How to Straighten Teeth
Straightening your teeth is an excellent way to improve the health of your mouth and the appearance of your smile. Straight teeth are typically associated with youth and beauty. Having straight teeth can reduce tension in your jaw, and even improve the wear of your teeth so they stay healthy longer. There are multiple ways to straighten your teeth. They all require a trip to the orthodontist, and they all have pros and cons. You can get metal braces, you can use a tray system like Invisalign, or you could have dental surgery to straighten your teeth.
Metal Braces
Metal braces are the most well-known way to fix your teeth. The days of braces being bulky, uncomfortable, and nerdy are long gone. Modern braces have come a long way. Today, the average metal brace is more discreet. Bonds are affixed to your teeth. A wire is bent and attached to these anchors. Over time, the pressure from the tightening wire aligns your teeth. Aside from some soreness after a tightening, the process is painless. It can take anywhere from a year (the minimum, typically) to over two years to get your teeth aligned. After that, you’re going to need to wear a retainer under the orders of your orthodontist.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a great system for people who want to improve their smile without temporarily ruining it. People get braces to straighten their teeth, but metal braces can lower their confidence in the meantime. If you depend on your smile, you can’t afford to have it out of commission. Invisalign is a great way to straighten your teeth without making it obvious that this smile is under construction.
Invisalign is a system that uses clear plastic trays to slowly move your teeth into a new position. Molds of your teeth are used to make these trays. Then, over time, your teeth slowly shift into new positions. You can wear Invisalign during the day without calling attention to the fact that you’re straightening your teeth. The time frame for Invisalign is comparable to traditional metal braces.
Dental Surgery
In extreme cases, some people may be able to have dental surgery to straighten their teeth. This method can result in immediate, dramatic improvement in bite and the appearance of your smile. This process typically costs $4,000 or more. Surgery can be comparable to braces, but the process is much quicker. However, surgery is not the right option for everyone. It also cannot always fix every problem. Surgery could give you a big step up in correcting your teeth, but you may also still need braces or other intervention. If you want dental surgery, talk to your orthodontist to find out if you’re a candidate.
Straightening your teeth is a great thing. How you do it depends on your needs, and how crooked your teeth are. If you have one large problem, dental surgery may quickly fix it. If you depend on your smile and don’t want to sacrifice it to improve it, Invisalign could be the solution for you. Metal braces are also an excellent choice for straightening your teeth.