Invisalign® Vs. Braces
Hillsboro Dentist
 Crooked teeth are a serious issue that affects more than just the quality of your smile. They can also have a significant impact on your oral health as well. When your teeth are crooked, you are at greater risk for tooth decay, tooth damage, and gum disease. You may experience bruxism, a condition in which your teeth grind and clench together. This can lead to uneven tooth wear, jaw pain, and issues with your temporomandibular joints. You may even experience pain in your neck and your back. At Century Dental we can help to treat crooked teeth. We offer two options, Traditional braces, and Invisalign.
Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces have been used for decades to treat crooked teeth. It is a highly effective treatment that involves the use of metal brackets and wires to correct the alignment of your teeth and jaws. Brackets are bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth and a wire spans across the entire arch, attached to each bracket with an elastic O-ring. The wires work to move your teeth. The wires place pressure on your teeth, which then puts pressure on your periodontal ligaments. This loosens your teeth so that the wires can then guide them to where they need to go. After your teeth have reached their ideal positions, the wires, then help to hold your teeth stable while your periodontal ligaments and jawbone heal around them.
Invisalign Treatment
Invisalign is a more recent alternative to metal braces. Instead of brackets and wires, this treatment uses as a series of clear plastic aligners to correct the alignment of your teeth. These aligners are created from digital impressions of your mouth. Each set of aligners, which are meant to be worn for two weeks at a time, are all slightly different from one another. They are designed to help gently guide your teeth to the proper positions. The rigid plastic places pressure on your teeth, loosening them, and then guides them to where they need to go.
Which Option is Right for Me?
Both traditional braces and Invisalign are effective orthodontic treatments. Where traditional braces, which are bright silver in color, are quite prominent in your mouth, Invisalign aligners are practically invisible. Where brackets and wires are bonded to your teeth, Invisalign aligners are removable. This means that you can enjoy all of your favorite foods during treatment as well as brush and floss your teeth normally. In many cases, either option can help to provide you with great results.
However, while Invisalign is very effective, they are not ideal for every situation. If you have severe alignment issues, particularly severe bite issues, you may require treatment with traditional braces. It may be possible, though, depending upon your specific situation, to begin treatment with traditional braces and finish with Invisalign, shortening the amount of time you need to spend in fixed brackets and wires. During your orthodontic evaluation, we can help you to determine the best solution to meet your needs.
If you are living with crooked teeth, and they are affecting both your smile and your oral health, orthodontic treatment can help. For more information, and to find out which option is best for you, call Century Dental at (971) 708-1608 to schedule your consultation today.
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