Table of contents
Let’s get to the point. You have teeth that need fixing, and there are several options on the market. You're concerned about how long it may take and what is best suited for your case. Let’s delve into each option and weigh their pros and cons, considering time duration, money spent, convenience, and levels of pain, so that you don’t have to look anywhere else to find out the best option to straighten your teeth.
The Five Teeth Straightening Options:
1- Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces comprise wires and brackets bonded to your teeth by an orthodontist. These wires are adjusted at intervals prescribed by your dentist to shift teeth. Treatment with braces typically takes 12-24 months and costs €3,000-€6,000 or more.
Pros
- They have been around for the longest. Dentists are well versed in it, and everyone knows them.
- Allows for direct, hands-on adjustment and monitoring.
- Capable of addressing and correcting severe dental misalignments like open bite, tooth rotation, intrusion, and extrusion.
Cons
- Metal braces are not very aesthetically pleasing and can hamper your smile confidence.
- When compared to invisible aligners, metal can be up to three times more expensive.
- Treatment is done by a licensed orthodontist. Regular appointments are necessary for wire adjustments and progress monitoring.
- Patients may experience pain and discomfort after each adjustment of wires. Moreover, metal wires are uncomfortable, and brackets are abrasive against the delicate skin of the mouth.
- Patients are expected to avoid certain foods like sugary drinks and chewy foods.
2- Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces are also called white braces or clear metal braces. They consist of clear or tooth-colored ceramic brackets attached to the front surface of your teeth with metal or white colored wires and rubber bands. They cost more than metal braces because the brackets are made from expensive material.
Pros
- Relatively less obvious than metal braces.
- Non abrasive ceramic brackets don’t hurt skin.
Cons
- Although often confused with clear braces, ceramic braces are not as discreet as invisible aligners.
- They are prone to discoloration, many coffee drinkers have found them turning yellow after a few weeks.
- The brackets and wires that make up ceramic braces can bend, become dislodged, or come off completely if you eat foods that are too hard, sticky, or crunchy. Thicker, harder crusts may be more challenging to bite through with braces and can cause damage to your appliance.
- Treatment is done by a licensed orthodontist. Regular appointments are necessary for adjustments and monitoring progress.
- Adjustments to the wires of ceramic braces can cause discomfort or soreness.
- The brackets of ceramic braces may trap food particles, requiring thorough cleaning and maintenance to prevent oral hygiene issues.
3- Clear braces
Clear braces are also known as invisible aligners, invisible braces, or clear aligners. These are custom made plastic trays that align your teeth over time. Removable aligners can straighten teeth in 4-8 months for around €875 - €1,790.
They can either be prescribed by your orthodontist and require minimal intervention, or you can go for an at home teeth straightening plan, which will lower the cost significantly.
Pros
- In most cases, it is difficult to tell if you have them on.
- On average, removable aligners can cost up to three times less than metal braces and up to five times less than ceramic and lingual braces.
- With revolutionary at home teeth straightening kits, no orthodontist supervision is required for at home teeth straightening treatment plans.
- Invisible braces can be removed and snapped back on before and after meals, making teeth cleaning easy and preventing food from getting stuck on them.
- Aligners cause significantly less pain and discomfort when compared to other options.
- The treatment plan is mapped out using advanced software to ensure maximum efficiency and a reduced margin of error.
- The use of advanced technology in designing each aligner tray often leads to faster teeth straightening progress compared to traditional methods.
Cons
- Does not fix severe dental misalignment and complex cases like open bite, teeth rotation, intrusion, and extrusion.
4- Lingual Braces
These are the same as metal braces but are attached on the inner side of teeth—the lingual side, making them virtually invisible while still correcting misalignments. On average, they cost twice as much as metal braces.
Pros
- They offer all the benefits of metal braces but discreetly.
- Due to their almost zero visibility, and unlike traditional metal braces, they don’t draw attention to your teeth every time you smile.
Cons
- Patients with very deep overbites, for example, might experience more frequent issues with brackets popping off.
- Tongue is usually affected when you first get lingual braces and is a common site of pain because of the location of the brackets.
- More expensive than traditional metal braces because the process of applying them is delicate and more time consuming than conventional braces.
- Requires regular visits to the orthodontist
5- Orthognathic surgery
Orthognathic surgery also known as corrective jaw surgery, is a comprehensive procedure performed under anesthesia to correct severe misalignments of the jaws and teeth. It involves repositioning the jawbones to achieve proper alignment and bite. The cost may depend on the individual orthodontist and severity of your case.
Pros
- Correct cases that braces can’t .
- It fixes the most complex of alignment cases and severe dental misalignments, restoring beautiful smiles.
Cons
- Requires a recovery period and a week of aftercare.
- Not everyone suffers from severe cases thus few opt for this procedure.
At ALIGNERCO, we understand that straight teeth, in addition to being aesthetically pleasing, are important for oral health. Teeth that are properly aligned are easier to clean, which lowers the risk of gum disease and cavities. A straight grin can significantly enhance self-esteem and confidence and should be within everyone’s reach. This is why we offer the most affordable prices for our at home teeth straightening kits.
FAQs
1. What are teeth straightening veneers?
Veneers are ‘teeth covers’ for broken, chipped, or deformed teeth. They enhance appearance but don’t partake in teeth straightening.
2. No-braces-teeth straightening: Is it any good?
Yes. Aligners offer effective teeth straightening without resorting to traditional braces.
3. How long does teeth straightening take?
With traditional metal braces, 8 months to a few years. With clear braces from 4 to 6 months.
