More than meets the eye
As anyone who lives with poorly aligned teeth will tell you, crooked teeth cause far more trouble than on a purely cosmetic, surface level. While having misplaced teeth does unarguably carry degrees of social stigma and pressure, there are also a number of long-term health implications that badly aligned teeth can have.
As dental services and orthodontics slowly return to normal, anyone who feels unhappy or embarrassed about the way their smile looks should contact a trusted, local orthodontist today and find out how they can help.
In doing so, you may be surprised at the volume of ‘cosmetic’ alternative treatments which are readily available. Unlike conventional train-track braces – which, despite their proven effectiveness are not held in high esteem for their effect on a patient’s outward appearance – leave little to no impact on how a patient looks during treatment.
What cosmetic braces can I get?
In the past, those who required orthodontic help were severely limited in the treatments they could choose between – with the majority having to opt for fused metallic braces.
Today, however, there are several ‘discrete’ options for patient’s, which are designed to allow them to target out-of-place teeth, without impacting how they look. Below are some of the most popular forms of orthodontics:
- Fused braces – Although they are not universally acclaimed for their impact on a patient outward appearance, traditional fused braces are still a widely popular option. This is because it has consistently been proven to be an effective and swift method of treating out of place teeth.
- Removable retainers – One of the most popular forms of cosmetic orthodontic is through removable retainers such as Invisalign. This method of realigning crooked teeth is entirely different from conventional braces, as nothing is ever attached to the patient teeth throughout the process – and it is practically invisible! – Both of these qualities have helped this form or cosmetic orthodontics become one of the most popular across the globe.
- Fixed aligners – Another cosmetic alternative treatment, these do not require brackets to be fixed to the patient teeth. Rather, the treatment involves a clear, fixed aligner which is similar to a gum shield. This is attached within the patient’s mouth and pulls the identified teeth into their correct space in an incredibly short timeframe.
What is Invisalign?
The Invisalign retainer method is one of the world’s most popular cosmetic alternative treatments to traditional braces. The fundamentals of the treatment involve creating a unique retainer for every patient which is made from a digital or physical impression of their tooth shape and structure.
Within this retainer, the orthodontist places a specific pressure point that forces targeted teeth into position over time. As the Invisalign retainer is transparent and thin, when a patient wears them over their teeth it slips completely out of sight.
This means that teenagers and young adults can undergo orthodontic alignment – without anyone knowing. Another massive appeal of the Invisalign system is that patients can take out their retainer whenever they wish – such as if eating or attending a social event.
Anyone who wants to find out more about their Invisalign options should speak to a local provider today.