How Can I Straighten Teeth Without Braces?

Straightening teeth takes time. After all, teeth are bones and play an important role in our lives. You should take the whole process calmly regardless of how eager you are to rock a perfect smile.

The first thing you should consider when you start looking for teeth alignment treatment is its impact on your overall health. Many people approach orthodontics thinking only about their appearance to discover its significance on oral health.

For the last twenty or thirty years, orthodontic braces haven’t got the best publicity, so naturally, some patients have concerns about how they would look with metal brackets on.

If you already have issues you want to correct on your teeth, it’s normal you might feel insecure about bringing more attention to them with an appliance. You can tell your orthodontist about these concerns, and they will walk you through the available alternatives.

At the end of the day, what matters the most is your health and your well-being, so do not allow other considerations to get in the way, especially since there are hundreds of supposed solutions to align your teeth without orthodontists that are dangerous.

Is It Possible to Straighten Teeth Without Braces?

After evaluating your teeth and the alignment issues you might have in them, a certified orthodontist is the one who can tell you which appliances suit your case better.

Clear aligners are a great option to straighten teeth without braces. They are safe and effective. But Invisalign is not the only option you have.

Traditional metal braces have evolved into similar alternatives that don’t compromise the way you look during treatment; this is a huge advantage since plastic aligners have some limitations that braces don’t. We’ll talk about them later in this article.

Lingual braces and clear ceramic braces can substitute conventional braces in a teeth alignment treatment.

How to Close a Gap in Your Teeth Without Braces

The first thing you need to avoid is those DIY treatment kits some companies offer to mail in.

Whatever treatment you choose, do it under the evaluation of a certified orthodontist; these evaluations have to be in-office since neither the American Dental Association (ADA) nor the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) can prove the real efficiency of virtual checkups.

To move teeth, your doctor needs to see your X-Rays before trying anything, and mail-in aligners skip this step.

Dental veneers are a big hit among TV hosts and models, but what is a dental veneer? Well, it’s shell specialists make from resin or porcelain to cover your real teeth. The veneers follow a smile design for which you and your doctor are responsible. They work to cover mild spacing problems and teeth crowding.

Can dental veneers fix a teeth gap without braces? Yes, but for more complex issues, Invisalign aligners are a much better option.

How Does Invisalign Work to Straighten Teeth?

Invisalign has developed a system for teeth straightening that does not include braces but can successfully correct mild to moderate dental issues, even malocclusions, and crooked teeth.

Roanoke Invisalign only works with certified orthodontists and in-office care. The process is similar to braces since clear aligners follow the same mechanic principles of exerting pressure to move teeth. That’s where the similarities end.

Clear aligners also require X-Rays and a smile design. The doctor will create a digital model of your teeth with the 3D scan technology Invisalign offers; this allows you to perceive your teeth better and follow the treatment plan closely.

You will receive new trays every two to three weeks, and these Invisalign trays will progressively mold your teeth into your new smile. “How much does Invisalign cost?” will depend on the number of aligner trays you need.

After your treatment is complete, you will have to wear an invisible retainer as well. Whether you need to wear your retainer all the time or just at night is for your orthodontist to tell.

Is Invisalign Better Than Braces?

The differences are many. Invisalign is changing the rules for orthodontic patients. Although clear aligners can yet correct severe issues of overcrowding, extremely crooked teeth, or deep malocclusions, they ensure a comfortable treatment for those issues they can correct.

Invisalign aligners make the brushing and flossing process easier than conventional braces, therefore reducing the risk of dental plaque and cavities. Food restrictions are not a thing for patients with clear aligners.

Roanoke Orthodontic emergencies with braces are low, but with Invisalign, there are no real emergencies other than lost molds since clear aligners can’t have poking wires or brackets fall off.

Maybe all of this makes braces sound terrible, so let’s put the record straight: braces are still the number one option to correct dental alignment problems. Traditional braces are faster and cheaper in most cases.

With a healthy mouth (that is, no gum disease, no cavities, no dental calculus), you can start braces treatment, but being a candidate for Invisalign aligners is a bit more complex than that.

Invisalign and Braces Chart Comparison

Pros of Invisalign

• Removable appliance: You can take your aligner trays off to eat and wash your mouth.
• Made of completely transparent and resistant acrylic: Invisalign trays are hard to notice by others and won’t break when you take them off.
• In-office checkups with a certified orthodontist.
• Safe and effective.
• Corrects crooked teeth, crowded teeth, diastema (a gap between your teeth), mild to moderate underbites, and overbites.
• You can pay in installments.
• Works for teenagers and adults.

Cons of Invisalign

• Can’t correct severe malocclusions: Such as deep overbites, and overbites, overcrowded smiles, and extremely crooked teeth.
• Higher average price.
• Depend on patient compliance to work: If you don’t wear your Invisalign trays as you were indicated, the treatment plan will slow down.

Pros of Traditional Braces

• Fixed appliance: You don’t have to worry about wearing your trays correctly or for enough time since they are not removable.
• Super resistant: Both metal and clear ceramic braces can resist day-to-day activities and use without breaking.
• In-office checkups with a certified orthodontist.
• Safe and effective.
• Corrects mild to severe dental issues: spacing problems, crooked teeth, overcrowding, deep overbite, open bite, and underbite.
• You can pay in installments.
• Works for all ages, from preteens to adults.
• Lower average price.

Cons of Traditional Braces

• Less discreet.
• More complex cleaning process: You will need interdental brushes and self-threaders to achieve better results.
• Food restrictions: You will have to avoid hard and chewy foods.
• Poking wires and ulcerations: In some cases, traditional braces and archwires can cause ulcerations on the inside of your lips. You can fix this with special dental wax.

As you can see, there is no specific answer to the question, “Is Invisalign better than braces?”. Both have infinite benefits for your dental health, can correct teeth issues, and have cons. The final decision is on you and your orthodontist.

Reopelle Orthodontics in Roanoke, VA

The best way to know how to straighten teeth without braces is to schedule an orthodontic examination. This way, a real doctor can see and evaluate your mouth to propose different alternatives for your teeth.

After reading this article, you get an idea of the issues you can fix without conventional braces. You can trust Dr. Ann D. Reopelle will ensure and provide the best treatment plan for your needs, so you can achieve your goal of having a straighter smile.

Among the treatments you will find in Reopelle Orthodontics are Invisalign, traditional braces, and early orthodontic care. Patients of all ages are welcome at our dental office.