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The Truth About Tooth

You only have one set of adult teeth, so taking good care of them is of the utmost importance. You know to brush twice a day and floss daily, but there is so much more to dental health. On this website, we've compiled articles to help you boost your personal knowledge of oral health and dental care. From brushing tips to ideas for snacks that won't case cavities, it's all here. We are not dentists, but we scoured the internet for factual information, and we're confident your dentist will approve of what you're learning. Grab your favorite tooth-healthy snack, and start reading.

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The Truth About Teeth

Are Invisible Braces Right For Everyone?

Lonnie Davidson

Invisible braces are a very popular option these days for their ability to straighten teeth without covering your teeth in metal. However, like all treatments and therapies, nothing is a perfect fit for absolutely everyone. If you're wondering if you can get invisible braces at all or are worried that you may only qualify for metal braces, then here's what you should know about what invisible braces can do and what you can do if you need more help than they can give.

What They Do Well

Invisible braces do a very impressive job of straightening out individual teeth. When teeth are crooked, twisted, overcrowded, or spaced too far apart, invisible braces can help to gradually fix these deficits. Invisible braces are made of a clear layer of plastic that are based on a mold or digital scan of your teeth. From there, a dentist and computer program determine where your teeth should be, and then produce a number of invisible braces to pave the way to that straightened smile. Each pair is a little different from the last, gradually moving your teeth into place.

Where They Struggle

While invisible braces are great at fixing problems with your teeth, they can't do much to help with your bite. Your bite is determined by the size and alignment of your upper and lower jaw. If either is larger or smaller than its opposite, it can cause problems for your teeth, temporomandibular joint, and more. Invisible braces can't help much with this because they're focused entirely on your teeth, and not on moving the jaw like standard braces can achieve with their strong metal brackets and wires. 

Combination Therapy

However, before you give up on invisible braces, there's something to keep in mind. If you have a bite problem and crooked teeth, invisible braces and standard braces may be used in combination with each other.

For example, if your dentist determines that your jaw has a problem, they may suggest traditional braces to start, followed by invisible braces. This can shorten the duration of time that you need traditional braces for so that your smile is impacted less. In addition, other kinds of traditional braces, like sublingual braces, can be used to help hide the fact that you're wearing braces at all. Sublingual braces are mounted on the back of teeth instead of the front, making them effectively invisible to onlookers.

Invisible braces are a good way of straightening teeth for almost everyone, but if you have bite problems, your orthodontist may want to use both kinds to fix your teeth. If you have questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to an orthodontist.

For more information on braces, contact a professional near you.


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