2024’s Best Teeth Aligners — How to Get One For Orthodontic Needs?

Sometimes, a perfect smile is a gift from nature, but more often than not, it is the result of some kind of tooth aligner treatment.

This can be a chair-side treatment (such as traditional metal braces or clear aligners) at a dentist or orthodontist’s physical location, or a home aligner treatment.

 

Why do we need teeth aligners?

Crooked teeth can be the result of a misaligned jaw, poor nutrition or dental habits, genetics or facial injuries.

It is important to begin treatment for these as early as possible, which in many cases is between the ages of 9 and 14 when secondary teeth have erupted but the teeth and jaw bone have not settled into their permanent positions.

However, adults too may need help from a dentist or orthodontist for tooth alignment. There are many reasons we should get our teeth fixed, preferably by a qualified dentist or orthodontist.

 

Improved quality of life

Bad teeth can affect a person’s life. Misaligned, crowded teeth make dental hygiene difficult, leading to the build-up of bacteria in the mouth which in turn raises bigger, painful dental problems such as tooth and gum abscesses.

In more serious instances, people may be unable to eat properly which could affect their overall health. Crooked teeth can also cause fatigue and pain in the jaw by putting stress on it during chewing.

Fixing misaligned teeth by wearing aligners, whether they are fitted by dental professionals or with the help of at-home aligners can have many benefits on the health and psyche of people.

 

Clearer speech

A misaligned jaw or badly positioned teeth hinder the movement of the tongue, affecting speech. Properly aligned teeth can help with pronunciation, helping a person speak clearly.

 

Improved confidence

Bad teeth can seriously impact a person’s confidence. They may not like smiling or even speaking too much if their speech is affected, to the detriment of their personal and professional lives.

Having a qualified dentist or orthodontist use the best teeth aligners to straighten teeth gives a lifetime smile guarantee!

 

Should I get traditional braces or a clear aligner?

The answer to this question depends on many factors.

 

Gender

Multiple studies have concluded that more females than males get orthodontic treatment for a straighter smile.

While Invisalign invisible braces could be girls’ number one choice, they are conscious of aesthetics even when prescribed braces, choosing from a wide range of coloured brackets.

Boys, on the other hand, may not be as particular and go with the flow when fitted with invisible teeth aligners or braces.

 

Oral Health

In the long run, crooked teeth can do a lot of damage to oral health. They cannot be cleaned properly and encourage the growth of bacteria that can wreak havoc with tooth and gum health.

If you opt for braces or clear aligners, know that keeping your teeth clean requires commitment. People with poor skills in brushing and flossing teeth may worsen the condition of their teeth by getting braces.

Braces must be cleaned well after every meal, or they can give a safe space for bacteria to build in their mouth leading to tooth decay and gum disease. Invisalign aligners need to be removed before eating and replaced only after the teeth are given a thorough cleaning.

 

Age

A patient’s age is a key deciding factor in the treatment plan for fixing bad teeth. Usually, children and teens opting for orthodontic treatment are fitted with traditional braces.

However, adults who opt for teeth straightening could be given a choice between braces and Invisalign and most opt for the latter to get straight teeth. Since they are invisible aligners and can be removed, they rarely affect an adult’s personal or professional life.

 

The complexity of the case

People who have bad teeth may need multiple things fixed at the same time such as spacing between the teeth, overbite and jaw alignment among other issues.

If a patient presents with really bad teeth, dentists may prefer traditional braces as their brackets are fixed directly onto teeth, maneuvering them into position even in the most complicated case.

Using braces as teeth aligners can help fix multiple problems simultaneously, which is not possible with clear aligners. Dental care providers consider Invisalign clear aligners for mild to moderate orthodontic issues as they don’t apply strong pressure.

 

Time commitment

Whether you wear invisible braces or clear aligners, the orthodontic treatment will take up time and many visits to your dental clinic’s physical locations.

Teeth straightening treatment starts with an appointment with a dentist to come up with a treatment plan based on a 3D scan they take of your teeth. An impression kit is used to take dental impressions when you bite into it. It is then sent to a lab that makes customised aligners.

Once the teeth aligners are customised and fitted, you will need to go back regularly to have them adjusted (in the case of braces) or replaced (like invisible aligners).

Invisalign treatments take less time than straightening teeth with metal brackets and wires. The average treatment time for clear aligners fixing mild to moderate misalignment is 12-18 months while the average treatment time for traditional metal braces is 1-3 years.

 

Relationship with the dental professional

Orthodontic treatments progress well when a patient cooperates fully with their dental healthcare provider. They follow instructions, make it to every appointment and take good care of their dental health to ensure their treatment plan is progressing well.

As a matter of fact, straight teeth don’t mean the end of orthodontic procedures as patients are prescribed retainers to keep their teeth from falling back to their original position and must continue with regular check-ups.

 

Tolerance of Discomfort

Whether you opt for invisible aligners, ceramic or lingual braces or metal braces, they’ll feel a bit uncomfortable when they are put on. They exert pressure to straighten teeth which may make the wearer uncomfortable for a couple of weeks.

Invisalign braces make it possible to have straighter teeth in less time than traditional braces because they exert more pressure.

Once you have had a chance to hold the “braces vs Invisalign” discussion with your dentist or orthodontist, it is time to make a decision. But what exactly will you be considering?

 

How to choose between braces and Invisalign? 

 

Price

The price of different types of orthodontic treatments varies greatly depending on the complexity of the case, the quality of materials used, the number of visits to the dental health care provider and other factors.

As a rough guide, it can be said that metal braces cost can start from $2000 while Invisalign can start from $4,500 and lingual braces at $7,500.

 

Time

It can take around two hours to put metal braces on, while Invisalign trays can be put in and removed without any fuss as they simply fit over the teeth.

However, both treatments require frequent visits to an orthodontist or a dentist to tighten and readjust. Sometimes, additional steps are required to prepare teeth for braces or traditional metal brackets.

 

Professional advice

Sometimes, the shape and position of a tooth are such, a clear aligner may not fit on it properly, or the patient may have a lifestyle that is incompatible with traditional metal braces, but these may be the best treatment for this patient’s problem.

In this case, an experienced orthodontist or dentist will guide the patient on what will be the most effective treatment for them.

 

Aesthetics

There is no denying which treatment has the advantage here. Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible, while metal, ceramic and even clear braces are prominent, some more than others.

Having the best orthodontic treatment does not mean it is the most comfortable one. While both treatments are good, one will suit a patient better than the other. Whether people opt for Invisalign treatment or braces treatment, they report initial problems with both.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Invisalign and metal braces?

Both methods of teeth straightening come with pros and cons that should be taken into consideration when choosing a treatment.

 

Ease of placement

Another point to consider in the Invisalign vs braces debate is how easy either is to use. An Invisalign aligner fits over the teeth and can be removed easily during meals or important work or social commitments.

On the other hand, metal braces are fixed on teeth with bonds, making it impossible to remove them till the treatment is over.

 

Meal time convenience

Freedom from dietary restrictions is one thing that Invisalign has over braces. With removable aligners, patients can continue enjoying their favourite foods while still getting the perfect teeth alignment!

Also, braces can make teeth sensitive, so patients are recommended soft foods for the first few days, and even later, people with braces need to be careful about what they eat.

 

Difficult to clean

Traditional braces are hard to clean around and can hurt the mouth if a wire gets loose.

Improper cleaning while wearing braces can give rise to a new orthodontic problem: white spots on teeth due to uneven wearing away of dental enamel. It can also lead to gingivitis and halitosis.

Similarly, Invisalign aligners too, are difficult to clean. If the wearer doesn’t maintain perfect oral health, the clear aligners can get dirty and stay that way until they are replaced.

 

Bio-Compatibility

Invisalign is the perfect solution for patients who are allergic to certain metals that may be used in braces. They are biocompatible and nontoxic, making them an ideal choice that won’t irritate your mouth or cause any other discomfort during treatment as wires do in traditional aligners treatments.

 

Speech

Invisalign treatment can impair speech while the patient has the trays fitted in the mouth, but regular braces don’t. However, lingual braces, which are placed behind the teeth do hinder the tongue’s movement and impair speech for the duration they are fitted.

 

Home aligners

While braces and clear aligners are the most popular treatment options for a bad smile, some people opt for at-home teeth alignment solutions.

In this treatment, a dental practitioner is not involved. Patients reach out to a laboratory that makes aligners, and they mail an impression kit which is putty that hardens quickly once you bite into it.

The lab then customises clear aligners according to the mould and mails them to you. This continues back and forth until the patient is satisfied with the positioning of their teeth.

 

Advantages of home aligners 

 

Low cost

Home teeth straightening solutions can be comparatively cheaper as mail-order dental aligners come without the cost of overheads which lowers their cost substantially.

However, advertising low-cost home aligners could be a misleading marketing strategy as the cost for other necessary services are added on separately, often resulting in equal if not higher prices.

 

Convenience

Home aligners do not require regular visits to the dentist, saving time in commute and waiting at the clinic to see the dentist.

This could work in the short term, but there is no dental practitioner monitoring the treatment personally in case the alignment needs refining or some other treatment is needed to get the best results.

 

Shorter treatment

Manufacturers of most home aligners claim their treatment time is shorter than a dentist’s or orthodontist’s. This could be possible because manufacturers mould their aligners in a way that applies more pressure, moving teeth quickly. This is an important point to consider when opting for home-aligners because the pain and discomfort might be considerably increased.

 

Disadvantages of home aligners 

 

No consultation

Online consultations cannot take the place of in-person appointments with a dental healthcare provider. There could be variables that affect the treatment but cannot be observed remotely.

 

Bad fit

The danger of getting clear aligners moulded remotely is that what is delivered may not be the right fit.

At best, a badly fitted aligner will be uncomfortable but has the potential to worsen the alignment, requiring the patient to then go to a dentist to rectify the problem. This prolongs the treatment and increases the cost.

 

Misleading pricing

Home aligners are marketed as a cheaper alternative to braces and clear aligners, but they may have hidden costs that are not mentioned upfront, such as whitening treatments or replacement charges in case of any damage.

 

Low quality

Home aligners are much cheaper than other teeth alignment solutions available in dental clinics. One of the reasons for this could be that they are manufactured with lower-quality materials and could be prone to breakage or other damage.

 

Dental 266 in Burwood

If you are looking for the best teeth aligners in Burwood, you have come to the right place!  Our team of Burwood dentists has a combined experience of 50 years in all aspects of dental health and regularly participates in training and courses to stay current with advancements in dentistry. We offer the latest solutions in teeth alignment, working with children and adults to make beautiful smiles possible.

Dental 266 is proud to be accredited by the Australian Dental Association and the International College of Continuing Dental Education in Orthodontics. We are happy to accept major health funds and offer 10% off on first-time visits!

If you want reliable orthodontic treatment at affordable rates, contact us 02 9051 0600 today!

References

PubMed
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

WebMD – Am I Too Old to Straighten My Teeth? Braces After Age 50
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/is-it-too-late-to-straighten-your-teeth#:~:text=what%20kind%20of%20braces%20to%20wear. 

Healthline – How Are Braces Put On: What to Expect the Day You Get Braces On
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/how-are-braces-put-on#type-of-braceshttps://www.smile.com.au/dental-treatments/invisalign-cost 

Healthline – Braces Colors: What Colors are Available and How to Choose
https://www.healthline.com/health/braces-colors

Everyday Health – Invisalign vs. Braces: Which Is Better?
https://www.everydayhealth.com/dental-health/invisalign-vs-braces-which-is-better/#:~:text=Which%20is%20better%2C%20braces%20or,teeth%20aren’t%20too%20crooked. 

WebMD – Dental Braces and Retainers: Types, Care, What to Expect
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/braces-and-retainers#3