You want the perfect smile, but you are not thrilled about the prospect of having to wear braces as an adult for 18 months or more. Studies have shown that around 70% of the US population are in need of some form of orthodontic treatment. That being said, braces are expensive and they can make you feel very self-conscious.
If you’re seeking an alternative to braces, there are several options available to adults in North Carolina.
Incognito Hidden Braces
Got to love that name right? Yes, these are technically still braces, but people won’t be able to tell that you have them in your mouth. that’s because incognito hidden braces are attached to the back side of the teeth. this keeps them completely hidden when you’re smiling or talking to someone. if you ask an orthodontist, then they may call these lingual braces. You would need to schedule an appointment with an orthodontist and please note that lingual braces are customized for each patient’s mouth.
If you are self-conscious about the prospect of wearing traditional metal braces, an incognito hidden braces are legitimate option to consider. however, lingual braces tend to be more expensive than traditional metal braces in North Carolina. If that’s a concern, then you may want to consider one of these other alternatives to braces.
Retainers
Most people would receive a retainer after you completed treatment with traditional metal braces. However, adults who only need minimum teeth correction may be able to achieve those desired results with a retainer alone. As far as aesthetics go, an Essix retainer is transparent and fits over the entire arch of the mouth. This makes it much less noticeable than traditional braces. this type of orthodontic appliance is also significantly less expensive than braces.
This may sound like an appealing option if you are seeking an alternative to braces, but remember we said this may work only if minimum teeth correction is required. The reality is that the number of use cases where this approach would be viable are extremely limited. If you truly want to straighten your teeth without braces, then you should consider a different alternative.
Headgear
This type of orthodontic appliance was traditionally used to correct extreme overbites. Headgear puts pressure on the upper teeth in jaw. Depending on what’s needed, the headgear will either be used to hold teeth in a particular position or to move them into proper alignment. Since headgear can be removed, it must be worn for a specific number of hours each day in order to achieve the desired results. Your orthodontist would provide specific instructions about this.
Headgear may be a viable way to straighten teeth without braces, but we haven’t talked to too many adults in Asheville that are excited about this alternative. We’d be lying if we said that wearing headgear would be less noticeable than traditional metal braces. Let’s continue to look at some other viable alternatives.
Dental Veneers
Cosmetic dentistry also offers another alternative for correcting one’s smile without the need for braces. Specifically were talking about porcelain veneers or dental bonding. if you don’t want braces, then these are a viable option to consider in North Carolina. Veneers are thin, hard shells of porcelain that are bonded permanently to the front of a tooth. You could use them to correct teeth that are crooked, discolored, misaligned, chipped or have spacing issues. Dental veneers are very strong and very resistant to staining.
If you’re looking for an alternative to braces that will provide results in a short amount of time, dental veneers are a viable option. That being said, they are pretty extreme and here’s why. First, veneers are permanent. A dentist will remove the surface enamel in order to attach the veneer to the tooth. It’s an irreversible procedure and veneers will need to be replaced every five to 10 years. We would still recommend looking into a different option if you want to straighten your teeth without braces.
Invisalign
Here’s a very popular option for adults who are in need of orthodontic treatment in North Carolina. If you are not familiar with Invisalign, these are clear plastic retainers that are used to straighten teeth without braces. They are custom made for the patient and work relatively quickly compared to traditional forms of orthodontic treatment. Also, Invisalign is essentially invisible and people won’t even know that you’re wearing them.
For Invisalign, your dentist or orthodontist will take a 3D map of your mouth at the beginning of your treatment. Then a series of aligners will be created based on the 3D map. Aligners are worn for approximately 20 to 22 hours per day and can be removed to eat and brush teeth. Aligners are switched out every two weeks for the next aligner in your series. It is this process that gently moves the teeth into correct alignment.
Invisalign is obviously a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a way to straighten your teeth without braces. They are so discreet that your friends won’t be able to tell you’re wearing them while you speak, laugh or smile. However, this form of orthodontic treatment still requires occasional checkups at the orthodontist and Invisalign can be even more expensive than traditional braces.
So let’s look at one more way you can straighten teeth without braces.
Impressions Invisible Aligners
Impressions are an at home alternative to traditional metal braces that were developed by Dr. Roberts from Blue Ridge Orthodontics in Asheville. As a diamond level Invisalign provider, Dr. Roberts wanted to develop a way to provide affordable orthodontic care to more adults in North Carolina. With impressions, you can now straighten your teeth at home for half the cost of traditional metal braces. Patients also complete treatment in average of 6 to 9 months.
To start treatment you are still going to come into the Impressions Hub in order to get a 3D scan of your teeth for your aligner trays. After that, your impressions kit will be delivered to your door. Our aligners are produced with the same high-quality material that is used in Invisalign and they are also much easier to clean than traditional metal braces.
If you want to straighten teeth without braces in North Carolina, look no further than impressions. You will get all the convenience of at-home orthodontic care with the peace of mind that you have a real orthodontist available to you throughout the course of your treatment. We accept most insurance providers and we are currently offering extended payment plans. If you’d like to see if you’re a candidate for Impressions invisible aligners, then you can use our easy online form right now.
