Since braces are always the other option besides Invisalign, it's always good to know what kinds there are out there:
Braces have come a long ways from their early ancestors. At first braces were stainless steel, no exceptions, but with modern orthodontics there are a variety of options when it comes to adjusting your teeth, depending on your needs and specific situation.
Traditional Braces: As noted above, these were stainless steel; however the “traditional” braces today are mostly nickel titanium. These braces can be both conventional (elastics holding the arch wire in place) or the newer self-ligating braces. The recent type can reduce the overall friction that occurs in the mouth between all the pieces of the braces and can be a huge help for some people.
Some braces use colors and transparent elements to reduce visibility; these are sometimes referred to as clear braces. There are however certain types of mouthpieces used to straighten teeh that are not technically braces, though they may be referred to as such.
Gold-Plated: These types of braces are usually chosen for people who have stainless steel braces but are allergic to nickel (a key component of stainless steel). These can also be a cosmetic approach as some people would rather have a gold appearance to their braces than shiny silver.
Lingual: These types of braces are placed behind the actual teeth and are completely invisible to the regular person. They are generally more expensive as they can be a lot harder to adjust. They can also be a problem to the movement of the tongue, and this is another consideration in their usage.
The way your teeth are placed in your mouth is a combination of genetics, pressure from other teeth and your own personal unique tongue movement and bite patterns. Braces use the idea of applied force on the teeth to move them in the right directions. The average braces treatment moves a tooth one millimeter per month and it is chiefly due to the pressure applied by the arch wires that gets the job done. The amount of change that needs to take place, and the responsiveness of an individual's teeth can vary treatment time from a few months to years. There is however more than one way to take care of tooth malocclusions and orthodontists use their full arsenal of tools to try and fix these problems in the most efficient way possible. Find a good orthodontist to find the best solution to your teeth.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
The Basics of Invisalign
The most common way to straighten teeth is with traditional braces. But the recent invention of a new tool called Invisalign is giving an attractive alternative. It is a clear removable mouth piece that fits over top of a person’s teeth. Over 750,000 people are currently using Invisalign instead of braces. Approximately fifteen hundred people work in the Santa Clara head quarters of Align Tech. where this unique product is created.
Reasons to Consider Invisalign
Cosmetic: The aligners that are placed over top the teeth are fully transparent, an obvious improvement from the metal braces on the outside of teeth. Adults tend to lean towards this method of treatment especially if they have some kind of professional image in their job.
Reasons of Comfort: Braces are adjusted every four to eight weeks, resulting in a rather significant adjustment each time, which of course can create discomfort. The Invisalign system on the other hand uses biweekly adjustments- new peices every two weeks- with smaller adjustments that result in less discomfort.
Removability: Once braces are in your teeth they are in for the duration of the treatment. The clear Invisalign mouthpieces on the other hand can be taken out in a flash, allowing you to eat whatever you want whenever you want, and to brush and floss as you normally would.
Speed: A few studies comparing standard braces to Invisalign seemed to come out with the stat that Invisalign was actually faster than braces. A main study of 408 patients found that people with braces took an average time of approximately 36 months to fully fix their mouth while Invisalign took between 12-18 months.
Reasons of Comfort: Braces are adjusted every four to eight weeks, resulting in a rather significant adjustment each time, which of course can create discomfort. The Invisalign system on the other hand uses biweekly adjustments- new peices every two weeks- with smaller adjustments that result in less discomfort.
Removability: Once braces are in your teeth they are in for the duration of the treatment. The clear Invisalign mouthpieces on the other hand can be taken out in a flash, allowing you to eat whatever you want whenever you want, and to brush and floss as you normally would.
Speed: A few studies comparing standard braces to Invisalign seemed to come out with the stat that Invisalign was actually faster than braces. A main study of 408 patients found that people with braces took an average time of approximately 36 months to fully fix their mouth while Invisalign took between 12-18 months.
Invisalign Cons
One of the main bonuses with Invisalign is that they are removable. However this can also be seen as a disadvantage. It is very easy to take out a removable mouth piece and lose it or have it damaged. Plus, the longer the brace is in the mouth each day, the more effective the treatment will be; too little time in the mouth with a removable appliance will slow down or interfere with the whole point of the exercise.
Is money a factor? Well, you might want to keep the braces! Yes, braces are already quite expensive, but the series of mouthpieces required by this new treatment system can cause its costs to exceed those of braces.
A very rare drawback, though potentially serious, are allergies related to the component parts of the clear appliance. Occassionally a person may need to visit a doctor or emergency room, but generally an itch or minor discomfort of the throat and mouth, including coughing, is as serious as the complication gets. It's likely that this new treatment will soon be available in non allergenic versions.
Is money a factor? Well, you might want to keep the braces! Yes, braces are already quite expensive, but the series of mouthpieces required by this new treatment system can cause its costs to exceed those of braces.
A very rare drawback, though potentially serious, are allergies related to the component parts of the clear appliance. Occassionally a person may need to visit a doctor or emergency room, but generally an itch or minor discomfort of the throat and mouth, including coughing, is as serious as the complication gets. It's likely that this new treatment will soon be available in non allergenic versions.
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