If you have crooked teeth or suffer from jaw misalignment issues, orthodontic treatment options are available to meet your needs. Despite this, many patients will procrastinate in pursuing their orthodontic treatment options for fear that they will need to make major lifestyle adjustments to ensure a successful outcome.
If you are concerned about the lifestyle adjustments required for orthodontic treatment with traditional metal braces, learn why patients prefer clear braces as a discreet yet effective orthodontic treatment alternative:
Understanding Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces require metal brackets and wires to be firmly secured to your teeth for the entire duration of your treatment. Monthly dental appointments are required as well so that your orthodontist can tighten the wires to ensure that the hardware is applying adequate amounts of pressure to your dental structures.
Patients utilizing traditional metal braces are encouraged to make certain lifestyle alterations to ensure a successful treatment.
For example, patients should avoid excessively crunchy or chewy snacks as these are more likely to damage your orthodontic hardware while you chew. Additionally, patients will need to take additional oral hygiene precautions to ensure no food residue is caught around or beneath the brackets and wires.
Often, traditional metal braces are the only option available for addressing severe orthodontic concerns; however, patients facing mild to moderate concerns can also consider clear braces as a more discreet and comfortable treatment alternative.
Regardless of which treatment option you choose, remember that orthodontic treatment of any kind may take several months or even years. While these lifestyle adjustments are only temporary, you will need to abide by them for an extended amount of time.
How Do Clear Braces Work?
Clear braces are made of a clear, plastic material that is completely see-through while in use. This allows patients to avoid the metallic aesthetics of traditional metal braces. Additionally, clear braces are removable while traditional metal braces are not. Patients are not only allowed but encouraged to remove their aligners on a daily basis to eat, drink, and brush their teeth.
As long as patients wear their aligners for 20-22 hours per day, their treatment plan will progress as intended. This allows patients to maintain their dietary preferences while still undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Patients can also maintain their oral hygiene routines, as usual, simply brushing and rinsing the aligners as well. Your dentist will provide you with all of your sets of aligners upfront and instruct you on how often to switch to a new set, usually every two weeks.
While some check-up appointments may be necessary to ensure your treatment is on track, you will wind up spending way less time in the dentist’s office with clear braces by not having to come in for monthly tightenings.
Clear braces are just as effective as traditional metal braces for addressing mild to moderate orthodontic concerns and are an excellent option to consider if you are hoping to avoid the inconveniences associated with traditional orthodontic treatment.
Invisalign in Rockland County, NY
A consultation is required to determine if clear braces are right for you. Our dental office offers Invisalign in Rockland County, NY, and is now welcoming new patients of all ages. Schedule an appointment online to learn more about Invisalign.