Dental Braces For Image-Conscious Teens
Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
by Ben T Wilson
http://www.considermac.com
A smile is the most striking part of The face. If you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? Most of us would like to makeover our less-than-perfect teeth, but don't want to take on a mouth with metal braces. It is hard to believe when you're going through it, but braces will improve your smile and increase your confidence. And thanks to the latest dental technology, it is now possible to correct your teeth so discreetly that people will notice your smile, not your braces.
Braces are a totally normal and practically expected part of puberty. Once all of your permanent teeth come in, or even before they all come in, you may find you suffer from crooked, crowded or gappy teeth. You are not alone - many teens have braces. As well as giving you a million dollar smile, there's a load of other reasons for talking to your doctor about braces:
- Straight teeth and a corrected bite allow you to chew your food better and aid digestion
- Straight teeth are easier to keep clean, which can help you avoid dental problems in future when teeth are crowded, brushing and flossing can be more difficult.
Types of braces - What are the choices?
Dental braces have come a long way since the days of heavy metal wires and brackets, bulky headgear and the associated nerd factor'. Although there are lots of types of braces out there, the latest treatment is Invisalign, a new cosmetic dental treatment which offers a virtually invisible way to straighten teeth, in as little as 9 to 18 months (depending on the condition of your teeth). Unlike traditional metal braces (sometimes known as train tracks'), which are bonded to the teeth, Invisalign uses a series of custom made, clear plastic removable aligners to gradually straighten teeth, without the need for metal brackets and wires.
A clear solution to problem teeth
Whether your smile needs minor improvements or more extensive adjustments, Invisalign can almost certainly help. The Invisalign technique is successful in treating overbites, underbites and a variety of irregularities such as gappy' teeth, crooked or overlapping teeth and protruding buck' teeth. And best of all, because the Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible, most people won't even realize that you're wearing braces.
Invisalign clear braces offer many benefits for busy teens (and their busy parents). Patients only visit their doctor once every four to six weeks (depending on the complexity of the case and the prescription of your dentist) or so to ensure that treatment is progressing as planned, and to receive their next few sets of aligners. Since the aligners are comfortable and durable, they fit in well with teen activities and sports activities that can be challenging or uncomfortable with traditional metal braces.
Invisalign has oral health benefits as well, primarily because the aligners can be removed for eating, brushing, flossing and routine cleaning. According to a Journal of Orthodontics (2002) study, of teen decisions regarding braces, "being like everyone else" is of great importance to teenagers. Invisalign's near invisibility is still the most popular feature for teens; treatment is very discreet, making it easier for you to fit in' rather than stand out. And, best of all for parents, even though it's the latest in cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign is similar in price to treatment with metal or ceramic brackets and generally lower priced than a treatment with lingual braces (the ones that are glued on the inside of teeth).
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