Hi, it's Mia Armonde here to talk to you about family dentistry. As my small family grew into a large one, I found myself at the dental office on a regular basis. Every six months, the kids would go into the dentist for a cleaning or repairs to their teeth. During that time, I took an interest in the various ways the dental tools were evolving. Tools used in the dental industry have grown in leaps and bounds in the last few decades. For example, my kids went from hearing the dental drill to wearing headphones that completely canceled out the sound. Each time we go back into the dentist, I take a close look at the improvements that have arisen since the last visit. The results are astounding. I will cover my findings on this site, so you can also enjoy the improvements to dental tools and techniques.
It's unfortunate but true that people who wear orthodontic appliances to fix their teeth often land on the receiving end of some pretty mean comments. Regardless of whether the individual was trying to be playful or something more sinister, those comments can hit a person's self-esteem pretty hard. If you want to hide the fact that you're wearing braces, here are two options that fix your teeth while remaining invisible.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are similar to standard braces in that they are made from metal and are bonded directly onto the teeth. However, instead of being placed in the front of teeth, the brackets and wires are placed in back of them. This keeps them hidden from view for the most part, allowing you to straighten your teeth without worrying about getting teased by coworkers, friends, or others in your social network. This type of oral appliance is also better for people who play wind instruments such as the tuba or who play contact sports, because the risk of injury from the braces is significantly lowered.
Because of their placement, however, lingual braces aren't for everyone. In particular, people with small teeth, overbites, and severely misaligned teeth are not good candidates for this type of orthodontic appliance. Keeping these braces clean can be more challenging, and dental adjustments take longer to do.
Lastly, lingual braces are the most expensive out of the all the different types available, costing anywhere from $8,000 to $10,000.
Invisalign Braces
Invisalign braces have more in common with mouth guards than they do with regular braces. This method of treatment consists of using a series of custom-fitted oral trays that snap directly over teeth. Instead of going in for regular adjustments, the person wears one tray for a couple of weeks before discarding it and wearing the next one in the series.
The trays are crafted from clear plastic that make them virtually invisible, and they don't take long to get used to wearing. The Invisalign trays are removable to allow for tooth brushing, and a person can eat or drink whatever they want while wearing them.
Like lingual braces, however, Invisalign braces are not suitable for people who need correction for severe dental problems. They are only made for adults and teenagers, so children must use regular braces to fix their teeth. Lastly, this treatment requires more effort on the person's part to remember to wear the trays on a constant basis, which may lead to issues of non-compliance.
Invisalign braces cost about the same as regular metal braces, landing anywhere between $4,000 and $7,400. Whether your insurance will pay for these or lingual braces depends on the type of plan you have. In general, though, dental plans only pay for some of the cost of orthodontic appliances for people under 18.
For more information about these or other types of oral appliances, contact a center like Wright Center For Orthodontics.
Share27 November 2015
