Invisalign® vs. Braces
When you have teeth that are crooked or uneven, there are plenty of different matters that you’ll have to deal with. There are the aesthetic issues, of course—a smile that’s crooked just doesn’t look as appealing as a smile that is straight. There are also a number of dental health issues to keep in mind. If teeth remain crooked, it can affect the alignment and health of the jaw as well as other structures in your mouth.
When you visit Philadelphia area cosmetic dentist Dr. Bruce Wilderman, he will assess your situation and determine what treatment would be best for straightening your teeth. This will basically come down to a decision between traditional braces and Invisalign®. While Dr. Wilderman can discuss these issues with you in person in much greater detail, we’d like to briefly point out the differences between the two and why one may be better for some patients than the other.
Traditional braces, as you may know already, consist of brackets affixed to the teeth and a joining set of wires that will gradually shift your teeth into position. These brackets and wires are often made of metal, though ceramic materials are also available. By contrast, Philadelphia Invisalign® is a teeth straightening system that uses clear plastic aligners to shift your teeth into position.
In many cases, Invisalign® is the much more advantageous choice to consider. The clear plastic aligners are worn at all times save for when eating, drinking, or cleaning your teeth. They are durable and yet people will barely notice them when they are in place. That’s something you can’t say about braces. In addition, the Invisalign® aligners don’t require complicated instructions for care and cleaning, meaning that keeping them clean is simple.
With all that said, braces are sometimes the better option to consider. This is particularly true in complex cases of tooth misalignment, particularly those that involve the jaw rather than just the teeth alone. Invisalign® can address a number of matters involving crooked teeth, but it isn’t able to tackle them all. When you meet with Dr. Wilderman, he’ll be able to tell which one would work best for you.
To learn more about your many options for teeth straightening, contact our Doylestown cosmetic dentistry office today for an appointment.
