Orthodontic Treatment Options

If you are interested in Invisalign® or orthodontics, visit our office for a consultation.  We will start by conducting a physical examination of your teeth, seeing how your bite comes together, and taking x-rays so that we can tell the exact position of each of your teeth and determine the best way to straighten them.  We can then present you with these options, explain the process and answer your questions in detail.

Your Orthodontic Treatment Options

Typically, people have two main ways to straighten teeth – traditional braces and clear aligners.  They both work using the same basic concept.  Pressure must be applied to your teeth consistently in order to move them from where they are today to the right position.  With traditional braces, this is done by placing a metal bracket on each of your teeth and running a wire between them. Held in place by rubber bands, the wires will be adjusted on a regular basis to keep your teeth moving in the right direction.  This solution is highly recommended for children that are still growing and for adults with significant bite issues.  However, in most cases, adults can receive comparable results by wearing clear aligners.

An aligner looks like a full retainer.  It is made of clear plastic that is virtually invisible but flexible enough to surround your teeth comfortably.  Just like braces apply pressure, aligners also apply pressure.  This is what causes your teeth to continue moving.  They are supposed to be worn for around 22 hours a day to work effectively and each aligner in the series is generally worn for two weeks.  After that time, it becomes loose and must be switched out for the next one.  Once you have worn all of the Invisalign® aligners in the series your teeth should be beautifully straight.

Life with Orthodontics

When you are wearing traditional metal braces, you will need to have the wires adjusted frequently which requires visits to the dentist or orthodontist office.  When you are wearing aligners, you can switch them out at home and have your teeth examined less frequently.  For those on a tight schedule, this makes aligners incredibly appealing.

On a daily basis, braces require you to make adjustments to what and how you eat.  You cannot bite down into a hamburger, for example, without getting bread and meat stuck in between your brackets and wires.  You cannot eat anything that is too hard, crunchy, or sticky either.  With Invisalign® you do not have these restrictions.  You can eat all of your favorite foods with confidence since the aligners are supposed to come out at mealtime.  This means that you will never be embarrassed by your teeth after eating.  In fact, since you can remove the aligners you have an incredible amount of flexibility with your daily schedule.  For example, if you have a big meeting to attend or special event, you can remove your aligners if that would make you more comfortable.  You just have to remember to put them back in to keep your teeth moving.

When it comes to orthodontics options, we have found that many of our patients prefer Invisalign® because of how convenient the treatment process is.

Invisalign  >  Dental Office

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