These days, there are many options for straightening your teeth. What treatment you choose will depend on your lifestyle, dental needs, cost, and the options available. Here we look into the different types of braces available to help you sort out what is best for you.
Traditional Braces
When you mention the word braces, many people picture metal brackets attached to the teeth with an adhesive and connected by wires. Traditional braces do an excellent job of treating extreme overcrowding and overbite issues and can give your dentist at www.cosmodentalcentre.com control to adjust your teeth through small movements over time.
Traditional braces can also help correct bite issues, speech problems and issues that cannot be corrected by aligners. Many people want a different look for their braces and luckily, new technology has developed to give patients options for how their braces look. Here are some options for customizing the look of traditional braces:
- Clear Braces – Clear braces are just like traditional braces, but instead of brackets made of metal, the brackets are made of clear plastic polycarbonate material. Patients can also click here to choose a white wire to connect their brackets making the braces blend in with the natural colour of your teeth.
It is very important to keep your clear braces clean as any staining or discoloration can make the braces far more visible. Individuals with lighter coloured enamel may find that clear braces work better for them, while darker coloured enamel tends to blend better with ceramic braces.
- Ceramic Braces – Ceramic braces also work like traditional braces, but the brackets are made of ceramic that is coloured to match the colour of your tooth enamel. This also makes the braces far less visible from the outside.
There are also options of ceramic that is treated to make it more stain-resistant so you don’t have to worry about the foods you eat and drink staining your braces.
- Braces With Coloured Bands – Although many people look for options that make their braces less visible, some people want to show their personality in their smiles. One way to do this is through different colours of elastic bands. You can choose a colour or switch it up depending on how you are feeling.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are just like traditional braces, but instead of being fixed to the outside of your teeth, they are attached to the inside or lingual side, making them virtually invisible when you talk, smile or eat.
Lingual braces can fix many of the same problems that traditional braces can fix, with some exceptions such as a severe overbite. One disadvantage is that lingual braces can be more uncomfortable than traditional braces and can initially cause wearers to have a lisp while they get used to the braces.
Invisalign
Invisalign is another treatment option for correcting crooked teeth and alignment issues. The advantages to Invisalign is that you can remove the aligner trays to eat and drink and clean your teeth. They are also clear and fit over your teeth, making them virtually invisible. The disadvantage of Invisalign is that the treatment can take longer than other options, and you need to remember to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours a day. It is also important to thoroughly clean your teeth after you eat or drink anything. Invisalign cannot correct all dental issues so it is best to check with your dentist or orthodontist to find the best option for you.