Esthetic Orthodontics

 Esthetic Orthodontics

As an adult, I wanted to straighten my teeth for esthetic and oral  health reasons. I researched different orthodontic treatment modalities and decided I wanted a removable and discreet option. There are several ways to correct occlusal and bite problems with orthodontics and depending on the severity of the a persons occlusion, surgery might even be indicated.

Many adult patients could benefit from Orthodontic treatment not just for improving the look of how teeth are aligned, but also to alleviate problems associated with malocclusion such as gum disease, bone loss, tooth decay, chewing and digestive problems. However, one of the reasons Adults opt out of  getting orthodontic treatment is the thought of having to wear traditional metal braces. With this in mind, the field of Orthodontics has evolved to include esthetic options that are specifically targeted  to help the Adult patient. There are different esthetic treatment options available. These include ceramic braces, sapphire braces, lingual braces and clear aligner trays/ retainers.

Importance Of Orthodontic Treatment
 
1) It can boost a person's self-image as the teeth, jaws and lips become properly aligned,
2)It can alleviate or prevent physical health problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, bone destruction, chewing and digestive difficulties. 
3) It can correct speech impairments, tooth loss, chipped teeth and other dental injuries.

Types of Esthetic Orthodontics

 Ceramic Braces. 
Typically more esthetic than traditional metal braces. Typically tooth colored ceramics or transparent ceramics that aim to blend with your existing tooth shade.

Pros

They blend in with most teeth, particularly if they are not perfectly white.
Some people feel that they are more comfortable than metal and irritate your gums less.
 They are very strong, and usually do not break

Cons
The clear or white ligatures (little elastics that hold the arch wire to the brackets) can stain, which defeats esthetics of the ceramic braces.
Ceramic brackets are are usually more expensive than traditional metal brackets.
Treatment can take a few months longer in ceramic braces.
From a purely esthetic point of view, they are a bit larger than metal brackets.
If you have severe problems, they may not be strong enough to withstand the forces of some types of treatment.

 

Clear Sapphire Inspire! Brand Braces

 




  


They are manufactured by Ormco, are made of pure monocrystalline sapphire and are very translucent. 

Pros
They are very strong and do not stain.
If your teeth are already very white, they look invisible as they are translucent

Cons
Can Stand out if your teth are not as white

The pros and cons for Sapphire brackets are the same as those for Ceramic brackets.



Lingual braces.
These braces are typically placed behind your teeth and are not visible to people.



 




  


  Pros

Virtually invisible to other people, based on wear it is placed


 Cons

They tend to hurt your tongue and make it difficult to speak at first.
More expensive than traditional metal,  because treatment is specialized.
Treatment can take a few months longer than traditional braces.
If you have severe problems, or need certain types of appliances, lingual treatment may not be applicable.




Invisalign or Clear Aligner

 Invisalign braces are great for people who do not have severe occlusal and bite problems. The "braces" consist of strong removable plastic trays that are custom fabricated. They look invisible and are barely noticeable when worn.

 
 Pros

They are virtually invisible.
They are easier to clean than traditional braces.
They don't irritate your gums as much as traditional braces.
They do not stain at all.



 Cons

Similar cost to traditional braces. In certain cases, could cost more..
Treatment can take as long as traditional braces.
In some cases, you may still need traditional braces for a few months after  Invisalign treatment, to correct certain problems.
Typical discomfort associated with traditional braces are still present with clear aligners





           Before and After Pictures