Some people notice eyes or hair color when first meeting an acquaintance or interacting with peers/coworkers on a daily basis. For other people, teeth and a straight smile are the first things noticed. Choosing to improve oral health through cosmetic dentistry may be an important decision to consider.
To straighten teeth after consulting a professional dentist or orthodontist, there are normally two traditional possibilities: metal braces or Invisalign.
Traditional metal braces are wires that loop through brackets temporarily cemented to the fronts of teeth. These wires are tightened every few weeks, and are held in place by clear, or colored, medical rubber bands. Although effective, metal braces limit the types of food and beverages a patient may consume, increase the difficulty of regular cleanings, and can irritate the lips, gums, and flesh of the mouth.
Invisalign takes a different approach to correcting the spacing and alignment issues of crooked teeth. Invisalign is a system of clear aligners, or clear retainers, which are molded and personalized for each individual patient. Patients have a new set of aligners every two weeks or so to continue to correct misalignment and shifting teeth. Aligners are removable allowing patients to:
- Effectively play sports and wear protective mouth gear
- Clean the appliances nightly to reduce oral bacteria
- Eat their favorite foods without limitation of wires and brackets
- Brush, floss, and mouthrinse in order to maintain a beautiful smile
- Remove the aligners for special occasions
Invisalign lets patients continuously straighten teeth and improve oral health without the nuisance of irritating brackets. Invisalign is great for teens and adults who can both be self-conscious during the braces process. For more information regarding Invisalign, please visit the official Invisalign website by clicking HERE.
By Alexander Ash, DDS
Dr. Ash is the founder of Studio Dental Care. He earned his Doctorate at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, followed by two General Residencies at New York-Presbyterian / Weill-Cornell Hospital and the UCLA Sepulveda VA Hospital.