Orthodontics: Are They For Everyone?

In our office, we use orthodontics to straighten teeth and are regularly asked if this is a solution that everyone can get or if you have to be a good candidate for it.  The answer is fairly complex because it depends on several factors that include your health, the current position of your teeth, your goals, lifestyle, and how much you are willing to commit to improving your smile.  In essence, everyone can straighten their teeth but the right way to do so will be based on the answers to these questions.  This makes it important to call and schedule a consultation so that we can go over your options and present you with a treatment plan that is customized to your needs.   In the meantime here is what you should know –

Commitment.

When you decide to get an orthodontics treatment, you should know that there is a level of commitment that will be required from you.  This is not a quick fix but can take anywhere from six months to two years.  You need to be certain that you are selecting the procedure or treatment option that will work for you and your lifestyle.  If you have limited time to dedicate, we suggest that you consider wearing clear aligners or getting a cosmetic procedure since traditional braces require the most amount of appointments and place the most restrictions on what and how you can eat.

Lifestyle.

Your lifestyle plays an important role in the type of orthodontics treatment that you should get.  For example, if you tend to forget things or have a hard time getting into a routine, you should probably wear traditional braces.  Since they are affixed to your teeth, they will keep moving them regardless of what you do.  With clear aligners, you need to remember to put them in your mouth after eating and brushing your teeth.  This means that if you forget to wear them, your teeth will not move according to the plan.  On the flip side, aligners provide you with the flexibility that you will never get from braces.  How these solutions fit within your lifestyle is really based on  your routine and your personality.

Appearance.

As a provider of orthodontics, we are asked a lot of questions about how a patient's appearance will be impacted.  The good news is that even metal braces are smaller and more convenient than they used to be. This makes it possible to straighten teeth without a major impact to how a person looks.  However, if you want no impact, you should consider clear aligners since they are virtually invisible and you can straighten your teeth without anyone noticing.  As an added benefit, you can actually see your smile looking better throughout the process.  Just remember that if neither of these options seems right to you, you can also consider cosmetic dentistry.

If you want to learn more about orthodontics and how effectively they can straighten your teeth, we encourage you to call our office and schedule a consultation.

Sedation Dentist  >  Invisalign Dentist Denver

Fun Facts About Orthodontics and Straightening Your Teeth

When you visit our office for orthodontics, we will start by examining your teeth and talking about your goals and what you want your smile to look like. This isn't the 1980’s.  There are a variety of ways to straighten your teeth and improve your smile now.  Traditional metal braces are only one solution, and we will work with you to make sure that whatever we recommend is a fit for your appearance goals and your lifestyle.

If you are concerned about a certain type of treatment of worried that you won’t be able to eat your favorite burger – let us know.  We want to take your concerns into consideration so that when we make a treatment recommendation we are making one that you can live with. 

Here are some fun facts about orthodontics that you should keep in mind.

• Braces are for the artist in you.  That’s right – you can get creative with your braces. That’s because we use rubber bands to secure your wire in place. They come in a wide variety of colors, and you can make any pattern that you want.  Your braces can match your favorite outfit or the next holiday.  It’s up to you!
• You don’t have to see them.  In some cases, patients qualify to wear braces behind their teeth instead of in front.  This may sound strange, but it can be an effective way to move your teeth.  If you’re interested in this option let us know, and we can determine if it’s a viable treatment for you. 
• You can take them off.  If you use an aligner to straighten your teeth, instead of metal braces, you can take the aligner off when you eat.  This is the perfect option for foodies that can’t live without their favorite plate of ribs or other messy foods that can be hard to eat with braces.  Simply pop it off; eat like normal, brush, and put the aligner back on to keep your teeth moving in the right direction. 
• The procedure is faster.  Dental technology has improved to the point that most people wear orthodontics for a shorter period of time than they used to.  Decades ago some people had their braces on all through high school.  Now it’s common to wear them for two years or less. 
• They are smaller.  The size of the metal brackets and wires has shrunk.  This means that more of your natural teeth show through, they are easier to clean, and your appearance will look better.  Even though they are smaller they are still more effective, so it’s better all around. 

Orthodontics is also cooler than it used to be.  Braces got a bad reputation when they first came out because only a few people wore them.  This made them a little strange.  Now, more and more people have braces, and it is rare for kids to not have at least a few of their friends wearing braces at any given time.  This has made them socially acceptable and even fun. More importantly your smile will look amazing when done.