Everyone wants a great looking smile, right? Whether you’re born with perfect teeth (and how many of us are?) or you need a little help to make a good first impression, getting and keeping an attractive smile is much easier with the help of a talented prosthodontist.
In the past, the only way to straighten the alignment of your teeth was by having an orthodontist attach unattractive metal braces to your teeth. Today, there are much more aesthetically pleasing options commonly known as “clear braces.” Unlike traditional metal appliances, clear braces are virtually impossible to see at any distance because even the wires are the same color as your teeth.
We offer clear braces for patients of all ages in our office.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALIGNMENT METHODS
You don’t have to live with crooked teeth, even if you’re an adult. The dental industry offers a wide range of solutions for misaligned teeth, from old-school braces to high-tech dental solutions.
METAL BRACES
The most common form of tooth alignment correction is metal braces. These have been used to straighten teeth for the better part of a century. Metal posts are glued to the front of the teeth, and a wire is run between them, connecting all the teeth in a row like a fence. By tightening the wire every four to six weeks, a dentist can gradually force the teeth to move into the correct position, straightening crooked alignment. Metal braces are effective, but the sharp edges of metal can be painful and their looks can be objectionable.
INVISALIGN
Invisalign is an innovative form of alignment correction based on clear plastic trays that are worn for most of the day. Patients wear aligners that gently force teeth into the correct position. Every four weeks a patient begins using a new tray, which moves the teeth a bit more toward where they should be. While tray aligners are clear and hard to notice, they’re not appropriate for all patients. If you have more than a few mildly crooked teeth to correct, aligners may not be able to make enough of a difference for you.
CERAMIC OR CLEAR BRACES
Ceramic braces are the same basic size and shape of traditional metal braces, so they’re able to do the same type of corrective work that metal braces do. The main difference is the material they’re made of. Instead of silver metal, the brackets on ceramic braces are either clear or made the exact same color as the teeth. In addition, tooth-colored wires add to the invisibility score, making these braces an attractive option for both teenagers and adults.
WHY CHOOSE CLEAR BRACES?
Picking the right type of alignment correction can be a confusing problem. Traditional braces correct most problems, but they’re often seen as unattractive, especially for adults trying to make an impression in the business world. Invisible tray aligners are much more discrete, but they aren’t powerful enough to correct many severe jaw and alignment problems, and they require much more hands-on involvement from the wearer in order for them to work correctly.
Clear ceramic braces offer the best of both worlds. For adults (and younger people) who are concerned about their looks, clear braces are rarely even an issue is social settings. Even more important on many social occasions, ceramic braces won’t cause speech impediments, while tray aligners often do. And unlike tray aligners, ceramic braces have the strength to correct even serious jaw alignment problems. They only need adjusting every six weeks, instead of monthly like aligner trays, so the discomfort caused by adjustments doesn’t happen as often.
WHATEVER YOUR DECISION, MAPLE LEAF DENTAL IS READY TO HELP!
When you’re ready to tackle those big dental procedures, only the most skilled Houston prosthodontists will do. Maple Leaf Dental can turn back time, whether correcting your smile or replacing your damaged teeth with artificial ones that even your mother won’t notice. Call us at (281) 497-5558 or email us to get started. Your smile won’t wait forever!
Oh, by the way, we’re giving away copies of our “How to Take a Great Selfie” guide for a limited time. Just click here, enter your email and you’ll be creating beautiful selfies in no time. Sign up for our newsletter while you’re there and you’ll get regular tips on better oral care and in-depth information on dental procedures.