How Your Dentist Can Help You Have Straight Teeth

Numerous solutions for straighter teeth are available at the dentist's office. Plenty of these products were created in the past decade or so thanks to recent technological advances. Yet it is also possible to straighten crooked teeth with the use of traditional braces that have been around for decades.

Here is a look at the many different solutions that will help you or your little one enjoy straighter teeth.

Straighter Teeth With Invisalign Braces

One of the most convenient and visually pleasing ways to straighten out those crooked teeth is Invisalign. This is a nearly invisible braces system. Invisalign aligners are removable so you will be able to floss your teeth with ease. Ask anyone who has enjoyed the benefits of Invisalign and they will likely testify this solution for straighter teeth surpasses expectations.

Traditional Braces

Regular braces made of metal are generally considered to be the gold standard in the field of orthodontics. Additional options include translucent ceramic and self-ligating braces. The self-ligating variety is like regular braces as they are not removable across the course of treatment yet they are much smaller and quite difficult to see. They typically use clear or ceramic brackets and do not require any sort of elastics. Clear ceramic braces bonded to the teeth with brackets are also difficult to spot. The brackets are also made with clear ceramics. While metal braces are highly effective, they are flawed in that they have the potential to irritate the cheeks or lips.

Retainers

A fixed retainer like the bonded lingual retainer, is attached to the inner portion of teeth with dental cement. The purpose of a retainer is to stop teeth from moving as time progresses. This ultimately remedies the patient's bite and leads to straighter teeth. Retainers are made to fit the unique shape of the patient's mouth according to a dental impression. Retainers can be made for the upper arches as well as the lower arches.  The only downside to a retainer is the patient cannot remove it himself to perform any sort of repair. Removable retainers are available yet they are easy to lose. Be sure to weigh the merits of each option before making a decision.

Appliances

Appliances straighten teeth through the correction of jaw imperfections. Headgear corrects protruding upper teeth that can lead to an egregious overbite. This solution is limited to children. It places pressure along the upper teeth and jaw to move them into position at the same time. Headgear is worn for a specific number of hours each day.

Palatal Expander

If you have a little one with a mouth that is too small for the incoming adult teeth, it might make sense to insert a palatal expander. This solution widens the upper teeth arch, forming space for the teeth to move into their proper positions. The expander is connected to upper molars with dental cement. The teeth then shift into position. The expanders are nearly invisible the entire time.