When a child has old style metal braces, they have a multitude of hurdles to jump. The process can be difficult. It starts with spacers and ends with a full mouth of metal and wires. It is a lot to endure and it is highly visible. The best news is that orthodontic patients now have options. That option is Invisalign braces.
Getting a straightened smile with old style braces works. This is not in question. Going through it often results in some difficulty. Sporty types often get the inside of their mouths cut and damaged when contact happens during sports. Gums are regularly unhappy after traditional treatment because oral hygiene is so difficult with all the metal and wires attached. Through it all, the emotional price can be high. The physical price can often exceed $10,000 since traditional braces are commonly done in two stages several years apart.
There must be a better way. At a minimum, a different way. That is where Invisalign braces come in.It substitutes a series of trays that fit over the teeth for the old style metal braces. Every 14 days or so an new tray is substituted for the last one. Each new tray causes a slight shift of the teeth. The result are teeth that are constantly on the move to their new position. The trays are snapped onto the teeth with small buttons or nubs that firmly hold the trays in place.
When treatment has concluded, the patient will be required to wear a retaining device at night. This is because teeth are always moving. Therefore, wearing a retainer or using the last tray to keep the teeth in their new positions is an important part of treatment.
The benefits of Invisalign are quite obvious. The clear trays allow the teeth to appear as usual. No obvious metal or wires are present. Unless you are extremely observant you would have no idea when someone is wearing Invisalign braces. This is a wonderful selling point for teens who are so motivated by appearance. The lack of inflamed gums, lack of injured lips and never having food stuck in your braces are also great selling points.
One more appealing feature is that the trays are removable. This makes oral hygiene much more manageable. No special equipment is necessary. Many teens and preteens are not terribly motivated to keep their teeth clean but it can be much trickier when the job is complicated.
There are a fair amount of drawbacks with Invisalign. The aligners need to be worn twenty three hours a day to work properly. This essentially means that if you are not eating you should be wearing them. Every time anything other than water is consumed, including beverages, the trays should be removed. Since the trays are held quite firmly into place with small buttons cemented to the teeth, removal can be difficult. Therefore, being inconspicuous can be a problem. Finally, Invisalign usually costs more than traditional metal braces and are not able to correct some of the more complicated problems that can be corrected with traditional treatments.
Should you choose traditional treatment or Invisalign braces? It is up to you. Decide what features are most important to you and go for it! Everyone deserves a great smile and either treatment will deliver on that promise.
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