If you watch any kind of visual media, you will see a bunch of people with picture perfect smiles. Straight, even teeth that are neither too big nor too small for their mouths whitened to give the impression that person never indulges in coffee or red wine. Considering how popular coffee is, the second part is probably a lie achieved by chemical tooth whiteners. The first, however, – the straight, even teeth – is absolutely real. You can’t fake that kind of smile and you can’t make it happen overnight, either.
Adjusting your smile from one where your teeth are crooked or overcrowded or you have a misaligned bite takes the skills of a qualified orthodontist Queen Creek AZ. Be sure your orthodontist at least a member of the American Dental Association. Better yet, he or she stays abreast of all the latest innovations and is a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, too. Your orthodontist will be able to help you choose for yourself the best braces for your mouth to give you the smile you’ve always wanted. What’s that? You didn’t realize there were different kinds of braces? Keep reading, then!
Metal
Adults who suffered – ahem, received – orthodontia in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s remember those huge metal brackets affixed to their teeth, connected by wires that the orthodontist had to screw tighter with each visit. There were rubber bands to hook teeth together and wax to coat the wires to prevent them from lacerating the insides of your mouth with every breath. That’s not the way it is anymore. The metal brackets are much smaller. The wires have been improved, too. They’re now activated by your body heat which assists them in moving your teeth together with more speed and a lot less pain.
Ceramic
Like modern metal braces, ceramic braces are fixed to the outside of your teeth and use the same heat-activated wires to realign your smile. The brackets themselves, though, are made of either clear or tooth-colored ceramic so they’re less noticeable.
Lingual
If you have to have traditional braces by you don’t want anyone seeing them, explore the possibility of lingual braces. They’re metal, but affixed to the backs of your teeth.
Invisalign
If you’re really concerned about optics and don’t mind a more expensive and time-consuming choice, clear plastic molds called Invisalign may work for you. Not for the correction of severe problems or for children, you get a new mold every two weeks until your smile is fixed.
When realigning your smile, discuss your options with a qualified orthodontist.
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