In pursuit of your best smile, you have a lot of options when it comes to orthodontic treatment. At Palm Beach Orthodontics, we are proud to offer clear braces as one of those choices. Invisalign, also known as clear braces or clear aligners, is a great alternative treatment to traditional braces.
What Are Clear Braces?
Many people are familiar with traditional metal braces. For traditional orthodontic treatment with metal braces, brackets are glued to the teeth and a series of wires is used to move the teeth into alignment over time.
Clear braces do the same work as traditional braces, but instead of metal, they are made of plastic. Clear braces (also called Invisalign) consist of plastic aligning trays that are custom-made to fit your teeth. A treatment plan typically includes a series of these trays that change shape gradually. This gradual change in the shape of the aligners gently moves the teeth into the correct positions over time.
Who Can Get Clear Braces?
Almost anyone who wants straighter, better-aligned teeth can benefit from Invisalign. Some common problems that this treatment can address include crooked or widely spaced teeth, a badly aligned bite, or teeth that are crowded together.
Everyone wants a beautiful smile, but that isn’t the only reason to undergo orthodontic treatment. Aesthetics aside, each of these oral problems can lead to bigger issues down the line. A bad bite can lead to jaw pain and recurrent headaches. Teeth that are crooked or unevenly spaced can lead to tooth decay, as it is more difficult to keep the teeth clean. Orthodontic treatment can provide you with a solution that can address or prevent oral health issues.
Benefits of Invisalign
Of all the options out there for orthodontic treatment, patients choose Invisalign for a long list of reasons. Here are a few of the benefits of choosing clear braces over traditional metal braces:
Nearly Invisible
Traditional braces are easy to notice. It’s hard not to see those brackets and wires on someone’s teeth. One of the best things about clear braces is that they are nearly invisible.
Some prospective patients wonder if the braces are color-matched to their teeth. The reality is even better. The braces do not match the color of your teeth. Instead, they are crystal clear! They also fit you perfectly because they are custom-made for you. The result of this is that you can achieve your ideal smile without hiding your teeth in the meantime.
Removable
Another pitfall of traditional braces is that they cannot be removed during the course of treatment. With Invisalign, this isn’t a problem at all. Because the treatment consists of clear, plastic trays, patients can take them out and put them back in whenever they need to.
This is a great benefit because it allows patients to eat, brush their teeth, and floss as they normally would. With traditional braces, patients must be very careful to brush and floss around the hardware to avoid tooth decay. Patients often have a list of foods they have to avoid as well since certain substances like gummy candy or caramel can cause brackets to come off of the teeth.
Comfortable
Any treatment that changes the position of your teeth comes with a little bit of discomfort. Especially right after an adjustment, it makes sense that patients would experience some minor aching as their teeth move into place.
With metal braces, many patients experience more discomfort from the brackets and wires scraping the inside of the mouth. Repeated scraping can lead to sores and continued irritation. Since the Invisalign plastic trays are smooth, they do not cause this kind of scraping.
Getting Clear Braces at Palm Beach Orthodontics
At Palm Beach Orthodontics, Invisalign is one of our specialties. Dr. Angela, our orthodontist, brings expertise and individualized care to each patient experience.
Our streamlined process begins with an initial appointment. At that first appointment, we complete a 3D scan of the patient’s teeth. From that scan, a 3D model is made. Dr. Angela then prepares a treatment plan based on the model.
The actual treatment process starts with the first set of clear aligning trays. Each set usually lasts about two weeks, as Dr. Angela decides. The length of the entire treatment plan depends on the severity of the existing misalignment, how quickly the individual responds to the treatment, and whether or not any special circumstances arise during the process.
Invest in Yourself
At Palm Beach Orthodontics, we believe that the single greatest investment you can make is an investment in yourself. While the process of orthodontic treatment can seem daunting, we are confident that you will not regret giving yourself the smile you always wanted. Our Invisalign treatment is a fantastic option for people who want a discrete, flexible, and nearly painless way to improve their smile. Give us a call today to find out what we can do for you!