Flashing a smile with straight teeth that line up beautifully doesn't just improve your appearance — aligned teeth can also improve your overall dental health.
Unfortunately, naturally straight teeth are more an exception than a rule. It’s estimated that 39% to 93% of kids and teens have misaligned teeth, or malocclusion, that they carry into adulthood. This explains why 9 million people of all ages receive orthodontic treatment each year in the United States.
If you're trying to figure out braces for yourself or for your kids, the team here at Willow Glen Dental Specialists wants to chime in with a few points to consider when choosing orthodontics.
Let’s first briefly review the different choices you have in braces, which include:
We should also mention that traditional metal braces and ceramic braces can come in different colors, which many of our younger clientele prefer.
Now let’s dive into some decision-making factors to consider.
Seeking a path of least resistance is always good, especially when it comes to braces, which most people wear for between 6 months and 3 years.
Metal, ceramic, and sublingual braces are easy enough to use, as we do all the work in terms of placing them in your mouth and regularly tightening them to gently guide your teeth into position. There’s really nothing that you need to do on your end.
With clear aligners, you have to be more actively involved, as you remove these aligners for eating and cleaning, which means you have to keep track of them and be sure to wear them for the recommended 22 hours per day.
Traditional braces, whether ceramic or metal, are tough and highly durable. Clear aligners are less durable as they’re made from a pliable plastic. So, aligners can be stepped on, chewed by dogs (it happens a lot!), and warped if they’re near heat (including drinking hot beverages). The good news is that they can be easily replaced.
Hands down, the winning option for keeping teeth clean during the braces journey is clear aligners. Since you can remove these oral appliances, you can easily keep up with a daily brushing and flossing regimen.
Of course, you can still keep teeth and gums clean with metal and ceramic braces, but it’s more of an effort.
When it comes to length of treatment, teeth move at their own pace so there’s no real advantage to any straightening option in this category.
Since it can take some time to straighten and align teeth, aesthetics can be an important consideration. Many of our adult clients prefer clear aligners that are certainly more subtle. The aligners can also be removed for important events or meetings.
Teens, on the other hand, are more open to braces and choosing different colors to make braces a style choice. That said, some teens may prefer the more subtle approach of clear aligners.
Lastly, we understand that economics also play a role, and we’re happy to help you figure out which teeth-straightening options make the most financial sense. It’s tough to steer you here, as we need to figure out a few factors, such as length of treatment.
Now that you have some basic information about braces, it’s time to sit down with one of our orthodontic specialists to discuss and finalize your decision. To get started, please contact our office in San Jose, California, at 408-478-9081. Or, you can request an appointment using our online form.
