Everyone wants to have straight, white teeth. This is especially true in our age of social media and selfies. After all, no one wants to post a close-up photo of themselves with crooked teeth!
That's why over 4 million people in the United States wear some kind of device to straighten their teeth. Most of these individuals are teenagers or children, and, for many of them, traditional braces work just fine.
But, 20% of people seeking orthodontic treatment are adults. As you can guess, members of that group would prefer to straighten their teeth discreetly. For them, then, an aligner, as opposed to braces, might be a better option.
Are you thinking of investing in a device to straighten your teeth? If so, you might be trying to decide between braces and aligners. To help you, we've got three advantages of aligners over braces listed below. Let's go!
As mentioned above, aligners allow you to straighten your teeth without the whole world knowing! You can go to that job interview or special date without embarrassment.
In the next three sections, though, let's examine the other top reasons why aligners can be better than braces. Read on!
Braces are worn twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You can't take them off, which is both a good and bad thing. They are generally on for about two years, although, of course, that time frame is based on each patient's individual needs.
By contrast, patients wear their transparent aligner for 20-22 hours per day. Worn properly, it needs only six to eighteen months to work.
That is a much faster time frame than with braces. Aligners, then, are ideal for patients who need to speed up the straightening process.
Traditional braces can be hard to keep clean. You might even need special tools like a water pic or an interdental toothbrush to maintain them. At the very least, you'll receive special (and detailed) instructions for cleaning and flossing while wearing them.
In addition, your orthodontist will give you a list of foods you can and cannot eat. Think popcorn, taffy, hard candy, and even pizza crust!
With clear aligner braces, though, you don't have to worry about any of these things. Simply remove them when you want to eat. Brush your teeth normally, and clean your aligner at the same time. That's it!
Sometimes when people get braces, they continue their poor dental habits or develop new ones. It's hard to remember all the new rules, and they may not want to adjust their cleaning routines. Their teeth and gums may suffer, leading to conditions such as gingivitis.
Even more concerning are the white spots that sometimes appear on patient's teeth after their braces are removed. These are caused by the buildup of plaque around the braces, and they can turn into cavities if left untreated. In any case, they are unsightly and require extensive treatment to get rid of.
A clear aligner avoids all these problems. You brush and floss normally and never have to worry about the treatment itself tarnishing the appearance of your teeth.
Clear aligners can help adults feel more confident while undergoing treatment. As you can see, they have other real advantages as well.
If you need to straighten your teeth, a clear aligner might be a good fit for your needs. Why not contact us today to schedule an appointment? We'd love to hear from you.
Freedom Smile Aligners are a series of transparent, removable and virtually clear aligners designed to progressively straighten your teeth into their ideal position over time.
Feel free to call or email us at anytime.
We look forward to exceeding your expectations in everything we do.
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