Great Alternatives to Traditional Braces

One of the most common things adults say they would like to change about their smile, is to have straighter teeth.  When people think of wearing braces, they often envision a smile full of metal brackets, which for kids is not so bad, but most adults are not interested in having the "railroad track" look.  Fortunately, there are some really great alternatives to metal brackets which are available for both teens and adults.

Invisalign is a type of orthodontic correction that involves wearing clear custom fit "aligners" (trays).  The process is quite simple and painless.  First you need to have a consultation with an orthodontist who is an Invisalign provider to make a determination if you are a candidate for Invisalign braces.  Once this has been determined, the orthodontist will take a series of impressions (molds) of you teeth and photographs of you.  All of this information is sent to a special lab where your custom "aligners" are made,  this process takes several weeks.  Once your aligners are delivered to you, they are worn for 22 hours a day.  The only time they are removed is when you eat something, and of course when you brush and floss.  Every two weeks you put in a new set of trays, and about every 6 weeks you see your orthodontist for a progress check and to get your next 2-3 sets of trays. The total treatment time can range anywhere from 12-24 months.
The aligners are clear, so most people don't even realize you have anything in your mouth.  There are no sharp edges that can irritate your gum tissue, or cause injury if you are accidentally hit in the mouth.  This is great for people who play sports or musical instruments that require using a mouthpiece!

Another new alternative to traditional brackets is called Incognito Braces.  As with Invisalign, first you need to have a consultation with an orthodontist who is an Incognito Braces provider.  Once the determination has been made that you are a good candidate for Incognito Braces, your orthodontist will take impressions (molds) of your teeth and send them to a specialized lab that uses 3D technology to create custom fit brackets and wires that get cemented on the inside of your teeth.  The brackets cannot be seen when you smile, since all of the brackets and wires are placed only on the inside surfaces of your teeth. Since the brackets are on the inside of your teeth, your lips and gums won't get irritated because the brackets and wires won't be rubbing on your tissues.  With Incognito, there are no trays to remove or clean.  You still have to see your orthodontist every 6 weeks or so for a progress check. 

Our orthodontist offers consultations at no charge,  so if you are interested in determining if you are a candidate for Invisalign or Incognito, give our office a call!