The orthodontic dentist is a specialist who can help you solve a variety of cosmetic and oral health issues by making your teeth straight and beautifully aligned. Modern dentistry offers a wide range of solutions, but what is the best orthodontic treatment? In this article, we discuss the most common orthodontic appliances and their pros and cons.

What Is the Best Orthodontic Treatment?

Ultimately, it is impossible to say which orthodontic treatment is the best in general. The choice of an orthodontic treatment is determined solely by how effective it will be in your particular case and how well it will solve your orthodontic issues. Your orthodontist will be able to determine the best treatment for you after a comprehensive examination of your issues and your initial oral health. Also, such factors as time, budget, and appearance concerns can be taken into account when choosing an orthodontic treatment method.

Modern dentistry offers several treatment options, each of which might have its advantages and disadvantages depending on the particular case they are used for. Let us discuss the pros and cons of various orthodontic treatments to help you stay informed about the options available.

Traditional Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces are highly effective at solving a wide range of orthodontic issues. The material they are made of is durable and can withstand a lot of pressure. This quality can especially come in handy in cases of severe misalignment, where your teeth might require a lot of pressure applied to them so that they can move and take a proper position.
Traditional metal braces can be effectively used in the following cases:

Severely overcrowded or misaligned teeth
Gaps between the teeth
Incorrect bite

The disadvantages of metal braces include:

Metal braces are noticeable in the mouth.
Metal braces can irritate the soft tissue in the mouth because the metal parts can rub the inside of your lips and cheeks.
It might be challenging to properly brush and floss with traditional braces.
In some cases, traditional braces can cause discoloration of the teeth in the areas where they were attached to the teeth.
Wearing traditional braces requires frequent visits to the dental office for adjustments.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are very similar to traditional braces in the way they look and work. However, they are attached to the inside of your teeth, making them much less noticeable in the mouth. Another advantage of lingual braces is that even if they cause tooth discoloration, it will not be noticeable since it will be on the inside of your teeth.

The disadvantages of lingual braces include:

Lingual braces might not be as effective or suitable for some cases of severe misalignment as traditional braces.
The cost of treatment with lingual braces can be higher than that of traditional braces since it requires more work from the dentist.
It can take longer to adjust to speaking with lingual braces.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are less noticeable in the mouth compared to traditional metal braces since they are mostly made of a tooth-colored material. However, this makes them more expensive and less durable than metal braces.

Invisalign

Invisalign is an excellent alternative to traditional braces for people who need to solve mild orthodontic issues. The clear aligners have the following advantages:

Invisalign aligners are almost invisible in the mouth since they are made of clear transparent plastic, so they can be suitable for people who are concerned with the appearance of their smile during the treatment.
It is much easier to maintain efficient oral hygiene when wearing Invisalign than when wearing traditional braces. You can take the aligners off at will and brush and floss your teeth as usual while cleaning the aligners separately.
It can be more convenient to eat meals with Invisalign aligners since they are removed during meals.
Orthodontic treatment with Invisalign requires fewer visits to the dental office.

The disadvantages of Invisalign include:

Invisalign is typically not suitable for complicated cases of misalignment, overcrowdedness, or bite issues and is mainly chosen for more straightforward and mild orthodontic issues.
Wearing Invisalign requires strict discipline and commitment. Some patients might find it challenging to keep wearing their aligners when they experience soreness from the pressure applied to the teeth. If you remove your aligners more often than you are supposed to, the treatment might get significantly prolonged or prove to be ineffective.

Make an Appointment with the OC Dental Specialist

If you are considering an orthodontic treatment, do not hesitate to make an appointment with a dental specialist at our office today. Our highly qualified orthodontics specialists are looking forward to helping you achieve your smile goals.