Popular invisible aligners help straighten teeth just as brackets and wires have done for decades.
How do invisible aligners differ from traditional brackets and wires?
The most obvious advantage of invisible aligners is that you can't see them. Go ahead and schedule your family pictures or wedding pictures while being treated with invisible aligners.
Your teeth are easy to clean while being treated with invisible aligners. Dr. Jolley loves that invisible aligners are removable. Try flossing your teeth with wires; if you don't give up in frustration, you can complete flossing all you teeth in about 20 minutes. With invisible aligners, you simply remove them and you can floss your teeth as you would normally do.
A common problem with brackets is tooth decay around the brackets. What a shame to spend years and so much money to have straight teeth, only to remove the brackets and wires to find square-shaped opaque white decalcifications or tooth decay around where the brackets used to be. The risk for tooth decay does not increase with invisible aligners as it does with brackets and wires.
Brackets are sharp and can cut the inside of your lips if you are bumped. Invisible aligners are smooth and comfortable.
Invisible aligners save time. Brackets and wires need to be adjusted at regular intervals. With invisible aligners, when the time comes, you simply remove the aligner after about three weeks and place the next aligner on your teeth. You may need to visit with your dentist after wearing about five aligners. Invisible aligners save a lot of your time with fewer visits to the dentist.
The cost is about the same between traditional braces and invisible aligners at Cascade Dental.
Are invisible aligners for adults or children?
Yes! Both adults and children have needs to straighten their teeth. Many adults had braces when they were children and neglected to wear their retainers. Invisible aligners work really well for them. Other adults want invisible aligners to straighten their teeth for the first time. Depending on the situation, invisible aligners may work for you. Ask Dr. Jolley at your next visit or call for a free consult visit.
Already prone to tooth decay, children can really benefit from invisible aligners, because their teeth would be so much easier to clean than with brackets and wires. Also, children usually live a more active lifestyle with the risk of being bumped in the mouth in sports. Invisible aligners would not cut the inside of their lips like brackets would.
While children are in their growth period, Dr. Jolley likes to expand their jaws and correct bad habits that cause dental crowding. Once the space is available, the invisible aligners can easily position the teeth correctly.