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Types of Orthodontics
Standard:
Standard
orthodontics involve the use of metal brackets which are bonded to the front of
your teeth. Elastics and wires then work in conjunction to straighten your
teeth. A popular alternative to metal brackets is ceramic brackets; these
brackets greatly reduce that "metal mouth" look.
Usually
traditional orthodontics take about 2 years to complete.
Invisalign:
Invisalign
is the latest advance in orthodontics. It is the invisible way to straighten
teeth without braces. Using advanced 3-D computer imaging technology to project
tooth movement, Invisalign creates a series of clear, custom-made aligners that
gradually move your teeth.
You
wear each aligner for about two weeks, moving to the next set, until your teeth
are straight. The advantages of Invisalign over traditional orthodontics
include: they are nearly invisible; they are very comfortable with no wires or
brackets to cause mouth sores; they are removable, so you can still eat and
drink what you want; they permit normal brushing and flossing, to maintain
healthy gums and teeth.
Temporary:
With Removable Orthodontics,
the patient wears a removable retainer-like appliance that has various springs
and attachments on it to create pressure to move the teeth into proper
alignment. But for many cases, this is an excellent option provided patient
compliance is excellent.
Fastest
of the Furious-est:
With modern dental
technology, uneven teeth can be reshaped and laminated with high tech ceramics.
We call this instant orthodontics, using veneers or laminates instead of braces
to make teeth look straight. It can close large gaps and correct some
overcrowding in as little as 1-2 days.
It
is typically a pain-free procedure requiring only the use of local anesthetics.
You are a candidate for this if you would like your teeth to look straighter
and cannot commit to the time for conventional orthodontics. The extent to
which this approach can be used depends on how crowded and crooked the teeth
are to begin with. Sometimes a combination of limited traditional orthodontics
and ceramic enhancement may be the best choice.
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