Dental Braces

I was wondering if invisible braces are better than traditional dental braces? What do you think? I know everyone keeps talking about invisalign braces, but are they really the way to go?

The greatest attribute of Invisalign is that they are invisible and they will not be seen by others. Although some children do end up talking a little differently until they get used to them. Another good thing about Invisalign is that you do not have to go in for new wires and a routine basis, like you would have to with braces. It also depends on how severe your child’s teeth are. Your orthodontist will more than likely recommend which they feel is best, but the final decision will be left up to you as the parent. In severe cases it may also still mean that you will have to have some teeth removed.

The Invisalign aligners are clear and are barely visible to others compared to metal orthodontic braces with brackets and wires.  With the guidance of your orthodontist, you move to the next set of Invisalign aligners usually after about 3 weeks.  The number of Invisalign aligners will depend on the individual patient and the orthodontic problem.    The Invisalign aligners are generally fairly comfortable.  There can be some discomfort or mild pain when a new Invisalign aligner is placed as it exerts pressure on the teeth to move them.  Unlike traditional metal orthodontic braces, there are no brackets to come off or wires to break and poke.

When it comes to the attractiveness of orthodontic braces, less metal is better, according to a recent survey. The study of the public’s attitude about the attractiveness of various styles of braces indicates that the types of dental appliances with no visible metal were considered the most attractive. Braces that combine clear ceramic brackets with thin metal or clear wires were a less desirable option, and braces with metal brackets and metal wires were rated as the least aesthetic combination.

Standard braces consist of metal or ceramic brackets that are cemented to each tooth. A metal wire is laced through each bracket to exert force on the teeth to correct their placement. Braces are used to tip teeth in one direction or another, to rotate one or several teeth, or to shift the location of a tooth forward, backward, sideways, up or down in the mouth. Each kind of correction requires specific manipulation of the wires in the brackets, and some require specially shaped wires to perform the task. Fields said the ideal is to move teeth about 1 millimeter, a little less than the thickness of a dime, every four weeks.