Because they are unsightly, teeth that are crooked or too crowded, have gaps or produce incorrect bites can affect self-confidence, prevent you from smiling, and decrease oral health. Fortunately, you have two options for correcting this issue: traditional braces and clear aligners.
Options
Traditional braces can be made out of metal or ceramic and work by applying constant pressure, gradually shifting teeth into the proper position over time. While both metal and ceramic braces become visible when you smile, ceramic braces have the same color as the teeth, making them less noticeable.
Clear aligners rely on digital technology to create custom trays that straighten your teeth. You wear these trays for up to two weeks at a time before swapping them out for the next one in the series. Invisalign® is a brand name of clear aligners that, as the name suggests, are nearly invisible.
Advantages of Invisalign®
Because traditional braces stay on permanently, they can trap food in hard-to-reach places. If you don’t expend the considerable effort needed to keep your teeth clean, plaque and bacteria can accumulate, leading to cavities, gum disease, decay, and other issues.
Invisalign® only has to stay on about 22 hours a day and can be removed whenever you need to eat, drink, or otherwise clean your teeth. No food gets trapped on the aligner trays, although you do have to clean them regularly to prevent bacteria. You can also clean your teeth more thoroughly and in the same way that you used to before you got the aligners.
No food restrictions
When you wear metal braces, you need to avoid foods that are crunchy, chewy, hard, or sticky because they can damage the wires, brackets, or other components of the appliance. You can no longer consume nuts, popcorn, pretzels, hard cookies, and gum. You will also need to cut up hard foods such as meat, burgers, thin-crust pizza, raw vegetables, croutons, and French bread into smaller pieces.
Because chewing and eating with the aligners on can damage them, you remove your Invisalign® aligners whenever you eat. But then you don’t have to suffer any dietary restrictions. Be sure to clean your teeth thoroughly before putting them back on to avoid having food particles or staining fluid trapped between the aligners and your teeth.
Avoid cuts and sores
Metal braces can hurt the soft tissues inside your mouth, especially when they are installed and you are getting used to them. The metal wires and brackets can scrape against the inside of your cheeks and lips, producing soreness and irritation, and can potentially cut the tongue when it feels for the braces. However, as the interior of your mouth toughens, the pain dissipates.
When you first wear Invisalign®, you may feel uncomfortable at first because of the squeezing sensation around your teeth, which you typically get used to. However, these aligners have no metal components to produce sores, cuts, and ulcers inside your mouth.
Less time needed
Several factors affect how long teeth straightening takes, including the severity of the alignment issues, whether you go to all checkups regularly, and whether you follow the treatment plan thoroughly. However, Invisalign® is almost always faster, taking an average of 12 months compared to the 18 to 24 months needed for traditional braces.
Minimal consultations
With braces, you need to visit your orthodontist regularly for adjustments, tightening, and checks on the progress of the appliance. With Invisalign®, much of the work happens before you put on the aligners, as a three-dimensional scan of your teeth is used to make the custom aligners. After the aligners are put on, follow your orthodontist checkup schedule.
Invisalign® does have a few disadvantages
Although your diet is restricted with traditional braces, you can eat or drink without fiddling with your mouth. With Invisalign®, you have to remember to remove the aligners when you eat or drink other than water. You must also remember to put them back on after you’re done with eating or drinking. This may prove inconvenient or embarrassing when you’re at a restaurant or other public place. You must also be careful where you place your aligners, or you may lose them accidentally.
Metal braces are suitable for all ages, especially children, and can apply to serious dental problems. Invisalign® is available for teens and adults and may not be suitable for more serious dental problems. Your orthodontist makes the final decision on whether Invisalign® can work with you.
While 3D scanning technology is constantly improving and the materials used for Invisalign® are becoming more affordable, the cost of Invisalign® can be equal to or more than the cost of traditional braces, particularly when the price of customization is taken into account.
Tips for wearing Invisalign®
Your orthodontist will give you the best recommendations for wearing Invisalign®. But here are a few tips.
- Be consistent. You must wear your aligners for the recommended number of hours a day if you want your teeth to align more quickly. You cannot simply remove them for extended periods just because of discomfort.
- Rinse with warm salt water to reduce irritation caused by sore gums or tongue.
- Switch to new aligners just before you go to bed. You can then sleep through the initial adjustment, which is often the least comfortable part of Invisalign®.
- If you’re experiencing pain, especially during the initial wearing, try over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen. However, consult with your doctor to ensure that this medication is safe for you.
- To minimize gum pain, apply some dental wax around the top edges of your aligners, which is typically the roughest.
Do you need more information?
If you have questions or want to get started on the road to better-looking and better-functioning teeth, schedule an appointment with us at Richmond Virginia Orthodontics. Our number one goal is to make you feel valued and comfortable with any orthodontic treatment.
