Teeth straightening may be done by several different cosmetic dental techniques.
Some cases of perfectly aligned teeth can become crooked with age that may be attributed to the frame of the mouth changing, or to tooth loss that causes shifting of the remaining teeth.
In the past, the only available procedure of realigning teeth was the use of fixed braces, and in some cases, patients have to wear unattractive headgear.
New developments have introduced quite a number of options that may help to accomplish the same results, but with less hassle and, for some, at a relatively lesser cost.
Fixed braces
Orthodontic braces, or the traditional braces, consist of attaching metal wires to the front surfaces of the teeth using brackets.
Over the course of treatment, the brackets and wires need to be tightened, applying gentle pressure to the teeth to coax them to move into a new, more even position.
The length of time needed to wear the braces depend on the extent of the problem.
Invisalign
The Invisalign system’s objective is to produce the perfect teeth straightening result while doing away with the visible wires or brackets.
Utilizing clear aligners that appear as transparent gum shields, the teeth move progressively into the proper and desired position.
The aligners, however, may need to be changed every two weeks. Its advantage over the rest is that it can be removed to clean the teeth or to eat.
Lingual braces
Similar to regular wire braces, although these are affixed to the inner (or back) surfaces of the teeth & therefore are less detectable.
The disadvantage is that they may be cumbersome to wear & not easy to get used to, but nonetheless supplies a perfect means to teeth straightening without being conspicuous, and, unlike invisible braces, these may also be used to repair severe dental problems
Damon braces
This is what is known as a “friction-free” alternative to regular braces.
They help cause less irritation (no elastics), might be more comfortable to wear, and may show faster teeth-straightening results than conventional metal braces.
Inman Aligner
This Aligner may be described as a combination of the invisible braces system and the metal braces system in that it may not be as clear or transparent as the Invisalign because it has metal components, but also uses a removable aligner to move the teeth by applying force over time.
The Inman Aligner requires only one appliance to be used over the entire treatment and may also be more affordable.
Six-Month Smile
This is a new orthodontic treatment using brackets and special nickel wires that are the same color as the tooth and focuses on adjusting the teeth that are visible when one smiles (rather than repositioning all of the teeth and correcting the bite).
To find out more about Invisalign and Retainers visit the home page
