Alternatives to Traditional Braces

Traditional braces consist of metallic wires and brackets that are fixed to the surface of the teeth to assist in their growth. Unlike modern day braces, they’re easily seen and they’re harder to keep clean. Metallic braces are tightened by the dentist at regular intervals so that teeth eventually move into the right place. These braces also treat malocclusions like crossbite, overbite and underbite and can assist with speech problems caused by misaligned jaws.

One of the greatest advantages of traditional braces is that they’re more durable than plastic braces and they’re less expensive as well. Before you choose your braces, make sure you learn about all the different types available to find out which one works best for you.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are very similar to metallic braces, except that they consist of nearly invisible brackets and wires. They’re a little more expensive than traditional braces but they do the same job as metallic wires. When compared to clear plastic aligners, these braces are faster in achieving the desired results.

Invisalign

Invisalign are plastic aligners that are placed over the teeth in the upper and lower jaw. They have to be worn for at least 22 hours otherwise the teeth will take much longer to shift into position. Invisalign trays are removable so they have an edge over traditional or ceramic braces because people can brush their teeth thoroughly without having to deal with wires coming in the way. They’re also invisible so no one will ever know if you’re wearing aligners or not. The cost of Invisalign braces is much more than the cost of traditional or ceramic braces but they’re discreet, giving you the confidence you deserve.

Cfast

Cfast is another type of orthodontic treatment option given to patients who have crowded teeth, overlapping teeth or gaps in the teeth. There are 3 types of Cfast treatments to choose from. Labial braces are tooth coloured braces that have titanium nickel wires and clear brackets. They apply gentle pressure to problematic teeth located in the front of the mouth. These braces are useful for people who shy away from smiling because of misaligned front teeth.

The next type is lingual braces. These braces are fixed to the back of your teeth so they can’t be seen when you open your mouth to talk or smile. They are equally effective in moving the front 6 teeth into alignment.

The last type is known as anterior realignment trays. These are similar to Invisalign trays but they only align the 6 front teeth or your social teeth. As the name suggest, Cfast gives you fast results. So you can get your teeth fixed in just 4 to 6 months.

Regardless of the type of braces you choose, you will have to use retainers either temporarily or permanently to prevent your teeth from shifting back to their original place.