If one of our Placerville dentists suggests that you or a family member needs plastic aligners or traditional braces, is one better than the other? The dentists at the Placerville Dental Group understand that oral health and well-being are important to you and your family, but you want to consider the potential costs involved, so here are some basics about teeth straightening using these two different orthodontic techniques. Since each method has its own advantages, one isn’t always better than the other. The dentists at our Placerville dental clinic take a patient’s specific circumstances and lifestyle into consideration when making their recommendations.
Match the Technique to the Patient
While our dentists generally prefer Invisalign for straightening teeth, not all patients are good candidates for plastic aligners. Individual consultations tell us if traditional braces or Invisalign will be the best fit based on lifestyle, oral care habits and the type of dental correction needed. The result is a treatment plan that works efficiently with effective results that make everyone smile!
Improvements in Braces
Braces aren’t what they used to be “back in the day.” While braces are still made up of brackets glued to the patient’s teeth and attached with wires and mini rubber bands, patients have choices to make them less noticeable. For the bold, however, you can choose bright brackets in different colors to coordinate with wire and rubber band colors. (Favorite team or high school colors, for example?) Braces are required for treating complex issues, they cannot be lost and could be the best choice for younger clients who brush and floss daily.
If the dentist and patient decide braces are the best choice for correction, they are usually adjusted by at least once a month for two years, or as prescribed according to your customized treatment plan, and usually range in cost from $3000 to $4000 or more. The Placerville Dental Group doesn’t recommend braces for patients who engage in contact sports, play a wind instrument or who do not want to spend a little extra time each day for oral care. Braces wearers should also avoid hard, crunchy or sticky foods to avoid damage to their teeth and braces.
Invisalign Aligners
Invisalign aligners are always clear, making them less noticeable than ordinary braces. This is big selling point for adult professionals and teenagers concerned about their appearance! Using digital software, our Placerville dentists design a treatment plan and aligners using BPA-free trays that are replaced every two weeks until completion of the patient’s treatment plan. Invisalign aligners typically take 18 months and cost about the same as braces, depending on the actual time of treatment and the amount of correction needed.
These custom aligner trays are smooth and reposition teeth without the discomfort typically associated with braces. Many patients like that the aligners are removed for eating and brushing the teeth. But they must be worn 20 to 22 hours a day, so they are not recommended for patients who do not have the self-discipline to wear them for the required time. Fewer office visits are required during treatment, which is another benefit of Invisalign, but patients occasionally lose their aligners. For teenagers, there’s a free replacement program.
The Placerville Dental Group loves to answer your questions about Invisalign and braces because we enjoy providing our patients with the best choices available in Placerville! We also offer Propel technology to speed up orthodontic treatment and possibly reduce the cost of both Invisalign and braces. Call our Placerville dental office at (530) 444-5322 and we will be happy to straighten you or a family member out, dentally that is. Our initial consultations for teeth straightening are always free and we let you know potential costs up front, so there are no surprises in the middle of treatment. You may also contact us via our website or make an appointment at our location on 699 Main Street, Suite B, in Placerville.
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