Many patients associate orthodontic treatment with traditional metal braces, typically worn by teens and young adults. Orthodontic treatment is meant for anyone of all ages. It just may take a little longer for older patients to achieve the results that they want due to their dental structures being fully developed. If you are worried about how traditional metal braces may impact your personal and professional life, Invisalign is the perfect discreet alternative to consider. Learn more about why older patients should choose Invisalign below:
Why not traditional metal braces?
With traditional metal braces, patients have metal brackets and wires firmly secured to their dental structures for the entirety of their treatment plan. Orthodontic treatment of any kind may take several months or even years to complete. The older you are, the longer your treatment may be. Patients with traditional braces must make some lifestyle adjustments while undergoing treatment to avoid damaging their orthodontic hardware and prolonging their treatment plan.
Patients with traditional metal braces are asked to abide by certain dietary restrictions and take additional oral hygiene measures. Excessively chewy or crunchy foods can easily damage the orthodontic hardware and prolong your treatment plan. Patients must take extra care after all meals to ensure that no food residue is caught beneath or around the brackets and wires. To ensure your treatment plan progresses, patients must visit their orthodontist’s office on a routine basis to allow them to tighten the wires and maintain the pressure on their teeth which encourages them to shift into a straighter position. If you are unwilling to make the lifestyle adjustments required to successfully undergo orthodontic treatment with traditional metal braces, it’s a good idea to consider Invisalign.
Invisalign in Arlington Heights, IL
Invisalign is a system of clear, plastic aligners that apply pressure to your dental structures and encourage them to shift into a straighter position without any metallic orthodontic hardware necessary. Patients love Invisalign because no one is able to tell that they are undergoing orthodontic treatment unless they remove the aligners in front of them. For working professionals, this is often preferred because traditional metal braces greatly impact your overall aesthetic and may be distracting for your colleagues.
Invisalign is worn over your teeth, similar to a retainer. Your dentist will give you all of your aligners upfront so that you do not have to attend regular dental appointments as you would with traditional metal braces. This means less time spent in the dental chair and more time for after-school and after-work activities. Patients with Invisalign spend less time in the dentist’s office than patients with traditional metal braces.
Perhaps the best part of Invisalign is that the aligners are completely removable. This means that you are free to remove your aligners whenever you need to eat, drink, or brush your teeth. Patients appreciate Invisalign’s removability because it allows them to maintain their dietary preferences and avoid additional oral hygiene hazards. Best of all, you can remove your Invisalign aligners for special occasions like important meetings, job interviews, or weddings.
If you are looking for Invisalign in Arlington Heights, IL, schedule an appointment with Dr. Engelberg, your local cosmetic dentist, today!