Dr. Kevin Chidester, DMD, and the team at Maplewood Family Dental believe that straightening your teeth should never come at the cost of your confidence or comfort. That’s why we offer ClearCorrect, a modern approach to orthodontic treatment that fits seamlessly into your everyday life. Whether you’re a busy professional, a student, or simply someone who wants a straighter smile without the hassle of traditional metal braces, clear aligners are designed with your needs in mind.
Clear Aligners
How ClearCorrect Approaches Teeth Straightening
ClearCorrect is an FDA-cleared aligner system that uses a precise, digital treatment planning process to map out every stage of your tooth movement before your first tray is ever made. Each aligner is crafted from a BPA-free, medical-grade plastic that’s trimmed to fit comfortably along your gumline. The result is a system built around accuracy. Your provider knows exactly where your teeth are headed and how long it should take to get there.
What makes ClearCorrect specifically worth noting is its flexibility in treating a wide range of alignment concerns, from minor crowding to more complex bite issues. The trays are manufactured to close tolerances, which helps ensure each stage of movement stays on track with the overall plan. For patients who want a clinically reliable option that doesn’t compromise on comfort or aesthetics, ClearCorrect delivers a well-rounded solution backed by years of proven clinical use.
Benefits of Clear Aligners
How We Use ClearCorrect to Straighten Your Teeth
Evaluating Your Teeth for ClearCorrect
Dr. Kevin Chidester, DMD, begins by thoroughly examining your teeth, bite, and overall oral health to determine whether ClearCorrect is the right fit for you. This includes a review of your dental history and a discussion of the specific alignment concerns you want addressed. The goal at this stage is to make sure you have a complete picture of what treatment involves before any decisions are made.
Building Your ClearCorrect Treatment Plan
Once you’re confirmed as a good candidate, detailed digital scans of your teeth are taken and submitted to ClearCorrect to fabricate your custom aligner series. The resulting treatment plan maps out each stage of tooth movement from your current position to your target alignment. Dr. Chidester reviews this plan with you so you know exactly what to expect at every step before your trays are produced.
Receiving and Wearing Your First Set of Trays
When your aligners arrive, the team at Maplewood Family Dental walks you through how to insert and remove them correctly, how long to wear them each day, and when to switch to your next set. ClearCorrect trays are designed to be worn 20 to 22 hours daily for the most effective results. You’ll leave your appointment with everything you need to start treatment confidently and on schedule.
Keeping Your Aligners Clean and Effective
ClearCorrect trays stay clearest and most hygienic when rinsed with lukewarm water each time you remove them and brushed gently with a soft toothbrush. Hot water should be avoided entirely, as it can distort the plastic and affect how well the tray fits. Storing them in their protective case whenever they’re not in your mouth keeps them safe from damage and contamination between uses.
Checking Your Progress Along the Way
Scheduled check-in appointments allow Dr. Chidester to confirm your teeth are moving as planned and that each new set of trays is fitting correctly. These visits are shorter and less frequent than traditional braces adjustments, but they play an important role in keeping your treatment on track. If anything needs to be addressed, catching it early ensures your results aren’t delayed.
Why Get Your Clear Aligners from Us
Orthodontic treatment is a routine part of what we do at Maplewood Family Dental, and we take that responsibility seriously. We understand that choosing to straighten your teeth is a meaningful decision, and we’ve seen firsthand how the thought of metal braces holds many patients back from getting the treatment they want. Offering ClearCorrect was a direct response to that concern, and the feedback from patients who’ve gone through treatment has been consistently positive.
Dr. Kevin Chidester, DMD, and the entire team are genuinely invested in how you feel throughout your orthodontic experience, not just the clinical outcome. We aim to make every stage of treatment feel manageable, transparent, and worth your time. From your first consultation to your final tray, our goal is to support you with the kind of care that makes a real difference in how you experience treatment and how you feel about your results.
FAQs
How to clean aligners?
Rinse your aligners with lukewarm water each time you remove them and brush them gently with a soft, non-abrasive toothbrush. Avoid toothpaste, as most formulas are abrasive enough to cause cloudiness over time. For a deeper clean, soak them in a dentist-recommended aligner cleaning solution. Keeping up with this routine daily makes a noticeable difference in how your trays look and feel throughout treatment.
How do clear aligners work?
Clear aligners work by applying gentle, consistent pressure to your teeth through a series of custom-fitted trays. Each tray is slightly different from the last, nudging your teeth incrementally toward their target positions. You swap to a new set every one to two weeks as directed by your provider. The entire sequence is planned digitally before treatment begins, so every movement is intentional and mapped out in advance.
Can clear aligners fix an open bite?
Clear aligners can treat many open bite cases, particularly those that are mild to moderate in severity. The trays apply targeted pressure to specific teeth, gradually closing the gap between upper and lower arches. More complex cases may require additional treatment alongside aligners. A thorough evaluation is the most reliable way to determine whether clear aligners alone can fully address your open bite.
Can clear aligners fix an underbite?
Clear aligners can correct mild to moderate underbites by repositioning the upper and lower teeth into better alignment. Severe skeletal underbites, however, may need more comprehensive treatment beyond aligners alone. Every case is different, which is why a detailed clinical assessment matters before starting any orthodontic treatment. The right approach depends on both the degree of misalignment and the underlying cause.
What to expect when wearing clear aligners?
Expect a short adjustment period when you first start. Mild pressure and minor speech changes are common and typically resolve within a few days. You’ll wear your trays 20 to 22 hours daily, removing them only to eat and clean your teeth. Some discomfort when switching to a new set is normal and signals that the trays are working. Most patients adapt quickly and find the overall experience manageable.
Curious about what ClearCorrect could do for your teeth?
There’s only one way to find out what your smile could look like after treatment, and that starts with a single conversation. Dr. Kevin Chidester, DMD, and the team at Maplewood Family Dental are happy to walk you through what ClearCorrect would actually involve for your specific teeth, no commitment required. Got questions before committing to anything? Browse our Facebook and Instagram to see how other patients have experienced ClearCorrect at our practice. Then dial 919.438.3933 when you’re ready to talk through your own options.
