For the many people who have struggled with bite issues, crooked teeth, and lack of confidence due to wonky smiles, getting braces or orthodontic treatment as an adult is a welcome option. There is a common misconception that your teeth are already set as an adult, but our team at Spy Hill Dental is here to tell you this assumption is incorrect. It is always possible to straighten your teeth and transform your smile.
There are many options for adult orthodontics, but the two most common are braces and Invisalign in Royal Oak. As children, most adults only remember the old-school metal braces with bright elastics. While they are still used today and can often be the most effective and fastest option, many other options are more discrete and convenient. When you visit our dental clinic, our dentist in NW Calgary will walk you through all the aligning options that will work best for your situation. Here are some of the options that our dentist is likely to tell you about
#1. Traditional Braces- Metal, Ceramic, and Clear
The most common type of traditional braces is made out of high-grade stainless steel. Thanks to advances in dental technology, these braces are lighter and more comfortable. The metal brackets are attached to your teeth using a special cement and linked to one another by an archwire. Sometimes, elastics are needed to keep the archwire in place.
Ceramic, or clear braces, function like metal braces but are less visible, making them a desirable option for many patients. However, these braces require a higher commitment to oral hygiene because they are larger and less durable than metal braces.
#2. Lingual Braces
For those nervous about braces’ appearance when they smile, lingual braces may be a good solution. These braces are placed behind the teeth rather than in front of them, making them nearly invisible to others when you laugh, speak, and smile. The main drawback to these braces is that they can cause some sores on the tongue and may make it more difficult to speak clearly.
#3. Invisalign
Invisalign near you uses a series of clear, removable aligners to shift your teeth into the optimal position gradually. These aligners are custom-made by our dentist near you and can be removed anytime to allow you to drink and eat whatever you want while transforming your smile. Additionally, removing these aligners makes it easier to floss and brush your teeth.
Invisalign requires that you switch out your aligners about every two weeks and that you keep your aligners in your mouth for at least 22 hours a day for optimal results. While Invisalign is good at correcting mild to moderate misalignment problems, it may not be able to address severe cases of misalignment, so you will need to discuss with our dentist whether or not Invisalign is the right treatment for you.
