Much like our appearances differ from person to person, the appearance of our teeth also differentiates. Admittedly, we’d all love to have a perfect set of teeth, much like the models we see during our visits to the dentist; however, this is rarely the case. From minor dental problems like bonding and fillings to more significant issues like teeth straightening and surgery like dental implants las vegas – it’s rare to find someone that doesn’t have some dental issue with their teeth.
One of the most common dental issues is the misalignment of teeth, which can cause an array of problems for the affected individual, both personal and health-related. If you suffer from twisted, wonky, or crooked teeth and it’s causing you other problems, you might be interested in teeth straightening solutions.
However, you might not be interested in traditional dental methods like braces that leave you with a mouth full of metal. Fortunately, recent emergences in dental technology have made teeth straightening possible without braces. Read on to discover several options for straightening teeth without braces.
Clear Aligners
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Clear aligners are a recently emerged option for teeth straightening that is quickly gaining popularity amongst adults and teenagers alike. Also referred to as hidden retainers, much like their name suggests, clear aligners are custom-made from a high-quality transparent plastic which can be removed for eating, drinking, and going out in public, unlike braces.
Braces straighten your teeth using the brackets that rest on the surface of your teeth, whereas clear aligners consist of two trays that are personalised to fit your teeth as an exact match. As your teeth slowly shift, you will need to switch the trays for new ones, so your teeth are gradually straightening over twelve to twenty-four months.
In days past, you would have had to pay your local dentist a visit to have clear aligners made. However, thanks to the advancements in dental technology, there are now several from-home options, such as the ones from Straight My Teeth. For more insight into their innovative teeth straightening solutions visit their website or contact a team member directly to discover how their products could help you achieve your dream smile while avoiding braces.
Instant Orthodontics
Instant orthodontics is another way to straighten your teeth without having to wear braces or aligners for years. With the help of instant orthodontics, you can achieve the illusion of straighter teeth without shifting your teeth into new positions. There are several instant orthodontic options to choose from; some of the most popular options are as follows:
- Veneers – If the misalignment of your teeth is minor, or they are unevenly shaped or discoloured, veneers might be an excellent teeth-straightening solution for you. Veneers are comparable to false nails in which caps that match the natural shade of your teeth will be put over them to instantly change their shape and colour. Veneers are a great solution if you want quick results. The process is completed in one visit; however, if your misalignment is more severe, veneers will not be a feasible option for you. You’ll need braces or clear aligners to achieve desirable results.
- Dental Crowns – Like veneers, dental crowns can visually straighten your teeth without shifting them into different positions. Crowns are permanent caps used to visually correct (or protect) damaged or weak teeth, which gives the capped teeth the illusion of being straight. The main difference between veneers and crowns is that veneers are just bonded to the surface of your tooth, whereas dental crowns cover the tooth entirely.
- Bonding – Dental bonding is another quick, braces-free option in which results can be achieved in just one visit. The process involves sculpting a new shape for your tooth out of a mouldable material that is colour matched to the natural colour of your teeth. However, this process is typically only used for minor corrections, such as a chipped, cracked, discoloured, gaps or lengthening a tooth.
Dental Retainers
Perhaps a more commonly known way of straightening teeth without braces is using a dental retainer. Dental retainers are widely used post-braces to keep your newly shifted teeth straight, as teeth can naturally migrate into their original position over time. However, if your misalignment is only minor, retainers can help fix minor orthodontic issues.
Dental retainers are available in various colours, materials, and styles; some can even be permanent, while others are only temporary. Regardless of which option you opt for, both are useful for rectifying minor shifts in teeth and can help guide them back to their corrected places. However, if your misalignment is severe, this will not be a feasible option.
Since retainers lack the steady force that teeth require overtime to shift into a corrected position, they cannot straighten your teeth like other orthodontic options. Therefore, if you have significant misalignment problems to achieve desired results, you will first have to look into braces or clear aligners.
Having said this, they can make minor adjustments to your teeth and bite. For instance, if you neglect to wear your retainer for several weeks, if your retainer still fits when you come to try it on, it may help to undo any shifting that may have occurred during the period you failed to wear it.
The only way to prevent shifting is by wearing a retainer while the new bone forms around the recently shifted teeth and locks them in place. Therefore, using your retainer is a fool-proof way of preventing your teeth from moving and protecting your results once you’ve finished treatment.
Inman Aligner
Another option for teeth straightening without using braces is an Inman Aligner. Unlike retainers and clear aligners, Inman Aligners only straighten the bottom and top teeth while neglecting the other teeth, which are ideal for returning teeth to their corrected positions at a lower cost and in less time and hassle than other orthodontic options.
Using the Inman Aligner, you can expect to see results within as little as six weeks, depending on how frequently you wear the appliance. As well as being a cost-friendly, low maintenance way to straighten your teeth, the apparatus also grants its users the following benefits:
- The Inman Aligner is a temporary method for teeth straightening, meaning that you can eat, drink, socialise and take them out for special occasions.
- Compared to other orthodontic options, aligners are a much cheaper investment, regardless of which kind of aligner you opt for.
- Unlike other aligners, where you must order the next one in the series to keep your teeth shifting, with the Inman Aligner, you only need one brace to complete the treatment.
- The aligner comes pre-programmed so that the need for adjustments is lessened, meaning less time in your dentist’s office.
- Like other retainers and aligners, the Inman Aligner is practically invisible, so it’s a good option for those who want to avoid a metal-mouth look.
However, due to the nature of its design, this retainer is not suitable for everyone with misaligned teeth. If you suffer from protruding lower or upper teeth, this might be an option worth considering if you don’t fancy wearing a whole aligner or retainer.
Whereas, if you have multiple teeth that are twisted, crooked, or misshaped that aren’t your front or bottom teeth, then this option will not be suitable for you. The Inman Aligner must be pre-programmed by your dentist, so it’s not a teeth-straightening solution that can be done from the comfort of your own home, unlike the other orthodontic options on this list.
