Posted on July 7, 2023
Did you know that you can improve your life a lot by straightening out your teeth? According to research by Kelton for Invisalign, if you’re an American with straight teeth, you’re 58% more likely to be happy, successful, and also be perceived as smart. If your teeth aren’t straight, then you might want to do something about it. Even though there are a wide variety of orthodontic treatments out there, braces and Invisalign serve as the most popular options. Should you get braces or should you go with Invisalign?
The way that traditional braces work is that the orthodontist will put brackets on each tooth and then run wire through them. As time goes by, you’ll come to visit their office every few weeks and they will tighten the wires to help turn your teeth in the proper direction. Braces are great if you have special circumstances with your teeth, like if they are extremely crooked. Your orthodontist may have to extract some teeth to make sure that there is no overcrowding.
So what are the drawbacks of braces? People might not like having a mouthful of braces, especially when they take photos. Also, their diet is more limited, and brushing their teeth can be complicated. There’s a higher chance of cavities once the braces are removed since it’s hard to get all the food particles out.
If you don’t want to have braces in your mouth that are obvious whenever you talk or smile, you can opt for Invisalign. These are a series of clear aligners that you put in your mouth and wear for 22 hours a day. The aligners are designed to gradually shift your teeth into their correct position. You usually switch out the aligners every two weeks, but there are more aggressive plans where you will do it every week. People like Invisalign since they can do this more discreetly than braces and they can take them out and eat like normal.
While you won’t have to see your orthodontist as often as with braces, you do have to worry about possibly losing the aligner. This might set your progress back. Also, if you don’t follow the plan, the aligners eventually won’t fit. Also, extremely crooked teeth may not be suitable for Invisalign. This all depends on what your orthodontist recommends.
Both Invisalign and braces take roughly a year, but that will vary from person to person. Talk with your orthodontist about what would work best for you, then get ready to get straighter teeth. Are you interested in Invisalign or braces? Contact Lineberger Orthodontics today!