Thanks to advances in orthodontics patients have a number of effective teeth straightening options to choose from. Gone are the days when the only options for teeth straightening were metal braces. The latest braces are more compact and more comfortable than ever before. Today patients can take their pick from a number of convenient and effective teeth straightening options that will restore their confidence.
Why Different Teeth Straightening Options Matter?
Everyone has different preferences as to how they live their lives, and given the emphasis modern living places on aesthetics, more adults than ever are choosing to correct crooked teeth. The evolution of orthodontics has resulted in a range of teeth straightening options that can be used by different age groups.
Perhaps wearing dental braces isn’t your idea of a good time: there may be restrictions and some discomfort as you straighten your smile. It’s important not to be put off by things like this because wearing orthodontics is an investment in your future health. We all need our teeth to last a lifetime, but this is so much easier when teeth are straight.
Crooked teeth are harder to keep clean and the irregular spaces that are created by crooked teeth can cause dental decay if your toothbrush can’t access them. It isn’t a vanity purchase and you are never ‘too old’ to wear dental braces. Thanks to all the options for teeth straightening at your disposal, you can correct your smile at any age.
So What Teeth Straightening Options Are There For You?
Clear aligners
For more mature patients, clear aligners like Invisalign offer the chance to straighten crooked teeth in the most discreet manner. Clear aligners are hardly noticeable and unlike other braces, can be removed prior to eating and drinking. Patients feel as though they have a lot more freedom when they do not have to be concerned about food restrictions while they undergo orthodontic treatment.
Invisalign aligners do not need to be adjusted either. Instead, you will be given different sets of aligners that have been created to support your teeth at each stage of your treatment. This means you will wear a new set of aligners every two weeks, in order to meet your treatment plan goals. It’s important to note that you need to wear Invisalign for at least 22 hours per day so you shouldn’t remove them unless you are eating or drinking.
Because clear aligners are made from transparent plastic and are easily stained, they need to be cleaned properly. You also need to be mature enough to follow the care instructions very carefully so you don’t cause unnecessary damage.
Traditional metal braces
Metal braces are still the most popularly used orthodontic treatment for a good reason: they really work. The good news is that metal braces have evolved significantly and their design has improved to make them smaller and more compact. They are also more comfortable to wear than they were when they were first in use.
Patients need to take care of their dental hygiene very carefully, to ensure that they keep the spaces between brackets and wires clean. If you do not, you are at risk for dental decay and tooth staining. If you have not kept your teeth clean enough when your braces are removed there will be noticeable white spaces where the brackets were, and the rest of your tooth will be darker.
You will also need to attend regular dental visits and adjustments as your teeth shift. Metal braces are the most uncomfortable after an adjustment but it is a necessary part of the process. If you play contact sports it is a good idea to protect your mouth and teeth with a custom mouthguard.
Lingual braces
Lingual braces are much the same as traditional metal braces by design, except they are placed on the underside of your teeth. They also need to be adjusted regularly by your dentist, but they offer the benefit of being very discreet.
Sometimes patients find it takes a while to adjust to having lingual braces as they can interfere with tongue placement during speech and when eating. After a few days, you should get used to it. You need to take extra special care with your dental hygiene because having braces behind your teeth can make it difficult to see where you are brushing. It’s easy for debris and food to get caught up in braces so you must make sure you brush and floss impeccably.
Following Through With Orthodontic Treatment
It doesn’t help you to have so many teeth straightening options and to go through an 18 or 24-month treatment program, and then not to follow through at the last stage. Once your dental braces have been removed your dentist will probably give you a retainer to wear at night while you sleep. Because patients tend to be excited at having their braces removed they may forget, or not want to wear the retainer. This can be a big mistake as your teeth can shift back into their former positions if you don’t do this.
To find out more about the most appropriate teeth straightening options available to you, please get in touch:
Phone: (02) 9158 6213
Pyrmont NSW 2009
Phone: (02) 9158 6756
Illawong, NSW 2234
Phone: (02) 9159 6083
Sylvania Waters NSW 2224
