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Know Your Options For Discreet Braces

Do you have teeth that need to be aligned, but you're not too excited about the concept of having metal braces attached to your teeth? If so, know that there are alternatives to traditional braces that are more discreet than you think. 

Lingual Braces

If you've never heard of lingual braces, all you need to know is that they are similar to traditional braces with how they work. The only difference is that they are placed behind your teeth instead of on the front surface of your teeth. This helps hide the brackets much better and can be just as effective at making alignment corrections. However, many people feel that there is a bigger adjustment period to wearing lingual braces, which can affect your speech and eating. 

Ceramic Braces

You do not need to have metal brackets installed on your teeth that are very easy to notice. You can always have ceramic braces installed, which use brackets that match the color of your teeth rather than be made out of shiny metal. Ceramic braces have the benefit of being just as good at making alignment adjustments for your teeth but won't look that bad from afar.

In addition, there are variations of ceramic braces where the brackets are small in comparison to their metal counterparts. It can help when you think that discretion is going to be an issue. 

Invisalign

Another option that is popular to use for adults is Invisalign. The procedure works by taking a mold of your mouth to create a series of plastic trays that you swap out after every few weeks. The trays are made out of clear plastic and must be worn for the majority of the day. You can take them out when eating or brushing, but you should leave them on other than that. 

While Invisalign gives you the flexibility of having braces without the social stigma, know that Invisalign does not work as well as other types of braces. They are better at making minor adjustments rather than major adjustments, such as needing to adjust teeth that are growing in front of each other and need to be slid in opposite directions. 

Not sure about the types of braces that will work for you? Meet with your dentist for a consultation. They'll let you know about all the pros and cons of each method so that you can make an informed decision.


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