When many patients think about orthodontic treatments, they typically think about traditional metal braces. While metal braces are one potential option to straighten your teeth and get a smile that you love, there are some other great solutions that eliminate the downsides of traditional braces and still let you get the straight, perfect smile of your dreams. Read on to learn more about the alternatives to traditional metal braces.
Invisalign
For many years, teens and adults have been using Invisalign clear aligners as a way to adjust their bite and get a gorgeous smile without unsightly brackets placed on their teeth. Invisalign is a unique system of clear aligners that are made of a proprietary material that hugs your teeth to gently move them to a new position. You’ll work with your orthodontist in Carlsbad to progress through your custom series of aligners and ensure perfect results.
Many people choose Invisalign because the clear aligner trays are virtually invisible, so it removes some of the discomfort and self-consciousness that can happen with traditional metal bracket braces. Patients also like that these clear aligner trays can be removed during the day for eating and drinking. Removal also allows for comfortable oral care, as you will be able to brush and floss your teeth normally and clean your aligner every day for a perfectly clean mouth.
One of the only potential downsides of Invisalign treatment is that they cannot be used for extremely complex orthodontic cases. However, your orthodontist can typically use Invisalign to fix many of the most common orthodontic issues that patients face. During your consultation, your orthodontist will take a close look at your bite and any current challenges that you’re dealing with to determine whether or not you’ll be a good candidate.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces, also referred to as clear braces, are another popular alternative to traditional metal braces. The brackets are designed to blend in with the surface of your teeth so that they will not be as apparent as traditional metal brackets. Because they still use the traditional bracket and wire system, they can be used to treat a broad range of orthodontic challenges, including more complex cases.
Many patients choose ceramic braces because they provide all of the benefits of traditional metal braces but they are not as visible. If you want a solution that you wear all the time but don’t want it to be as obvious that you have braces, they can be a great solution for your needs.
One of the downsides of choosing ceramic braces is that you will still have something on the surface of your teeth every day, unlike Invisalign. As with any orthodontic treatment, you will need to take your oral care seriously. The clear wires and brackets can make it more challenging to thoroughly remove food debris. Additionally, ceramic braces can sometimes be more fragile than traditional metal brackets. Your brackets can always be replaced by your orthodontist, but this will require a trip to their office.
Whether you’re interested in Invisalign clear aligners or ceramic braces, you can schedule a free consultation today with Hulse Orthodontics. Call us to set up your appointment today at (760) 448-1344.