A beautiful smile can change your life for the better. And one of the first steps in improving your smile is with straighter teeth. Modern dentistry provides a variety of options for accomplishing that goal. For years, the only way to straighten teeth involved wearing metal braces for an extended period of time. But now, virtually invisible plastic aligner trays are an option. Both methods straighten the patient’s teeth, but how do you know which choice is right for you? In this article, we’ll list some advantages and disadvantages of each teeth-straightening method.
Traditional Braces
Traditional metal braces consist of small metal brackets that are affixed to each tooth and connected with rubber bands and wires, which are adjusted from time to time by your dentist or orthodontist as your teeth move into their new, straighter positions. There’s a good reason why metal braces have been around so long and why so many dental professionals still use them: they work! Most patients have to wear metal braces for a period of time that ranges from 18 months to 3 years. Patients wearing metal braces have to exercise some caution with the foods they eat. Anything that is chewy or crunchy should be avoided. The brackets and wires can sometimes irritate the patient’s gum tissue. And keeping teeth clean while wearing braces can be somewhat challenging. On the other hand, traditional braces are somewhat less expensive. Because they can’t be removed by the patient, there’s less of a temptation to avoid wearing the devices – which can sometimes be an issue with aligner trays that are removable. The end result of wearing metal braces is often well worth the wait after the patient sees his or her new, straighter smile!
Aligner Trays
Over the past 15 years or so, more and more dental patients have elected to use plastic aligner trays to straighten their teeth. The most obvious advantage of these devices is that they are not obvious at all. In fact, aligner trays are virtually invisible. This eliminates the embarrassment of wearing metal braces. But there are other advantages to aligner trays as well. They can be removed by the patient to eat meals and brush and floss, which means there are no dietary restrictions with aligner trays and it’s easy to maintain your usual oral hygiene routine. Many people find aligner trays much more comfortable than traditional metal braces since there are no brackets or wires that can irritate gum tissue. The patient needs to wear the aligner trays for at least 22 hours each day, and will also need to return to the dentist or orthodontist for a new set of trays every couple of weeks, along with follow-up visits. The length of time a patient needs to wear the trays vary greatly, but it’s typically between 6 and 18 months. Aligner trays are usually somewhat more expensive than traditional braces.
While it’s true that aligner trays have some advantages, how well they work really depends on the patient. If you don’t wear the trays for the recommended time period each and every day – and/or if you don’t visit the dentist’s office for a new set of trays and follow-up visits on schedule – the devices won’t work as they’re intended to. Metal braces are usually more effective for patients with extremely crooked teeth. In fact, aligner trays may not work at all for some patients. The only real way to determine which device is right for you is to visit your dentist.
