Orthodontic Appliances(Spring Aligner, Inman Aligner) in Matthews NC

Removable orthodontic appliances can be an inexpensive way to correct minor orthodontic problems or augment your fixed treatment. Minor crowding of the lower front teeth or just one or two teeth that are out of line are great cases for removable appliances like the spring aligner or Inman Aligner. In only a couple of months with good compliance, these problems can be corrected. Other appliances like the orthodontic trainer can help younger patients correct bad tongue or swallowing habits before they affect the teeth. Below are just a few examples of removable appliances. Call or click to make a consultation appointment to see if removable appliances can help straighten your smile.

Inman Aligner

Inman Aligner Orthodontic Appliance

McKee Dental Associates is a certified Inman Aligner Dentist. The Inman Aligner is a simple removable appliance used to align front teeth quickly and safely. It’s ideal as a stand alone treatment or to align your front teeth prior to further cosmetic options such as whitening, bonding or minimal veneers. We often use the Inman Aligner when we do Triple “B” cases – Braces, Bleaching and Bonding. Moving the teeth closer to alignment makes for better results and more conservative treatment. The Inman Aligner has Nickel Titanium coil springs that power two aligner bows that gently oppose each other. These bows guide your teeth into their new position. These gentle forces are active over a very large range of movement, which is why the Inman Aligner works so quickly and needs very little adjustment.

Using only a single appliance as opposed to multiple clear aligners, most cases are completed within 6-18 weeks. Since it is removable, it fits your lifestyle and is an affordable choice providing an efficient and safe way to move your front teeth. Patients wear the appliance about 20 hours per day and in no time at all, you get straight front teeth!

Spring Aligner Orthodontic Appliance

Spring Aligner

The Spring Aligner is a special purpose custom made removable appliance. A spring aligner is a great way to align slightly crowded upper or lower incisors. For many people that had braces, there may be just one or two teeth that rotated or drifted back. This is a perfect case for a spring aligner.

The first step is to take an impression of the crowded teeth. The lab then carefully cuts the crooked teeth from the plaster model. They reshape and align them in wax on the model putting the crooked front teeth back into place. The appliance is constructed over the aligned teeth.

The appliance is worn 100% of the time just like Invisalign. The thin springs and pads put gentle pressure on the fronts and backs of the teeth to squeeze them back into place. Sometimes we may need to do some minor thinning or reshaping to make room for the teeth to turn. This does not hurt the teeth at all and is only a very small adjustment. The teeth usually move quickly if the appliance is worn correctly. You will have some initial soreness as the teeth start to move. When the teeth are properly aligned the appliance may be used as a retainer by wearing it part-time. We usually suggest a fixed bonded retainer being placed on the inside of the lower front teeth to assure long term stability and keep the teeth from moving back.