Less Noticeable Orthodontic Treatment Options For Adults
As an adult who needs braces, you may be concerned about how your orthodontic treatment will affect your appearance. Large metal brackets are typically associated with the braces worn by adolescents and teens. However, there may be several orthodontic treatment options that can straighten the teeth of an adult without being as noticeable as traditional metal braces. Here are a few:
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are attached to the side of your teeth that lies next to your tongue. They are constructed of metal. However, because they are not placed on the outer surface of your teeth, they are not as noticeable. They move your teeth as effectively as their conventional counterpart, but your appearance remains relatively unchanged by their presence.
The cost of lingual braces, which is usually $8,000 and $10,000, is higher than that of traditional braces, which cost between $3,000 and $7,000.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces, which are often called clear braces, have ceramic brackets. Since the brackets are white like tooth enamel, they are not as noticeable against your teeth. They are placed in the same manner as traditional braces and are sometimes paired with metal brackets for cost savings. Your orthodontist may offer you the option of placing the ceramic brackets on your front teeth that are visible when you smile or speak and leaving metal brackets on the remaining teeth. A full set of ceramic braces is typically priced between $4,000 and $8,000.
Invisalign
Invisalign aligners straighten teeth just as braces do. However, they don't require the use of brackets. Instead, the Invisalign system consists of clear, plastic aligning trays that are changed out every two weeks or so to progressively straighten your teeth. The Invisalign aligners also offer an advantage over metal braces because they are removable. You can comfortably eat, brush and floss. However, the aligning trays still need to be worn at least 20 to 22 hours per day. Invisalign usually costs about $4,000 to $7,400.
Being comfortable with your appearance during your aligning process is important. Orthodontic treatment options that are barely noticeable can offer you great alignment results without the self-consciousness that you may experience with traditional metal braces. Some of the options even straighten your teeth faster than conventional braces. For instance, Invisalign can straighten teeth up to 18 times faster. To see which alignment options are suitable for your treatment plan, schedule a consultation with an orthodontist in your area. Click to find out more.
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