In our dental practice, patients find that they have to make a decision when they want to undergo orthodontic treatment— choosing between simple alignments and conventional braces. Many of our adult patients do not realize there is an alternative to traditional braces. Clear aligners–such as Invisalign–are an effective alternative with many advantages compared to traditional braces, particularly for adults. Here are the top four reasons why adults prefer transparent aligners over the common braces in our experience.
Visibility
The main reason we choose clear aligners for adult patients in our practice is that they appear invisible. This helps to conceal the fact that the patient is being treated with orthodontics, which can be embarrassing for some adults. Clear aligners also help to conceal existing holes, another esthetic benefit.
For the same reason, many of our adolescent patients, particularly high school and college-age patients, prefer clear aligners too. Some of our younger patients still choose traditional braces, though, because the elastics on the restraints can be customized. For these, school colors or the colors of their favorite sports team are popular choices. The ability to customize the look of traditional braces helps young patients to express themselves while keeping their smile straight.
Removability
Our patients like to have the ability to remove their clear aligners when they eat and brush their teeth, unlike traditional braces. That allows them to continue their usual brushing and flossing hygiene routine.
Not only do clear aligners make cleaning easy they also offer patients the freedom to eat what they want, and normally brush their teeth. Patients no longer need to keep a list of restricted food items that can cause loosening of traditional brackets and require additional orthodontic visits.
Health benefits
Most patients who have traditional braces find it difficult to properly take care of their teeth, either because they have poor oral hygiene to start with and do not adapt to their cleaning routines when wearing braces, or they slip into poor oral hygiene habits once their brackets are installed.
Often after orthodontic treatment patients develop calcium deposits on the front of their teeth. When the braces are removed, these deposits are visible and allow the patient to either have cosmetic work done or live on their teeth with white spots.
Poor hygiene habits with conventional braces can also lead to swollen gums, which can become troublesome if the patient neglects good oral hygiene results. Swollen gums can then lead to gingivitis which can lead to lifelong health complications if left untreated.
For the first time, transparent aligners were only used on basic orthodontic cases, such as slightly crowded teeth, but they are now used for even the most complex orthodontic cases. Not only do we think simple aligners eliminate the social stigma of orthodontics, but they do also tend to be more effective when it comes to the oral health of patients.
Impressionless scanning
One of the best ways for a dentist to be more clinically efficient and reduce the discomfort of their patients’ experience is through the combined use of clear aligners and impressionless scanning. Impressionless scanning is becoming more widely used in dentistry, which is one reason why many opt for clear aligners.
Are You Looking for Clear Aligners or Invisalign to Straighten Your Teeth?
With over 30 years of professional experience helping patients renew and beautifying their smiles, Balfour Dental continues to be the preferred dental office for families in Brentwood California and the surrounding communities of Antioch, Oakley, Discovery Bay and beyond. Their dental office is locally owned and operated by Dr. Dimple Rayani and Dr. Sien Siao, two professionals with vast experience in cosmetic dentistry treatments as well as in general dentistry. Dr. Rayani and Dr. Siao both have many different certifications, including Invisalign Certification, Implant Dentistry, Sleep Apnea Treatment, Cerec CAD-CAM Restorations, Neuromuscular Dentistry, and Implants respectively. If you are looking to renew your smile, contact Balfour Dental today!
