Fall is a time of transformation. The leaves change colors and fall off the trees. Why not take some inspiration from nature, and start transforming your smile into the one that you want to see?
You could get braces. After all, millions of adults go through orthodontic treatment every year.
Then again, you could schedule a consultation at Beaumont Family Dentistry instead. Here you could learn more about the “invisible braces”, also known as Invisalign®, and you can learn if you are a good candidate for this newer kind of orthodontics.
We have three dentist offices in Lexington, KY, so we are probably closer than you think … just like your new smile!
What’s Wrong With Braces?
Well, that’s a tricky question.
From the standpoint of results, there is nothing wrong with getting braces. They will move your teeth and change the appearance of your smile by making your teeth straight.
It may take two years or more to see that smile, but your teeth will look different by the time you are finished.
So what will those two years be like? This probably won’t be a complete surprise if you had friends who wore braces when you were younger.
You will feel the braces from the first day your brackets are bonded to your teeth. Once the archwire is fed through your brackets, you will definitely know that you have braces on your teeth.
You will also feel it every time you return to the dentist or orthodontist’s office to have your braces adjusted. That’s just part of having braces.
Braces will affect you in other ways as well. You will need to — or at least you should — avoid foods that are too hard or too chewy while you have braces. You don’t want to break a bracket loose because you bit into something you shouldn’t have been eating. You also don’t want to break a wire because you were trying to remove something chewy that got caught in your braces.
Socially, you will have to decide how comfortable you are wearing braces in public for the next couple years.
Likewise, you will have to accept that your braces will be on your teeth while you are meeting with clients, customers, and coworkers. Many will probably take it in stride, but you will need to be prepared for some surprised reactions and maybe distracted individuals as well.
What’s Right With Invisalign?
Let’s start with the question you should be asking. Will Invisalign work?
In general, Invisalign is a good option for anyone who has mild or moderate alignment issues. Many adults who decide to explore orthodontic care fall into those categories. To find out for certain, you should set up a consultation with one of our dentists.
Assuming you are a good candidate for Invisalign, we will make a digital impression of your smile. This will be sent to Invisalign. They will use the data to create a series of aligners that will gently push your teeth into a straight position.
You will wear each aligner for about two weeks before replacing it with the next one in the series. You will likely feel the aligners when you put a new one in, but it won’t be like the changes you would feel with adjustments to a set of braces.
Each time you replace your aligner, you also will know that you are getting closer to having the straight smile that you want.
The aligners are made of a transparent plastic, which is why some people have called Invisalign “clear braces.” When you are wearing your aligners, they become virtually invisible. Most people won’t realize that you are wearing anything.
This makes it much easier to wear Invisalign if you are running to the store, going to a party with your spouse, or meeting with a possible new client for work.
As far as convenience, Invisalign has braces beat. You do need to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours per day for the maximum results. However, you can remove them during meals — so you can eat what you want — and you can remove them to brush and floss your teeth — so you won’t need any special tools for your oral hygiene.
Which Is The Right Treatment For You?
This will depend in part on the severity of your alignment issues. It also may depend on whether you prefer a treatment that is practically invisible or impossible to hide.
Either way, Beaumont Family Dentistry can help you pick a treatment that will produce the results you want. Contact us online or call any of our dentist offices in Lexington, KY, to make your appointment.