Metal, ceramic, or acrylic brackets and wires have been the traditional way to straighten teeth for generations. You may have even had braces as a child or teen. But whether you’re straightening your teeth for the first time or whether you require a re-alignment as an adult, braces are no longer your only option.
From clear aligners to veneers, you now have more choices than ever when it comes to creating a straighter, healthier, more attractive smile. All you have to do now is … choose.
Our dental team, led by expert dentist Hannah Baek, DDS at Healthy Smile Dental, offers several possibilities for teeth straightening. At our Woodridge, Illinois, office, we help you make the best choice for your needs and goals.
What are your options for a straighter smile?
Even though braces cost about the same amount as clear aligners, they may be your best option, depending on your needs. Braces may be best if you or your child have a very complicated malocclusion (i.e., a misalignment that affects the function of your bite). Malocclusions include:
Braces may be the best choice for kids or teens simply because they can’t be lost or broken. However, metal, acrylic, or ceramic braces have the disadvantage of sometimes hurting soft tissues, such as your cheeks or tongue.
In addition, braces are difficult to clean. Food gets stuck in them. You or your child must take extra care when brushing your teeth to remove all the food and plaque. You might invest in a water-flosser since it’s not possible to floss your teeth with dental floss if you have braces.
One of the most popular ways to straighten your teeth — discreetly and comfortably — is with Invisalign clear aligner trays. Made of crystal clear patented SmartTrack™ materials, Invisalign aligners are custom molded and cut to match your teeth and gums.
The SmartTrack materials are also much more comfortable than wires and brackets. They can’t cut you, so your inner cheeks and tongue are safe. Although they feel tight when you switch to a new tray every week or two, they’re not painful, either.
Invisalign can now handle even complicated orthodontic malocclusions, including twisted or incompletely erupted teeth. We use tooth-colored brackets called SmartForce™ attachments, which create extra force.
You take out your aligners to eat and clean them or for brief special occasions, such as photos. Otherwise, you wear them for a minimum of 22 hours per day. Every week or so, you switch to a new aligner tray, which takes your teeth closer to your goal. You can usually straighten your teeth about five months faster with Invisalign than braces.
Invisalign also comes with many digital benefits. First, after we take digital molds of your teeth and send our plan to the lab, you see your “results” in a cartoon graphic before you put them on your first tray. You can also keep track of your treatment and conduct some check-in visits online.
If your teeth aren’t as straight or perfect as you want them to be, but you don’t actually have a malocclusion, you may choose to create a celebrity-level smile with veneers. Veneers are tooth-shaped caps that are perfectly shaped and colored to match your skin tone and face.
Although they can’t remedy alignment problems that affect your jaw, veneers can make aesthetic improvements to your smile. They include:
Veneers require that your natural teeth undergo reshaping, including the removal of enamel, so you must be 100% certain that you want them. Once you have a veneer, you must always have a veneer. As a bonus, they’re stain-resistant, so you never need to whiten them.
Are you ready for straighter teeth, with or without braces? Contact our dental team by phone or online form for a better smile today.
