Getting braces is no longer the uncomfortable and dreaded experience it was a few decades ago. Many orthodontists now offer a variety of options that are comfortable and also quite aesthetically pleasing when compared to traditional metal braces. With the help of your dentist in Kissimmee, you can determine which type of braces will best suit your dental needs. Following are some of the most common options that you can choose from, including traditional metal braces.
Traditional Metal Braces
These are the commonly used metal brackets and wires that many people picture when they hear the term “braces”. They consist of metallic brackets and a flexible metal wire that connects the brackets to fit snuggly on the teeth and eventually move them for a better alignment. They are relatively cheaper and are a fast and reliable way of aligning and straightening teeth. With a history that dates back to the 18th century, metal braces have changed and evolved drastically over the years. They use to be bulky and uncomfortable, but the modern braces available at your Orlando dental clinic are far less noticeable and a lot more comfortable.
Invisalign or Clear aligners
One of the biggest reasons that some people are hesitant to align their teeth using braces is because of how visible and intrusive they appear. Clear aligners or Invisalign braces are an effective solution to that problem. They are made of a clear plastic material and appear almost invisible when worn. These invisible aligners are more experience than the traditional braces but can successfully straighten or fix moderate alignment issues. Unlike other kinds of braces, they are easily removable and the patient does not have any restrictions on what they can eat or drink while wearing them. They, however, are not able to fix more severe problems and can be rather costly to replace.
Ceramic Braces
These are a more affordable and effective option for those who want their braces to be less visible. There are both tooth-colored and clear bracket options and the wires used are also far less noticeable than metal braces. The texture of the brackets is similar to the texture of real teeth, making them relatively more comfortable to wear. They have a stronger impact on aligning teeth when compared to the Invisalign technique. Maintenance of ceramic braces in Kissimmee can be difficult since they tend to stain quickly, taking away the advantage of being less visible than metal braces. The wearer should follow a strict cleaning regime and consistently practice it to keep their braces in the best condition for a long time.
Self-ligating braces
These braces are an extension of the traditional braces technique and do not use elastics to keep the alignment. The lack of elastic ties makes it easier to clean and maintain them since it is less likely that food will become stuck in the braces. This technique is popular among teenagers as it requires fewer visits to the dentist since regular alignment is not needed, unlike elastic-based traditional metal braces. They come in both metal and ceramic versions and the impact they have on teeth is the same as traditional braces, although certain complicated contortions of teeth restrict some patients from wearing them.
Lingual Braces
This is also a similar technique to traditional metal braces, the only difference being that they are placed inside of the teeth as opposed to the outside. They appear far less intrusive than traditional braces since they are virtually invisible to the outside. The maintenance of these braces can be difficult especially when it comes to cleaning them since the wearer cannot see them. There is also a learning curve when it comes to talking while wearing these braces since it can interfere with normal movements inside the mouth when speaking.