Spark Clear Aligners – Sunnyvale, TX

How Spark Clear Aligners Work

For patients who are interested in Spark clear aligners, everything will begin with a consultation with Dr. Philip. During this appointment, he’ll perform a brief oral exam and ask the patient about their specific smile goals. If he believes that this orthodontic treatment is the best option for them, he can start the process of designing their trays.

Using a 3D impression of the teeth, he’ll create a personalized treatment plan that guides them into their new positions. After a week or two, the patient will return to our office to pick up their trays, and Dr. Philip will show them how to put them on as well as how to maintain them.

Each tray needs to be worn for about 22 hours a day and for two weeks at a time before progressing to the next one. Basically, the only time someone will take them out is when they are eating or cleaning their teeth. After the two weeks, they’ll put in a new set of trays, and that’s how the entire treatment will progress. Once a patient has worn all of their trays, that’s it! Their treatment is finished, and they should have a perfectly straight set of teeth looking back at them in the mirror.

Who Spark Clear Aligners Can Help

Good news: Spark clear aligners are an option for patients with all sorts of orthodontic problems – from overcrowding to open bites. So, don’t just assume that metal braces are your only choice. Instead, set aside some time to come to our Sunnyvale dental office to see if you’re a candidate for this innovative smile-enhancing treatment. In the meantime, you can read on to learn more about who clear aligners can help and how!

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Crowded Teeth

Unfortunately, overcrowded teeth negatively impact your smile in several ways. That’s why we encourage our patients to learn about their treatment options sooner rather than later; we want to save you from experiencing chronic jaw pain, premature wear and tear, and other common consequences! If you’re a candidate for Spark clear aligners, then we will craft a custom series so we can guide your teeth into proper alignment without any metal brackets or wires.

Gaps Between Teeth

Whether you have several small gaps throughout your smile or one noticeable gap between your two front teeth, you shouldn’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us – you may be a candidate for Spark clear aligners! If that’s the case, then closing the gaps won’t require any metal at all. Instead, we will use clear aligners to achieve the desired results, so no unwanted attention will be drawn to your smile during the teeth-straightening process.

Overbite

For years, fixing bite problems, like overbites, required traditional braces. That’s no longer the case! Now, mild and moderate cases can be fixed with comfortable, custom-made, and completely clear aligners. That said, rubber bands and other orthodontic accessories are needed from time to time, but don’t worry – they are nowhere near as noticeable as metal brackets and wires. Plus, they are usually only needed during a brief period, not the entire time.

Underbite

An underbite can negatively impact the appearance of your smile. It also puts your jaw in an unnatural position for extended periods of time, which can lead to everything from chronic jaw pain to TMJ dysfunction. That’s why it’s important not to wait too long to get the orthodontic treatment you need! If Spark clear aligners are an option for you, then the process of moving your bite into proper alignment will be considerably more discreet and comfortable.

Crossbite

Like the other bite problems on this list, crossbites can lead to several serious consequences, including cracks in your enamel, chronic jaw pain, and low self-esteem. So, don’t wait – come to our office for a consultation! You might be surprised to find out that you’re a candidate for Spark clear aligners and, if you are, that the process of moving your teeth and bite into proper alignment won’t require any metal at all; it will be practically invisible.

Open Bite

As the name suggests, an open bite is when there is space in the front or back of your mouth, preventing you from biting down completely. Fortunately, clear aligners are often a solution with the help of other orthodontic accessories, like rubber bands. So, don’t just assume that you’ll need metal brackets and wires!

The Benefits of Spark Clear Aligners

Since the fact that the aligners are clear draws a lot of attention, many patients assume that’s the only reason to choose them. That’s not the case! In reality, Spark clear aligners offer several considerable perks, which is why they continue to be so popular. To learn more, read on!

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Discreet Aligners

Spark clear aligners are revolutionary for several reasons, and one of the most noteworthy ones is that they make it possible for you to discreetly move your teeth into their correct positions without drawing attention to your treatment.  That's because they aren’t metal brackets or wires. Instead, it uses a series of trays. In addition to being completely see-through, they are custom-made to fit perfectly and crafted to be low-profile, so they don’t call unwanted attention to your smile.

No Dietary Restrictions

In addition to being more comfortable, Spark clear aligners can be taken out to eat. As a result, you don’t need to eliminate whole apples, air-popped popcorn, celery, and other crunchy foods from your diet. You can enjoy all of your favorites (as long as you take your trays out first, of course).

Important note: Since sugary and starchy foods increase your risk of cavities, we recommend not over-indulging. It’s a small step that will go a long way in keeping your teeth healthy!

Hassle-Free Dental Care

Another perk of removable aligners: you can care for your smile just as thoroughly as you normally would. You don’t need to worry about buying special products, like interproximal toothbrushes, or adopting cumbersome oral hygiene habits. Instead, remove your aligners, store them properly, and move forward with your usual dental care regimen.

Shorter Average Treatment Timeline

Spark clear aligners are often able to deliver final results in much less time than braces as well. Average treatment times range from about 12 to 18 months, while regular braces tend to average about 2 to 3 years. Plus, because Spark doesn’t need to be regularly adjusted and tightened like braces, a patient will only need to come in for progress checks once every six weeks, saving them loads of time over the course of their treatment.

Removable Trays

We’ve already mentioned a few perks of removable aligners, like freedom from dietary restrictions and complicated oral hygiene regimens. We haven’t mentioned one of the biggest perks, however: you can take them out for your driver’s license photo, a first date, or an important presentation at work. Just make sure you make up for the aligner-free time the following day so you don’t fall off-track with your treatment plan!

Living with Spark Clear Aligners

While Spark clear aligners can be an incredibly effective way to address many mild to moderate dental misalignments, they do require a significant amount of discipline on the part of the patient. Luckily, it only requires a few important habits to keep your orthodontic treatment on track. Here’s a brief guide from Dr. Philip on how you can ensure that your teeth stay on the path to a better and healthier alignment.

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Wearing Your Trays

You’ll need to wear your aligners for twenty to twenty-two hours each day and switch to the next set every two weeks or so, depending on the details of your treatment plan. Neglecting to wear your trays for at least twenty hours daily can set the orthodontic process back, so it’s ideal to only remove your aligners for oral hygiene sessions or when you are eating or drinking anything but water.

Cleaning Your Aligners

Hot or cold water can cause your clear aligners to warp and ruin their ability to shift your teeth properly, so be sure to only clean them with lukewarm or room temperature water. You should rinse your trays each time before placing them back in your mouth, and they should be thoroughly cleaned with hand soap and a soft-bristle brush. Finally, make sure to brush and floss before putting your aligners back in each time after eating or drinking anything but water.

Eating & Drinking

While Spark patients can eat and drink whatever they like, they must remove their aligners for snacks, meals, and beverages other than water. Chewing with your trays in can damage them and compromise their ability to realign your teeth, and drinking anything but water while wearing them can lead to decay-causing and teeth-staining sugary accumulations forming beneath your appliances. When you remove your aligners, store them in a protective case to prevent them from being thrown away.

Losing or Damaging a Tray

While losing one of your aligners doesn’t mean your treatment has failed, it’s important to address the issue before complications arise. The trays are sometimes lost when patients remove them for meals or leave them within the reach of pets or small children. If your tray is lost or damaged, contact our office so Dr. Philip can determine whether you need to have a new aligner crafted or can simply move on to the next tray in the sequence.

Routine Check-Ins

Our patients will need to attend regular checkups so Dr. Philip can make sure that their treatment is progressing as planned, and these appointments are typically scheduled every four to eight weeks. These visits typically take about fifteen minutes, and they also allow us to periodically provide you with your next series of aligners.

How Much Do Spark Clear Aligners Cost?

Even if you’re looking forward to finally straightening your teeth with Spark clear aligners, odds are you have at least some concerns about the price. Don’t worry – our team will make sure to lay out all of the information you need to know ahead of time so that your treatment comes with no unpleasant surprises. The cost tends to be quite different from patient to patient, but the following information can be helpful when budgeting for your treatment.

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Factors That Affect the Cost of Spark Clear Aligners

Because so many variables come into play, the cost of Spark clear aligners in Sunnyvale rarely costs the exact same amount for two different patients. Until Dr. Philip has had the chance to review your specific case, we can’t provide an accurate cost estimate. Some of the main factors that affect the price include:

• Number of arches – Most patients need to straighten both their upper and lower teeth, but a select few patients will only need to wear aligners on one of their arches. Fewer aligners worn means a lower overall price of treatment.
• Complexity of your teeth’s misalignment – The greater the distance your teeth need to shift, the longer your treatment will take, and so, the more aligners you’ll need. For instance, repositioning several significantly crooked teeth will take longer (and cost more) than closing some minor gaps between a few teeth.
• Commitment to treatment – If you don’t wear your aligners for the recommended 22+ hours per day, your teeth may not move as quickly as intended. Therefore, you may end up needing to extend your treatment by a few more weeks or months, adding to your total costs.

Spark Clear Aligners vs. “DIY” Clear Aligners: Which Costs More?

Mail-order clear aligner kits, such as Smile Direct Club™, may seem like an appealing alternative. After all, they typically cost less, and you can handle the whole process at home. However, “do-it-yourself” clear aligners are almost never worth the risk.

When you’re responsible for taking your own impressions and wearing aligners on your own, with little to no supervision from a professional, there is all too much room for error. You might end up accidentally moving your teeth in drastically different ways than anticipated. In that case, you would need to see a dentist to have the issue corrected, ultimately costing you more money than if you’d simply gone to a Spark clear aligner dentist in Sunnyvale to begin with.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Spark Clear Aligners?

In some cases, dental insurance may partially cover Spark clear aligners, but there are often limits. For example, some plans only cover orthodontic treatment for patients under the age of 18, and some plans cover traditional braces but not Spark clear aligners.

No matter which dental plan you have, our team can help you fully understand your benefits and make sure you’re getting the most out of them. Better yet, we’re in-network with many of the leading providers, including Delta Dental, Cigna, Aetna, and MetLife.

Options for Making Spark Clear Aligners Affordable

If you’re uninsured or your plan lacks sufficient coverage, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Spark clear aligners will strain your wallet. At our dental office, we offer flexible financing through MasterCard and CareCredit. That way, your treatment costs can be broken up into smaller installments that more comfortably fit into your budget.

Spark Clear Aligners FAQs

We understand that getting Spark clear aligners is a huge investment in your smile. We also understand that you likely have some questions you want answered before you decide to sink your teeth into this treatment. That’s why we’ve gathered some of the questions we get asked the most often and answered them for your convenience.