Many Californians experience dental problems that deny them beautiful smiles. If your desire for a beautiful smile is being hindered by tooth misalignment, you can pursue orthodontic tooth alignment to restore a flawless smile. In addition to restoring a gorgeous smile, teeth straightening helps prevent tooth injuries, discourages abnormal wear and tear, and improves general oral health.

If you are considering this orthodontic alignment, there is an array of procedures to choose from, including braces, Invisalign, and veneers. The most appropriate option for you is individualized and depends on several factors, like your oral needs, the complexity of the malocclusion, aesthetic goals, lifestyle, and budget. The core teeth straightening options are discussed, and you should consult with your orthodontist or general dentist to pick the most appropriate one.

Metal Braces

One primary modality of teeth straightening is metal braces, also called standard or traditional braces. Dental braces are an orthodontic treatment that fixes crooked, crowded, or misaligned teeth by aligning or eliminating irregular spaces. They shift or move teeth to the desired position, giving you a beautiful smile and functional teeth.

Dental braces are considered the most effective and affordable orthodontic procedure. Additionally, they allow the orthodontist to control the movement.

However, the standard braces are visible in the mouth and can be conspicuous for dental patients who prefer an unnoticeable procedure, although today they have improved. You can choose a preferred color for the braces instead of exploring other options.

Traditional braces are popular among children because this is the time when they give optimal results. Therefore, if your child has an orthodontic issue, the best time for braces is between eight and 14 years. Nevertheless, this should not mean braces are only suitable for children. Adults working with a low budget can use this modality, although the treatment will take longer.

Standard braces put continuous pressure on teeth and gradually move them to the correct position. As the teeth shift, the jawbone also adjusts its position. The materials that cause shifting are the brackets and wires.

Brackets are tiny squares made from metal, ceramic, composite, or a combination of materials. The brackets are attached to the teeth using a special glue to retain the archwires. The archwires are stainless steel metal attached to the brackets and are regularly adjusted to pressure the teeth to shift them to the desired position. Even though these wires are exceptionally flexible, they retain their original shape. Once the braces are in place, you visit the dentist frequently for adjustments until the teeth move to their position.

Clear Aligners or Invisalign

Invisalign or clear aligners are an alternative for dental patients who want to avoid the disadvantages associated with traditional braces. Clear braces are an advanced orthodontic procedure that uses customized plastic trays to align teeth in the mouth crooked along the gingival base and require gradual shifting to attain the desired position.

Clear aligners are approved for adults and teenagers whose permanent teeth have erupted. They can adhere to the dentist's instructions regarding how many hours they should wear them daily and how to clean them. The ability to adhere to instructions is crucial with Invisalign because, unlike metal braces, they are removable. Invisalign is a clear plastic you wear in the mouth to apply gradual pressure on the teeth to shift them to the desired position. It works the same way as standard braces by shifting teeth through continuous and gradual pressure application, but it does not involve wires and is removable. The results depend on the ability to follow instructions, especially during working hours. 

You can use Invisalign if you suffer from overcrowded teeth, overbite, crossbite, or crowded teeth.

Clear aligners have many benefits over traditional braces. Clear aligners are invisible or undetectable in the mouth; hence, they are suitable for patients who consider standard braces conspicuous in the oral cavity and want to keep the treatment discreet.

Similarly, Invisalign is removable, unlike semi-removable braces, which require an orthodontist to remove them. You do not have to make lifestyle adjustments with clear aligners because you can remove them when eating, meaning you do not have to make dietary changes. Also, you can maintain good oral health by removing the clear plastic when brushing and flossing. Maintaining proper oral hygiene with metal braces is difficult as the wires can trap food debris, and some places can be challenging to clean with a toothbrush, leading to the formation of tartar and plaque.

Lastly, Invisalign is comfortable to wear as no brackets or wires are involved that could cause friction or irritation of the gum tissue. Therefore, when you seek a relaxed, discreet, and removable orthodontic treatment that improves your confidence and requires few appointments, you should go for Invisalign.

However, the treatment is not recommended for children as it requires a patient to wear the plastic trays for at least 22 hours. Very few children will wear the appliances for these hours without supervision, increasing the risk of treatment failure. Removing the clear aligners for extended durations can cause the teeth to return to the undesired position, rendering the procedure ineffective. Others will misplace the trays after removing them, causing you to incur replacement costs.

You must practice good oral hygiene for optimum results. The plastic trays are transparent or clear, reflecting the color of your natural teeth. If your teeth are discolored or stained, this will be visible through the Invisalign. Besides, if you do not brush and floss your teeth, especially after eating, the debris can be seen through the trays, negatively impacting your smile.

Lingual Braces

You should consider lingual braces when looking for ultimate discretion when straightening your teeth. These are entirely invisible from the outside of the mouth because they are attached to the lingual side or the inner surface of the teeth.

Lingual braces comprise customized brackets tailored to your teeth's contours for compatibility. The dentist starts by giving an impression of the teeth and sending it to the dental lab for fabrication. To ensure precision, the dental technician fabricates bespoke brackets using CAM/CAD technology.

Once ready, the dentist bonds them using a bonding material to the teeth. The brackets act as handles to hold the arch wires in place. The arch wires are adjusted to enable gradual teeth shifting using customized and integrated wire-bonding technology for accurate teeth shifting.

Lingual braces provide comfort and aesthetics. However, they are expensive compared to other teeth-straightening options and make it challenging to maintain proper dental hygiene. Also, lingual braces are the most costly orthodontic option and can cause sores in the tongue before you become used to them. In the translation period, you will likely experience eating and speech issues.

Clear Braces

Clear braces function like metal braces and are recommended for older teenagers and adults. However, they use clear or invisible brackets, making them difficult to notice. Some brackets can be tailored to mimic the color of the natural teeth, making these appliances less conspicuous in the mouth. Clear braces are an improvement over the standard braces.

If you want the benefits of traditional braces, like affordability and effectiveness in fixing severe orthodontic issues, you should consider clear braces. There are two options to choose from. One involves brackets attached to each tooth, like in the standard braces, and the other is the tooth-colored resin archwires attached to brackets. The best clear braces are the ones that employ wires mimicking the natural tooth color because they are unnoticeable. However, you must take proper care of the brackets attaching to the teeth because they could stain or change color because of poor dental hygiene, making them visible through the mouth and impairing the smile the treatment aimed to fix.

Space Maintainers

Losing teeth prematurely can cause the remaining adjacent teeth to shift towards the open sockets, creating spaces in the mouth. If your child has gaps caused by early loss of milk teeth, you should use space maintainers to fix the gaps in the mouth to keep the jawbone in the natural position. Space maintainers prevent the teeth from becoming crowded or crooked. Protruding or crowded teeth impair the child’s smile and could dent their confidence. The treatment should be an early intervention to prevent severe orthodontic issues requiring expensive treatments.

Space maintainers are an affordable way of straightening teeth. You can opt for the temporary or permanent appliances depending on the complexity of the gaps in the mouth. Nevertheless, you cannot use space maintainers alone for huge gaps. You will require artificial teeth to cover these spaces and prevent jawbone loss or further misalignment.

Teeth Straightening Advantages

Many patients seek to straighten their teeth to fix flawed smiles. However, the treatment offers additional benefits as it addresses many functional and structural issues, promoting overall dental health. Before selecting any orthodontic solutions available for oral needs, start by appreciating the benefits of teeth straightening treatments. These advantages include:

  • Fixing dental abnormalities like crooked teeth, protruding teeth, overbites, underbites, and crossbites.
  • Teeth straightening adjusts the jawbone, improving overall facial structure and appearance
  • Teeth alignment improves speech
  • Straightening improves chewing and consequently digestion
  • When teeth are aligned, it becomes easier to maintain healthy oral hygiene habits

Teeth misalignment causes severe dental issues, especially when left untreated. Therefore, when you notice an orthodontic concern with your teeth, consult an experienced dental expert to find a teeth straightening solution that suits your dental objective, aesthetics, and budget.

The Cost of Various Teeth Straightening Options

Your choice of a teeth alignment procedure will be influenced by many factors, with cost being one of them. Therefore, discussing the price of the available alignment options is advisable to factor in the cost aspect in your decision.

Traditional braces cost between $2,500 and $10,000, with the average price being $7,000. The geographical location of your clinic significantly influences the price in bigger cities like Los Angeles, which is higher than in smaller towns. The treatment duration also affects price. The traditional braces treatment lasts for 18 to 24 months.

Despite being the most expensive, Invisalign is currently the most prevalent teeth straightening modality. The least you can pay for clear aligners is $3,500, with the average cost of the treatment estimated at $5,000. These prices vary depending on location, treatment duration, and your orthodontist or general dentist's choice. Therefore, before selecting an advanced dentistry service for your orthodontic procedure, compare quotes from various professionals and choose a clinic that provides uncompromised services at a reasonable price.

Lingual prices are also expensive, ranging from $8,000 to $12,000. If you want this treatment, shop for quotes from various clinics and carefully review them to select providers offering affordable orthodontic services.

Once you select a modality for straightening your teeth and discuss the cost, consult your dental insurer to see if they provide coverage for treatments like yours. Most teeth straightening procedures are medical, meaning many insurers offer coverage. If your procedure is covered, determine the amount the company will pay for you, so you can choose the amount you will pay out-of-pocket. Dental insurance coverage can significantly lower the cost of treatment, making teeth alignment affordable.

Even if you do not have dental coverage or your insurer does not provide coverage, you can still find ways to undergo the treatment with a limited budget. Many dental care providers offer financing plans where you can receive treatment and pay later in monthly installments. One of these financing plans is CareCredit. However, you must be eligible for the plan to benefit from it.

Alternatively, you can pay for the procedure using a credit card. With multiple payment and financing options, price should not hinder teeth straightening.

Find a Reputable Advanced Dentistry Service Near Me

Choosing the appropriate teeth alignment procedure is a daunting task, given that there are many options, each with merits and demerits. Do not base your decision on aesthetics or cost alone. Instead, consult a competent dental expert to explain the available orthodontic options for straightening your teeth and discuss your dental goals. At Los Angeles Advanced Dentistry, we provide multiple teeth alignment solutions tailored to your needs. We will explain these options and help you select the most suitable. Call us at 310-361-2080 to discuss the available teeth alignment options.