4 Facts Regarding Invisible Plastic Braces

If you have been considering braces for a while but the idea of having metal braces seems too juvenile and embarrassing, consider invisible braces. Invisible braces are great for teens and adults who want to correct their smile without the disadvantages of metal braces. If you still aren't sure if invisible braces are the right choice for your smile, check out these four facts regarding invisible plastic braces.

They Are Great for Mild to Moderate Issues

Traditional braces can fix many problems, including crooked teeth, gapped teeth, crowded teeth, rotated teeth, misaligned bites, etc. Even severe issues can be corrected with traditional metal braces. This is because, thanks to the brackets, traditional braces are more effective at moving each individual tooth to its perfect home.

Invisible braces, however, are best for mild to moderate issues. They are good at correcting crooked teeth, gapped teeth, and crowded teeth, but they are not excellent at correcting misaligned bites or rotated teeth. They are also not great at correcting severe issues because the aligners limit how well/much each individual tooth can be moved. They are also a little more expensive than traditional braces, costing about $5,600. Traditional braces cost about $4,937, so if money is an issue, and you have severe issues, traditional braces may be best.

They Are Nearly Impossible to See

The biggest reason adults gravitate toward invisible braces is because they are invisible. Invisible braces uses plastic aligners instead of metal. They cover your teeth like a mouth guard, but they are thin and shaped to fit your teeth. When they are in your mouth, they fit snuggly against your teeth, so all anyone sees when they look inside your mouth is your teeth.

Traditional metal braces are often easy to see, especially if you get normal metal. However, you can choose to get clear or tooth-colored wires and brackets. This will help smooth the look of metal braces, but even with tooth-colored metal and brackets, people can see you have braces.

They Are Smooth and Comfortable

Another benefit of the plastic aligners is that they are smooth and comfortable. Metal braces are often uncomfortable. The wire can poke or scratch the inside of your mouth, including your cheek, tongue, and gums. The pressure placed on your teeth by metal braces is also a little more uncomfortable than with invisible braces. You get used to it as your teeth start to move, but each time the dentist tightens the metal braces, the discomfort may return.

With invisible braces, the aligners are smooth, and there is nothing protruding to poke you in the mouth. If the aligner does get cracked or chipped, it may start to scratch the inside of your check, but you can easily have the aligners replaced. Also, when you get a new set of aligners to move your teeth, you may feel less pressure and pain.

They Can Be Removed

With metal braces, you aren't supposed to remove your braces yourself, and they aren't usually removed until treatment is finished. This can make cleaning your teeth with metal braces difficult. Certain foods need to be avoided because they can get trapped around the braces, leading to decay and discoloration in some areas (while leaving the tooth under the bracket white).

Invisible braces can be removed. In fact, you'll have to remove them to eat because eating with the aligners can cause damage. After eating, you need to immediately clean your teeth and replace the aligners. Failing to keep the aligners in your mouth whenever you aren't eating or cleaning your teeth will slow or reverse your progress.

When you have crooked teeth, it may seem like metal braces are the only choice, but invisible braces are an excellent alternative that can ensure you get the smile you want without the disadvantages of metal braces. For more information or to schedule a consultation for Invisalign, contact a dentist from a place like University Dental Group PA in your area today.

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