Two Orthodontic Options For Adults

Looking to get braces as an adult? If so, you'll be looking for an option that is not noticeable to others. This pretty much leaves you with two options for correcting your teeth, either lingual braces for adults or Invisalign. Both are great options that can get the job done, with each having their own advantages. Here is what you need to know about using both techniques.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are different than traditional braces due to where they are placed on the teeth. Instead of putting noticeable brackets on the front of the teeth, they are placed on the rear side so that they are out of sight. Unless somebody is looking for them, they will be very hard for other people to notice, making them practically invisible.

In addition to not being noticeable, lingual braces will not cause any damage to your teeth that will be noticeable. Some people notice spots on their teeth where the brackets were once placed, which are incredibly noticeable on front teeth. This is caused due to stains occurring to the surrounding parts of the teeth not covered by the bracket, leaving the natural tooth underneath its original color. In fact, this can lead to needing teeth whitening after the traditional braces are removed in order to mask the discoloration. If marks are left with lingual braces, you won't notice them.

Invisalign

Invisalign is becoming more popular with adults due to how easy it is to wear the plastic aligner trays. They are designed to be clear so that you can wear them during the day without others noticing. It is also possible to take out the trays when eating or when you are doing public speaking, which may be an advantage that you find appealing.

However, the ability to remove the trays can be tempting to remove them. Invisalign is only meant to be removed a couple hours each day for eating and brushing. You cannot take them out all day long and expect to receive the same results. It does take dedication to actively wear the trays, which means you must have some desire to deal with that.

Your dentist will make a series of clear trays that you swap out every couple of weeks, and treatment is finished once you go through every set of trays. Changing trays does not require a trip to the dentist, but you will still need to attend checkups to ensure that the trays are working as intended.

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