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2 Discreet Options To Straighten Your Teeth

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There are different ways to improve your appearance. One way is to concentrate on the look of your teeth. Teeth that are not straight can alter your bite pattern. However, they can also make your smile look less attractive. If you are concerned about your dental misalignment but are not sure that you would like to have metal brackets displayed on the front of your teeth, there are still dental alignment options available for you. Here are some of them:

Lingual Braces

These braces have brackets and an archwire just as traditional metal braces do. In fact, the brackets of lingual braces are made of metal. However, they differ in their location in your mouth.

Traditional braces are visible on the front of the teeth, because the brackets are affixed to the front tooth surface. However, with lingual braces, the brackets are affixed to the opposite side of the teeth, adjacent to the tongue. Thus, the brackets and other components of the braces are not visible when you are speaking or smiling.

Lingual braces also have other benefits, such as allowing the lips to move freely. With traditional braces, the movement of your lips has to be adjusted to cover or compensate for the brackets that now lie between the inner surface of your lips and the front of your teeth. With lingual braces the movement of your lips can remain the same. This may be more important for some than for others. For instance, if you enjoy playing wind instruments, the movement of your lips may be more important to you.

Additionally, if you are active in sports, not having brackets on the front surface of your teeth can help prevent snagged lips and other sport injuries to the mouth.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces also include brackets and an archwire as traditional braces do. However, even though the brackets are placed on the front of the teeth, they are made of a dental ceramic material that matches your tooth color. As a result, the braces are difficult to see in your mouth.

To make the braces even more discreet, you can choose clear elastic bands to attach your archwire to the brackets.

Ceramic braces are priced a bit higher than traditional braces, but your dentist or orthodontist may give you the option of only having the ceramic applied to the teeth that are readily visible in your mouth.

To learn more about discreet orthodontic options, schedule an appointment with a dentist or orthodontist in your area.


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