How to Choose the Right Kind of Braces
We live in a world full of choice, even when it comes to our health. Did you know that there are various different kinds of braces, not just the traditional metal braces that we often associate with orthodontics? This means that everyone from school-aged children to professional adults have a variety of teeth-straightening options.
What Kind of Braces are There?
Metal Braces
The original kind of braces, metal braces, include brackets placed on top of your teeth, connected together with an archwire that fits into metal bands on your back molars. These kinds of braces are optimal for those with complex orthodontic issues.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners offer a more discrete orthodontic solution than regular braces. With clear aligners, your dentist utilizes a digital molding process to get an accurate model of your teeth so that your aligner trays may be formed.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are a type of braces that are only worn on the interior of your teeth. These were designed to offer a more cosmetically appealing option for adults with simple and complex orthodontic needs.
How Do I Know Which Braces are Right for Me?
There are a myriad of factors that affect what kind of braces are right for your individual orthodontic needs. These include:
Affordability
The expense of braces plays a large role in selecting what kind of braces you would like to have. Traditional metal braces are typically the cheapest, while less noticeable orthodontic solutions tend to be more expensive.
Comfort and Convenience
Clear retainers and invisalign are significantly more comfortable than traditional metal braces. They are also considerably more convenient, as you can take them out whenever needed, which is why they are so often recommended to adults seeking orthodontic treatment.
Age
Clear aligners and invisalign are typically suited for patients who are over the age of 15.
Orthodontic Needs
The extent of your orthodontic needs will largely determine what kind of braces you will be able to get. Clear aligners and invisalign are ideal for mild to moderate conditions, like overcrowding, small gaps, and misaligned teeth.
Unfortunately, for more complex tooth corrections, clear aligners and invisalign are unable to exert the same amount of force and reposition teeth with the same effectiveness as traditional braces. For complicated problems such as large gaps, severe overbite, underbite, and crossbite, traditional braces may be optimal for you.
Caring for Your Teeth With Braces
Selecting the right kind of braces will be critical to your oral health and cosmetic appearance. Regardless of what kind of braces you select, it is imperative to maintain proper care of your braces.
Prioritize your Oral Health
When you have braces, it is more important than ever to clean your teeth after every meal to prevent plaque buildup. Make sure to brush and floss regularly, and with aligner trays, remember to gently brush and rinse them separately at least twice a day.
With metal braces, don’t forget to clean your wires and brackets, and floss between the teeth and under the wires using gentle motions.
Avoid Certain Foods
With metal braces, you want to make sure that you avoid any sticky foods that can potentially become lodged between your wires. You also want to eliminate very hard or crunchy snacks from your diet as they could cause wires or brackets to break.
Contact Smiles 4 Keeps
At Smiles 4 Keeps, we offer numerous different kinds of orthodontic treatment options for both children and adults. If you would like to learn more about our options, pricing, or what braces are right for you, contact us today here, or call (855) 976-4757.