Having a bright, straight smile can do wonders for your confidence and appearance. While traditional metal braces were once the only solution for misaligned teeth, modern dental technologies now offer more comfortable and discreet options. Read on to learn about popular clear aligner treatments that can give you the straight teeth you’ve always wanted — without the hassle of bulky wire braces.
Consider Clear Aligner Therapy
Clear aligner treatment uses a series of customized plastic trays to shift teeth into place over several months. As an alternative to braces, clear aligners offer these benefits:
- Removable design for eating, brushing, and flossing
- More comfortable with no brackets or wires
- Virtually invisible on teeth for discreet wear
- Shorter treatment times compared to traditional braces
- Effective for mild to moderate alignment issues
Popular branded clear aligner options include Invisalign, ClearCorrect, and SmileDirectClub. An experienced dentist or orthodontist will evaluate your smile and decide if you’re a good candidate. Using 3D imaging technology, a series of aligner trays are custom-made to fit your teeth and treatment plan.
How Do Clear Aligners Work?
Clear aligners are made of smooth BPA-free plastic. You’ll switch to a new set every 1-2 weeks to gradually shift your teeth millimeter by millimeter. Each tray applies light-adjusted pressure on the teeth, targeting specific problem areas. Clear aligners can effectively straighten smiles with minimal discomfort by moving a tooth or small group of teeth at a time.
Treatment times range from 10-24 weeks for minor crowding and spacing. More complex cases take 12-18 months. You must wear your aligners 20-22 hours per day to ensure the desired results. Thankfully, you can remove them for meals, brushing, and important events.
Benefits of Clear Aligner Treatment
In addition to an invisible look, clear aligners offer advantages over conventional wire braces:
- More Comfortable
With no metal brackets or wires, plastic aligners are smooth and comfortable. There’s no risk of irritation, mouth sores, or injury.
- Removable
Aligners are taken out for eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing. You can also remove them briefly for special occasions.
- Easy Care
Just brush, floss, and rinse after meals before reinserting your aligner trays. Regular dental visits will monitor your progress.
- Shorter Treatment
Most clear aligner cases take 6-18 months compared to 2+ years for braces. Results are seen quicker with aligners.
- Discreet Appearance
Clear aligners are practically invisible on your teeth. People may not even notice you’re straightening your smile.
- Teeth Appearance
Aligners won’t stain or discolour your teeth like metal braces can. Your smile looks great during and after treatment.
Consider Lingual Braces
If you aren’t a candidate for clear aligners, lingual braces offer an effective and nearly invisible alternative to metal braces. Lingual braces attach to the back surfaces of your teeth, hiding them from view. Custom-fit metal or ceramic brackets are bonded to the tongue side of your teeth and connected with a wire.
While lingual braces straighten teeth the same way as traditional braces, their concealed placement provides these advantages:
- Discreet look with brackets hidden from view
- Won’t impede speech or tongue movement
- Reduced risk of injury or mouth sores
- Less food/drink restrictions since food won’t stick
- Prevents stains and discoloration of teeth
Lingual braces are customized to fit your mouth perfectly using digital impressions of your teeth. Patients adapt to the sensation of the brackets within a couple of weeks. The major downside is the high cost, especially if you have no insurance. Treatment times are similar to regular braces at 12-24 months.
Consider Teeth Alignment Surgery
For complex bite and alignment problems, corrective jaw surgery is an option. This oral surgery straightens teeth by repositioning the jaw bones. Medically necessary for some severe cases, benefits include:
- Permanently correct alignment, spacing, and bite
- Coordinates upper and lower jaw positions
- May reduce TMJ and chewing problems
- Improves facial symmetry and profile
The drawback is the invasive nature and long recovery of realignment surgery. It also involves high surgical fees and orthodontic treatment before and after. Make sure to get reputable surgical opinions on whether your case warrants this intense intervention.
Bottom Line
If you’re unhappy with the straightness of your smile, make an appointment with your dentist. They can assess if clear aligners, lingual braces, or other options may help align your teeth. Customized treatment will discreetly give you the smile you’ve been dreaming about.
For affordable and quality dental care, choose Baywaters Dentist. Our dental experts offer leading clear aligner brands like Invisalign and lingual braces. Their state-of-the-art technology and financing plans make teeth straightening achievable on any budget. Visit us online or call to schedule a consultation.