subject: Why Invisible Braces May Not Be The Ideal Solution For You [print this page] Why Invisible Braces May Not Be The Ideal Solution For You
A friend of mine has been considering having her daughter's teeth alignment handled by Invisalign, using their revolutionary new invisible braces. There's been a great deal of media interest in these clear braces which are virtually undetectable, and achieve the same end results in half the time. This article explains why she decided against invisible braces, opting instead for traditional metal ones. When my friend was at school she wore metal, wire braces for three years, and whilst she now has a terrific smile, she herself admits that it wasn't always easy having to wear large, obvious braces. First of all there was the issue of appearance - there was never any getting away from the fact that she was wearing braces, since everyone could see them a mile off. Every photograph from that period in her life seems, in her eyes at least, to be dominated by the expanse of metal filling her face. I've assured her it wasn't all that bad, but of course at that age our perception of ourselves is intrinsically and delicately connected to the amount of self confidence we have. So when she realised that her daughter had inherited the same family tendency to have overlapping teeth, gaps and bunched up teeth, she suggested that her daughter consider braces. Her daughter was reasonably open to the whole idea, and so they began to look into the possibilities of modern teeth alignment. This was when they discovered Invisalign, and the concept of invisible braces. Normal braces are made from wire and metal, and are very obvious and large. My friend remembers having to cope with wires sticking into her gums, and occasional bleeding. Invisible braces, or clear braces, are virtually undetectable. These very slim silicone based braces slide over the teeth, applying just the right amount of pressure in just the right way to gently encourage teeth into place. Because these clear braces are virtually undetectable many people have taken advantage of them who would never had considered normal braces. With no discomfort, and no self image to worry about they offer most people a great many benefits. Unlike most metal braces, invisible braces can be removed easily at any time, and in fact wearers are encouraged to do this, enabling them to brush their teeth and floss much more effectively than had they been wearing metal braces. So comfort, appearance and hygiene are all significantly improved through the wearing of invisible braces. So why did my friend and her daughter decide against them, and opt instead for traditional metal wire braces? In fact there were two reasons. The first relates directly to the very fact that invisible braces can be removed so easily at any time. My friend's daughter is the sort of typical teenager who can say no to absolutely anything, unless she wants it. The sheer temptation of being able to remove the braces at any time was considered too much of a risk. They agreed that there was a very real chance that she would 'accidentally forget' to replace the braces, and could end up going for hours without wearing them. Unless these clear braces are kept in for at least 23 hours a day, they simply won't work. The second reason was that once you're fitted with Invisalign braces, that's not it. In fact throughout the entire treatment you will need to return to see your dentist every two weeks, to be given the next set of braces. This is a big commitment, and for my friend and her daughter it was considered too much of a commitment. So invisible braces weren't for them. But if you're considering teeth alignment, and these two factors wouldn't put you off, perhaps you'd be best finding out a little more.
