Customized Orthodontic Braces and Aligners
The alignment of your teeth plays a vital role in your overall oral health and the ability of your bite to function properly. If your teeth are crooked, they can harbor harmful plaque and tartar in areas that your toothbrush and floss can’t reach. They can also make it harder for your jaw joints and muscles to operate smoothly as you bite, chew, and speak, leading to a host of subsequent dental health issues (i.e., bruxism and TMJ disorder). Orthodontic braces and aligners can help you correct your tooth alignment so you can enjoy a straighter, more attractive, and functional smile.
Your Orthodontic Options
Traditional braces
Traditional braces consist of brackets that are semi-permanently bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth and arch wire that provides an appropriate amount of tension to guide your tooth movement. The brackets and wires gradually force crooked teeth into straighter positions, which can often take between 18-24 months to complete. Young children who exhibit signs of malocclusion may benefit from early orthodontics, which can make treatment with traditional braces more successful in later years.
Lingual braces
Lingual braces are similar to traditional braces in that they utilize brackets and wires to guide your teeth into straighter positions. However, the brackets and wires are situated behind your teeth instead of on their front surfaces, which keeps your orthodontic treatment much more discreet. Older patients who are concerned about how traditional braces may make their smiles look often choose lingual braces for their more cosmetically appealing appearance.
Clear aligners
Clear aligners, such as Invisalign® and ClearCorrect®, don’t utilize brackets and wires at all. Instead, they utilize a series of aligners that are custom-designed to guide teeth through certain degrees of movement. Each aligner picks up where the previous one left off, and your treatment progresses as you cycle through each new set. The aligners are also crafted from virtually invisible, BPA-free acrylic, which makes them undetectable to the casual observer.
Straighter Smiles for Patients of All Ages
Custom-designed orthodontic treatment can improve your smile’s appearance as well as help you avoid serious complications related to bite misalignment. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Contemporary Dental in Bellaire, TX, today at 713-668-9119. We proudly welcome patients who live in Bellaire, Houston, West University/Southside Place, Southwest Houston, the Galleria area, and all surrounding communities.
