There’s no denying it: nothing beats a beautiful smile. But aesthetics isn’t the only reason you should schedule a visit to your cosmetic dentistry provider in Dallas. Having straight teeth is more a matter of health than vanity. Misaligned teeth can lead to a variety of problems, such as tooth decay, cavities, and gum inflammation. This is because oral hygiene is harder to maintain when your teeth aren’t straight – it’s easier for plaque and tartar to accumulate.
While many understand the importance of a healthy smile, some dread the thought of having to wear fixed orthodontic appliances.
This is where Invisalign can help.
Invisalign is a treatment option that uses transparent aligners to shift teeth to their correct positions.
Is this system as efficient as old-school braces?
It largely depends on your orthodontic concern. While the two systems may lead to similar results, they work differently. For braces, there are brackets connected to the patient’s teeth and wires that put pressure to align the teeth. The orthodontist must adjust them every four weeks, and the length of treatment varies.
Invisalign, on the other hand, is made from a thermoplastic material (polyurethane) that applies pressure differently. Treatment usually lasts up to 12 months.
Here are other things you need to know about Invisalign before visiting a cosmetic dentistry specialist in Dallas.
When Should You Use Invisalign?
According to comparative studies, both the traditional braces and Invisalign yield similar results for simple to moderately severe cases, such as crowded (crooked) teeth, gapped teeth, overbites, underbites or open bites.
Aesthetics
More and more adults choose to straighten their teeth and prefer a less obvious method, which makes Invisalign their top choice. While the results may be the same, the quality of life with a transparent aligner is higher compared to traditional braces.
Oral Hygiene
The wires and brackets of traditional braces can present a challenge to oral hygiene. This is one of the biggest complaints about braces: cleaning your teeth with them can be quite difficult. You need to pay attention to all the nooks and crannies, and even with this much care, the likeliness of getting more plaque, stained teeth or gum infections is higher.
Invisalign, on the other hand, is removable, which makes keeping your mouth clean an easier feat. Studies have shown that Invisalign patients have significantly better gingival health.
Discipline
Traditional braces are fixed, which means that the only thing you need to remember in terms of care is going to a monthly appointment for adjustments. With Invisalign, there are two elements to consider:
- More frequent visits to the dentist –the aligners must be changed every two weeks. Some practices give their patients several sets of aligners per visit.
- You must wear the aligners for 22 hours a day, except during meals and while cleaning your teeth – this is mandatory for the system to work.
At Dallas Dental Wellness, we can help you determine which treatment option fits you best. Schedule an appointment and ask us about Invisalign. We offer various financial plans to help you get that wonderful, healthy smile, whether you have dental insurance or not.
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