Eliners – the comfortable way to a correct bite

According to statistics, less than 10% of the world’s population has the correct position of the teeth in the jaw. This, of course, does not mean that all the other 90% should be immediately concerned with its correction, but, nevertheless, the task of correcting the bite is one of the most common in modern dentistry. Especially since the bite, if significantly deviated from the norm, is not only an aesthetic inconvenience, but can also affect the health of teeth and human health in general.

The most common way to get rid of such a problem and bring the bite to normal is braces. The method is reliable, time-tested, but not too pleasant. Nothing scary, of course, in no, but also comfortable wearing braces can not be called – there are certain restrictions in food, difficulties in care and hygiene, and the aesthetics of braces like not everyone. And the physical discomfort of braces is also sometimes very noticeable, especially at the initial stage.

Therefore, patients often ask the question:

“Can a bite be corrected without braces?”

And just eliners are a positive answer to this question. And in order to make everything simple and understandable, we will tell you more about eliners.

What are eliners

Eliners are special transparent mouthguards that visually look a bit like teeth whitening mouthguards. But there are two features – the material from which they are made and the fact that they are individually calculated and made for each patient.

Due to the fact that they are thin and transparent, they are practically invisible on the teeth. It is almost impossible to see them from a distance, and they are hardly noticeable in face-to-face conversations when the two people are close to each other

They can also be removed and put on by yourself, for example, for eating or before brushing your teeth. This is something that braces wearers are not able to do, and believe me, they are not happy about it.

How it works

Correcting the bite requires that the teeth be moved precisely so that they are in the correct position, which is why the eliners move the teeth in a precise and calibrated gradual manner. This is due to the uneven thickness of the eliner: in some places it is thicker and exerts more pressure on the tooth, while in some places it is thinner and therefore exerts less pressure. The difference in pressure is what allows the teeth to move into position.

How mouthguards are made

A special computer program based on impressions of the patient’s teeth or on the results of interoral scanning (for this purpose, an oral scanner is used to create a full virtual 3d model of the dentition) calculates and simulates the design of the mouth guard, taking into account the correction plan developed by the attending physician.

Eliners are a high-tech product, their thicknesses are calculated with micron precision. Only thanks to advanced technologies and materials has it become possible to realize this treatment method

In simpler terms – we study the current position of the teeth, specify what and how we need to correct, send the task to the company-manufacturer of eliners, receive from them a calculation and a model, and after approval of the model we place the order in production and wait for a set of eliners from them, which will allow us to achieve the ideal result

For a full course of treatment, not just one pair of eliners is made, but a whole set, (in some cases, more than 20 pairs are needed).

Eliners are almost always made in pairs, for both the lower and upper jaw, even if only one of the teeth is misaligned. Without working in pairs “as a set”, it is impossible to properly align the teeth to each other. There are exceptions when working with only one jaw, of course, but rarely, mainly in the case of “preparation” of teeth for veneers.

How the treatment works

The first step is to diagnose and develop a treatment plan and take physical or digital impressions of your teeth. These materials are then sent to the manufacturer, who fully simulates the entire tooth movement process and sends the design to you and your doctor for approval.

At this stage, you can see what the final result will be and how long it will take to get there, and therefore how many pairs of eliners you will need. Each pair will provide micro-movement of the teeth, and the consistent application of all pairs will give us the results we need

Once approved, a fabrication order is placed and you will receive your entire set of your mouthguards some time later, usually a few weeks.

Your goal now is to wear your eliners for at least 20 hours a day.

20 hours a day is the minimum required, without this regimen you will not get results. Mouthguards only work when they are on your teeth, not in your pocket or purse

Every few weeks, as your teeth move into position, you swap out the current pair of mouthguards for the next.

Pay attention. It is very important not to forget or lose your mouthguards. Forgetfulness can severely damage the treatment process. It takes a long time and is very expensive to make new mouthguards

Visiting the orthodontist to monitor the process is usually enough once every two to three months, but it is individual, you may be offered a different schedule. The whole process of bite correction is not quick and can take from six months to two years, just like with braces

How to care for eliners

Eliners, like teeth, can be cleaned with a regular toothbrush and toothpaste. It is only important to use a soft-bristled brush. If it is not possible to clean the eliners, it is necessary to wash them in warm running water. Eliners should be cleaned after each removal and it is highly advisable to brush your teeth or at least rinse thoroughly before putting them back on

Are eliners suitable for everyone

Unfortunately, there are times when you can’t do without conventional braces, fortunately, they are not particularly common. For most problems, such as gaps between the teeth, twisted front teeth, “falling out” of several teeth from the tooth row, eliners are excellent. But in very difficult cases, there is no alternative to braces. It is impossible to answer whether eliners will be suitable for you personally without consulting a doctor

Eliners or braces, which to choose?

Eliners and braces are very different methods of solving the same problem. Eliners are more comfortable and expensive, while braces are more versatile and less expensive. Let’s give a brief comparison by main characteristics

• Aesthetics
  Eliners are not visible or barely visible when viewed up close. There are no wires or brackets on the teeth.
• Comfort
  Eating or oral hygiene procedures are no problem because the eliners can be removed. For many people, this advantage is even more important than aesthetics
• Safety
  Eliners do not have any metal parts that can potentially traumatize the mucous membrane. They are completely hypoallergenic. It cannot be said that braces are somehow particularly unsafe, but still, eliners are safer in any case. In addition, with eliners, the doctor does not need to perform any manipulations in the oral cavity
• Cost
  This is where eliners lose out badly, as bracket systems are much cheaper
• Versatility
  Braces are a winner here, too. They can cope even where eliners cannot solve the problem. In addition, braces can be combined with micro-implants, which gives you much more flexibility in moving your teeth

Frequently Asked Questions Is it painful to wear eliners?

After wearing your first set, you may feel some discomfort for a few days, which is a normal reaction. Afterwards, these sensations will initially subside and then disappear altogether. With each subsequent pair of eliners, the discomfort will be lessened

Is there a possibility of diction problems?

There may be a temporary effect on diction, but it is usually insignificant. Absolutely all orthodontic appliances can have this effect. Quite quickly the tongue gets used to feeling the elainers in the mouth and speech becomes as before

How quickly is the effect of application noticeable?

The effect is not immediately noticeable, bite alignment is always a long process. Everything is individualized. Usually clear changes become visible after 5-6 months of wear

Can the mouth guard be removed overnight?

No, absolutely not. Eliners require constant wear. It is not recommended to remove the mouth guard for more than twenty minutes at a time, the total maximum allowed time without the mouth guard is 4 hours a day

Is a special diet required?

Obviously not. Because you will be removing the eliners for meals and putting them back on immediately afterwards. Eating without taking the elastics off can deform them. It is also not allowed to chew gum, drink cold and hot food. You can only drink room temperature water without removing the mouth guard

Any questions?

Call and we’ll be happy to answer them!