Is it possible to have straighter teeth without braces?

A Burton dentist looks at this commonly asked question.

It is perhaps not surprising, when people are looking at ways to improve the appearance of their teeth, that straightening them is one of the main options considered.

Whilst cosmetic dental procedures such as teeth whitening are excellent at bringing out the brightness of a patient’s teeth; this can almost be a negative if all it does is to draw attention to the fact that they are also crooked and uneven.

This unevenness can occur for a number of reasons. Very often it is due to overcrowding of the teeth when younger, but even extractions can cause the teeth to move around and leave the patient with an unattractive looking set of teeth.

Train Track Braces

To most people, the word ‘braces’ conjures up images of the old style dental brace that was metallic in appearance and had very visible wiring which worked to reposition the teeth.

Whilst this type of dental brace is effective, it is not without its drawbacks and these can be quite significant.

Hygiene – The old style of dental brace involves the use of wires and brackets to reposition the teeth. This creates its own problems though as they make it very difficult indeed to clean the teeth and, very often, food becomes trapped and ends up causing dental decay and bad breath.

Inconvenience – Because of the nature of these braces, regular visits are needed to the dentist in order for them to adjust the braces to ensure that the teeth end up in their correct position.

Confidence – One of the biggest drawbacks of these braces though is the psychological effect that they can have. Many people report a loss of confidence and self worth due to their appearance. It is not uncommon for people to avoid social occasions during the time when they are wearing them.

Solutions

Ultimately, if a patient is not prepared to put up with this style of dental brace, there are two options open to them. The first of these is to simply live with their uneven teeth. However, this can also cause a loss of confidence depending on how badly positioned they are. In some cases also, crooked teeth can also cause an incorrect bite and may lead to other future dental problems.

A much better alternative is to take advantage of one of the adult orthodontic options that we offer at Alexandra Dental Care. Not only do these work just as well as conventional braces, but are designed to be extremely discreet and comfortable too.

Invisalign

One of our most popular adult orthodontics is Invisalign. Not only is this one of the most discreet dental orthodontics around but also works differently in that, instead of wires and brackets, ‘trays’ are made which fit directly over the teeth and can also be easily removed for cleaning the teeth, thereby avoiding the risk of dental decay.

For anyone living in Burton, Ashby or Derby that may be interested in learning more about Invisalign orthodontics, we are holding an open night at our dental practice on 24th April. With spaces at a premium, pre booking is highly recommended and you can do so by calling us on 01283 216347.

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