“Braces are painful”! Heard any child or adult with braces say that? Well, the truth is- they are and there is also a considerable amount of discomfort that is associated with them. Being metallic or ceramic in nature and bulky, they tend to cause discomfort to the patient. When teeth move due to the applied forces on them, pain is experienced by the patient. This pain varies in different patients and at different times during the treatment for a patient.
Aligners, they are advertised as being ‘completely pain- free’. But, are they?
Aligners are way more comfortable as compared to traditional braces. This is so because they are less bulky, smooth in nature, easy to wear and remove. But, it is important to understand that aligners are capable of causing teeth movements and these movements of teeth do cause some pain. Aligners help bring your teeth into a straight line and this is done by applying some pressure on your teeth. This pressure on the teeth is put by the aligners. Whenever pressure is applied to teeth, there is some bone remodelling that occurs and this leads to the teeth becoming sore and painful. Sometimes the soreness is mild.
Apart from the pain that arises from the movement of teeth, there can be some pain in the teeth and gums due to the fitting of the aligner. If the aligners are ill-fitting or not fitting properly, they tend to cause immense pain. If the aligner has sharp edges, they tend to bruise the soft tissues in the mouth and lead to ulcers. These can be painful if not corrected in time.
Aligners are the best form of orthodontic treatment available today, but, before undergoing this treatment it is important to know what comes with it. Expecting ‘zero pain’ is incorrect as aligner treatment does cause mild pain. If you feel there is unbearable pain on wearing your clear aligners, consult your dentist immediately so they can fix it for you.
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