At one time many dentists and orthodontists felt that teeth alignment worked best when performed on children and young adults, preferably after the majority of the adult or second set of teeth had fully emerged. The idea was to catch the new teeth as soon as possible for the best chance of retaining the new alignment while ensuring the anchoring teeth were secure enough to hold the aligners in place. This of course did not preclude the orthodontist from installing braces on older patients, they simply warned those patients to be prepared in case the results were not what they had hoped for. Over time however, these dentists realized that the alignment techniques actually worked better than many people had expected, although the time for wearing the alignment devices was often extended.
Unfortunately, the major drawback for most teeth alignment devices, commonly referred as braces, are the ugly wires and metal brackets that secure the system to the patient’s teeth. Not only are these braces bulky and frequently in need of adjustment, but they also make life very difficult for the patient. For example, some foods are virtually impossible for the wearer to eat and others that can be eaten often stick in the metal braces. Braces also require some extra oral care to avoid excess damage where the metal braces meet the softer enamel of the teeth. Not only can the metal cause cause abrasions on the tooth enamel, but it can also trap food particles which increase the odds of developing cavities.
Thankfully, the dental profession has developed some interesting tools to work around these problems. Modern alignment systems such as Invisalign in Weston CT offer a nearly invisible method of teeth alignment which the patient can remove during meals, sleep or other times when the device might be awkward to use. Plus, these aligners are much more comfortable for the user to wear and can reduce the chance of developing mouth sores that sometimes occur with regular braces.
Choosing braces for yourself or your child is a big step. However, taking that step with a dedicated dental practitioner like Keith Rudolph, DDS who believes in using patient friendly aligners such as Invisalign in Weston, CT make this decision much easier.
