciplined adult patients and uncooperative children. Braces do not have this requirements as the appliance is fixed on the dentition. Hence this appliance is suitable for children.
• Effectiveness: With correct case selection, both aligners and braces are just as effective with today's technology. Ten years ago, aligners were often less effective compared to braces, due to lack of aligner research and development data. However, Aligner is now almost as effective as braces and the future of mainstream orthodontic will trend towards aligners. Braces will remain as a good alternative for the undisciplined patients and the special medically compromised cases.
• Cost: Tripitaka Dental at Cabramatta believes that patient should not have to choose between these two therapy pathways due to cost differences. We try our best that have the fee nearly similar. In general, most practices would charge more for aligners compared to braces due to the cost difference for the products.