How to choose orthodontic treatment? Why have invisible orthodontics become the favored choice for correction?
Created on 01.12
"Should I get braces?" "What's the best method for correction?" "What will my teeth look like after correction?" ... These questions deeply trouble those who have crooked teeth and want to get them straightened but are still hesitant. That's right, everyone knows that straightening teeth will make you look better, but they still have a vague understanding of the principles and methods of orthodontic treatment. Some people are also deeply afraid of the possibility of tooth extraction during orthodontic treatment.
Actually, the principle of orthodontics is not difficult to understand.
The purpose of orthodontic treatment is simply to move misaligned teeth back to their normal positions, using very small forces to help the teeth move to the desired positions. Under the action of orthodontic force, the teeth are slowly pushed. On one side of the alveolar bone that fixes the teeth, absorption occurs under the action of "osteoclasts", and on the other side, new bone is formed under the action of "osteoblasts": therefore, the bones on both sides of the tooth root, one increases and one decreases, will not cause irreversible loosening of the teeth in principle.
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When is correction needed?
Clear aligner orthodontics are suitable for people with the following problems, including individual tooth misalignment, crowded teeth, uneven teeth, tooth gaps, anterior crossbite (underbite, concave profile), severe overjet (protrusion, convex profile), severe overbite (or overjet), short lower face, bimaxillary protrusion, lip protrusion, and anterior open bite (long and narrow face). Those who wish for personalized design are also more suitable for clear aligner orthodontics, and it can be used in conjunction with other techniques.
Clear aligners can be used to solve almost all orthodontic problems. Any case that can be treated with fixed orthodontics can also be treated with clear aligners, and they can be combined with other techniques; most teeth that require correction can achieve good aesthetic results in a shorter period of time simply by moving and aligning the teeth.
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Metal braces or clear aligners, how to choose?
Once you've decided to undergo orthodontic treatment, you'll then wonder what kind of orthodontic appliance to use.
The "metal teeth" children we've seen since childhood are actually a very common type of orthodontic appliance. This involves attaching small metal "blocks" (brackets) to the labial surface of the teeth, and then using a metal wire to string these small blocks together. Because the metal wire has a certain memory, as it slowly releases force, the teeth will gradually be aligned into the standard shape of the metal wire.
However, this traditional orthodontic method is becoming less and less popular – the reason is simple, it's not aesthetically pleasing! For the sake of aesthetics, orthodontists have also tried many methods. For example, by changing the material used to make these traditional metal brackets, using transparent, white (close to tooth color) ceramic materials, doesn't it become "semi-invisible"?
But some people are still not satisfied, so doctors attach these "small blocks" to the inner side of the teeth, which are difficult for outsiders to see directly. However, this lingual orthodontics method has very high technical requirements for doctors, is expensive, and patients will also pay a certain price in terms of discomfort for the sake of aesthetics – after all, it's a competition for space with the tongue, and cleaning is also a difficult task.
Finally, people made a thorough innovation – what if these "small blocks" were not used? With a change in thinking, orthodontists and scientists invented an "aligner" called the "clear aligner" method. Using transparent "braces" designed according to computer-simulated tooth movement trajectories, a series of "gradual" braces are designed and replaced one by one periodically, so that the teeth gradually move from their initial "chaotic state" to being neatly aligned!
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Advantages of invisible braces
The biggest advantage of "invisible braces" is that they are "invisible", and their appearance makes aesthetics a part of the entire teeth straightening process. Even during orthodontic treatment, wearing invisible "clear braces", at normal conversational distances, it is difficult for others to notice that you are wearing "braces" in your mouth, and you can laugh heartily without fear in various formal social occasions.
Besides appearance, health is also a consideration as always.
Friends around me who have used traditional ceramic brackets and wires for orthodontic treatment have the biggest trouble with cleaning after eating.
For example, if I just ate a bowl of rice, after eating, if I "rinse my mouth vigorously" (gentle rinsing won't work), I can probably spit out some "residue"; another example, if I eat a mouthful of enoki mushrooms, it is very likely that several enoki mushrooms will be hanging on the wires or brackets at one end, and the other end will be hanging at the throat, making it difficult to "swallow".
Therefore, cleaning clear aligners in daily life is much simpler. Because they can be removed by oneself, food will not get stuck on the teeth at all, and you can easily and efficiently rinse and brush your teeth after removal. Due to these advantages, the risk of cavities during treatment is much lower for those wearing clear aligners compared to those with traditional bracket orthodontics.
Furthermore, invisible aligner orthodontics can predict the treatment process and results based on each patient's detailed data. Invisible aligners can precisely achieve the tooth movement simulated by the clinician, and the amount of tooth movement at each step during treatment is precisely set according to the doctor's requirements.
The uniqueness of invisible orthodontics is also reflected in: for patients who experience pain at the beginning of treatment, clinicians can alleviate the pain by gradually reducing the amount of tooth movement for each aligner. Of course, patients must persist in wearing retainers on time! Actively cooperate with the correction to achieve satisfactory results.
SmileHero is a professional and personalized oral service brand, focusing on the research and development, design, manufacturing, sales, and service of invisible aligners. It has professionally developed products such as clear aligners, retainers, and aesthetic braces, and is committed to providing patients with professional oral treatment.