If you’re a child of the seventies, eighties, or nineties, you may have had to wear traditional metal braces to straighten your adolescent teeth. If you never needed braces during your younger years, count yourself lucky because traditional metal braces contributed greatly to what we know as “teen angst.”
Very few teenagers make their way through high school without needing some orthodontic work, but you may be one of the lucky few. Many Gen X’ers vividly remember trying to look cool while sporting a mouth full of metal. Then, dealing with retainers when the braces came off—that’s a whole ‘nother level of cool.
Memories of teen years marked by endless trips to the orthodontist’s office for rubber bands, adjustments, and braces tightening appointments do not make adults all warm and fuzzy inside. With so many options in adult teeth straightening now, you need never know the problems associated with traditional metal braces. Clear aligners for teeth straightening provide a fantastic end result with minimal if any, inconvenience.
That Was Then, This Is Now
People who need orthodontia today have some cool teeth-straightening treatments that are virtually invisible because they are clear instead of silver. Yes, clear aligners that you pop in your mouth and pop back out when it’s time to eat or clean them. Your Wilmington, Delaware, teeth straightening dentist will create a custom-designed timeline based on your orthodontic needs, and you will periodically change out your clear aligners for the next set in your journey to straighter teeth.
Two of the most popular clear aligner teeth straightening systems are:
- Invisalign®
- SureSmile®
Invisalign® Clear Aligners
Adults and teens alike are thrilled that Invisalign® clear aligners are available at their Wilmington, Delaware, cosmetic dentist’s office. These clear aligners are perfect for people who have the following:
- Crooked teeth
- Uneven teeth
- Misaligned teeth
- Worn teeth
By providing pressure in specific areas, Invisalign® clear aligners work in much the same way that traditional braces do but without all the fuss. The aligners guide your teeth into the proper position, which is the same effect you would get from the wires and brackets of traditional braces. If you have a severe overbite or underbite, you may not be a good candidate for Invisalign® clear aligners, but other teeth straightening treatments may work for you.
A Bit About the Invisalign® Process
The Invisalign® teeth straightening begins with 3-D imaging to provide your cosmetic dentist in Wilmington, Delaware, the clearest possible picture of what your current state of orthodontia is and what needs to be done to deliver the stunningly straight smile you want.
After a comprehensive evaluation of your oral health (inspection of your teeth and gums), your dentist will map out the treatment plan to straighten your teeth. You will see on technology how your teeth will move gradually over time, and you will see what the final product—your dazzling smile—will look like at the end of the journey.
SureSmile® Teeth Straightening
SureSmile® is another innovative teeth straightening system that is highly effective and hugely popular. This is a slightly more affordable option than Invisalign®, so if you weren’t a great candidate for Invisalign®, or you didn’t want to spend that much for teeth straightening, SureSmile® clear aligners may be a better solution for you.
The treatment time involved with SureSmile® is typically shorter than Invisalign® users. Your cosmetic dentist in Wilmington, Delaware, will discuss your treatment plan with you, and together, you can decide which clear teeth straightening product is best for you.
Benefits of Clear Teeth Straighteners
Regardless of which teeth straightening system is best for you, the benefits are numerous:
- You can eat and drink whatever you want
- They are invisible
- Oral hygiene is easy with clear aligners
- They are removable
- They are comfortable
- They don’t require tightening, brackets, or rubber bands
- You’ll spend less time at the dentist
- Covered by more insurance plans than traditional braces
Get Adult Teeth Straightening in Wilmington, Delaware
If you want to know more about clear teeth aligners in Wilmington, please get in touch with Dr. Michael T. Rosen at (302) 994-0979 to schedule a new patient evaluation. You may also fill out our online contact form, and one of our team members will reach out to answer questions or schedule you.