Adult Teeth Straightening: Invisible Braces Options

Invisible braces allow patients to improve the alignment of their teeth without compromising the way their smile looks. The term can be used to describe clear aligners and other orthodontic appliances that can be used to straighten a person's teeth like ceramic and lingual braces.

The different options when it comes to invisible braces

Below are the most common options that adult patients can consider when looking into invisible braces.

1. Clear aligners

These invisible braces are transparent plastic trays that fit tightly on the teeth. They are made from rigid plastic materials and the appliance exerts a force on the patient's teeth, slowly moving them towards better alignment. Treatment with clear aligners involves getting multiple trays to start the treatment. Each aligner tray is worn for two weeks before being replaced with another that moves the wearer's teeth closer to the target alignment.

Important facts to know about clear aligners include:

• Clear aligners can be easily removed for oral hygiene or meals
• The appliance itself is less likely to irritate soft tissues in the mouth
• The experience is often more comfortable
• Clear aligners need to be worn for at least 20 hours each day

2. Ceramic braces

Ceramic braces are a lot like metal braces, but they are another invisible braces option. Just like metal braces, the patient's teeth are moved to a better position by cementing brackets and wires to them. However, instead of metal brackets and wires being used, tooth-colored brackets and transparent/tooth-colored wires are used.

As a result, the patient gets a set of invisible braces that people are less likely to notice unless they pay close attention to the person's teeth. It is a great option for children who might not be disciplined enough for clear aligners, but still want a discreet way to straighten their teeth.

Important facts to know about ceramic braces include:

• Ceramic braces can be used to fix many of the issues metal braces are used to fix
• Like metal braces, these invisible braces are permanently fixed in place
• Ceramic braces increase the patient's risk of tooth decay since food particles get stuck underneath the wires and brackets
• The wires and brackets can also get in the way of oral hygiene

3. Lingual braces

This type of invisible braces is just like metal braces with one key difference: The brackets and wires used with lingual braces are cemented to the back of the patient's teeth. This hides the contraption when the person smiles. Lingual braces are the least common type of invisible braces due to reasons like:

• Lingual braces are not very comfortable
• The gums are more likely to become irritated
• They increase the risk of tooth decay as food particles get stuck underneath the wires and brackets

Get started with invisible braces

Want to find out more about invisible braces options? Reach out today to get started!

Request an appointment here: https://alexoldtowndental.com or call Alexandria Old Town Dental at (703) 763-1078 for an appointment in our Alexandria office.

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