Misaligned teeth make it difficult to practice oral hygiene and may lead to low self-confidence and anxiety. This dental imperfection is common among people of different age groups – children to adults. Although braces straighten crooked teeth and may improve your appearance, most teenagers and adults tend to avoid treatment as traditional braces are noticeable and may slightly alter your appearance. However, with the evolution in orthodontics in Brooklyn, NY, patients now have various options to choose from for braces. Below are the different braces that your orthodontist may recommend to fix your crooked teeth.
Table of Contents
Traditional braces
These are the most common braces involving brackets and wires made of metal, which gradually move teeth to the correct position. Traditional braces can be adjusted to fit tightly or snuggly, depending on a patient’s needs. Some of the downsides of this type of braces include:
- They are noticeable and may make you self-conscious about your appearance.
- People in particular careers such as modeling and journalism may not benefit from traditional braces.
- Most patients have also reported discomfort and bruising on the gums after getting traditional braces.
However, the heat-activated wires used today cause less pain with traditional braces.
Ceramic braces
Ceramic braces work just like traditional braces when it comes to aligning crooked teeth. However, they are made from ceramic material, which is less noticeable as it is close to your teeth’ natural color. Ceramic braces are a common alternative to most individuals who do not want traditional braces. There are different downsides when it comes to ceramic braces, for example:
- Ceramic braces are more costly compared to traditional braces.
- The brackets may easily discolor if proper cleaning is not involved.
On the good side, ceramic braces offer faster results than other plastic aligners such as Invisalign.
Lingual braces
Similar to traditional braces, lingual braces are made out of metal. However, your orthodontist will attach them at the backside of your teeth, making them invisible to others – a significant advantage of lingual braces. These braces also have various disadvantages that include:
- Lingual braces cause much discomfort when you accidentally run your tongue on them.
- Patients with lingual braces require more prolonged treatment duration compared to those with traditional braces.
- They are not ideal for severe teeth misalignment.
- Oral hygiene practices such as brushing and flossing may be problematic for patients with lingual braces.
- a good deal of time is spent during routine adjustments compared to ceramic and traditional braces.
Invisalign
Invisalign is the most recent form of orthodontic treatment used to align crooked teeth. It involves a series of personalized clear plastic aligners that a patient wears over the teeth. Most patients opt for this type of braces as they are hardly noticeable and cause minor discomfort. Another advantage of Invisalign is that they are removable and therefore does not limit patients to particular foods. However, Invisalign requires more significant expenses and can only improve moderate misalignment. Kids may not benefit from this treatment as the braces are only available for teens and adults.
Your teeth play both functional and aesthetic roles in your body and therefore require great care. If you have misaligned teeth, contact your specialist at Brooklyn Heights Orthodontics for treatment to improve your dental outlook.