SureSmile clear aligners can straighten out mild to moderate dental misalignments such as gaps, crowding, underbites, overbites, crossbites, and open bites, and many patients report that this treatment is much more comfortable than traditional braces. However, you may feel some discomfort when you switch to the next set of aligners in your sequence. Here’s a brief guide to why you may experience some tightness around your teeth and how you can manage this issue.
How Do SureSmile Clear Aligners Work?
SureSmile is an orthodontic process that straightens a patient’s teeth using a customized sequence of clear aligners designed to fit snugly over their dental arches. These aligners are specially shaped to exert the consistent pressure necessary to gradually shift the teeth into healthier positions, and the patient will have to wear each set for twenty hours daily for two weeks before switching to the next set in the sequence. The treatment can usually realign a smile in six to eighteen months.
Why Are My Aligners Uncomfortable When I First Wear Them?
When you put in a new set of aligners for the first time, you may find that they feel rather tight around your teeth. This is because your smile has not had time to adjust to the pressure the new aligners are putting on them, and the discomfort will fade as you get used to wearing them. While this issue may be especially noticeable when you begin your SureSmile treatment, switching to a new set of aligners every two weeks should become increasingly comfortable as the process goes on.
How Can I Stay Comfortable When Wearing a New Set of Aligners?
The discomfort that can come with switching to a new set of aligners can typically be managed by taking over-the-counter pain medication according to the instructions printed on the label. Many patients find that the best way to do this is to put in their new set of aligners and take pain medication before bed. This way, the medicine will numb the tight feeling throughout the night so they can sleep through the worst of the stress and wake up feeling comfortable in the morning.
SureSmile is a comfortable and effective way to achieve a straighter and healthier smile. Consulting with your dentist can help you find the best way to realign your teeth.
About the Practice
Corcoran Privitera Family Dental offers the finest oral healthcare in Waverly and Peebles. Led by Drs. Hannah Corcoran and Brandon Privitera, the staff treats each patient with courtesy and compassion in a warm and welcoming office. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as SureSmile services. To learn more about the SureSmile process, contact the office online.