4 Ways to get Straighter-Looking Teeth
Fun fact: There are multiple ways a dentist can help you get a smile full of straight-looking teeth.
While most of us imagine teenagers with those traditional metal brackets and wires (and possibly some head-gear in there as well!), "teeth straightening" can actually look different in each individual.
Piqued your interest? Read on for 4 ways you can have straighter-looking teeth.
Clear Aligners
Using clear plastic aligners to straighten teeth sounds like it could be too good to be true. In fact, one of the most common questions we are asked when we recommend them is, "Does it really work?"
Ask Goretti, Judy or Nida at front desk if it worked for them.
Ask Sav, our hygienist, if it worked for her.
Ask Yuki, Dr. Shirley's assistant, if it worked for her.
Ask the growing 5 million people who have used Invisalign, whether it worked for them.
From afar, they may look like the same benign plastic trays that you might see in a mouthguard or a sportsguard, but make no mistake: they are designed to exert forces onto your teeth so that they move into place.
The gist of it: each Invisalign patient gets a set of different-fitting trays. They'd wear each tray for about two weeks - each one shifting your teeth slightly, getting you closer and closer to the end goal of straighter teeth. After a certain period of time, you'll have that straight smile! Of course, the exact time it takes depends on how severe the crowding was, how often you wear the aligners and what-not, so it's a good idea to check with your dentist to see if Invisalign is right for you.
Traditional Brackets
Of course, a conversation about teeth straightening can't be complete without mentioning those brackets and wires. We've chosen Damon Clear Braces at ALFIE dentistry. In these cases, the brackets on the front teeth are tooth-coloured, so they're more discreet than completely silver braces. The same mechanism is still there though, so we can recommend them when Invisalign is not a good option. For example, some people prefer not to have the removable aligners (in fear that they might forget to put them back on or break them or lose them, etc) and opt for the traditional orthodontic treatment. Some cases have a better prognosis with the metal braces option over the clear aligners. Since there are pros and cons on both sides of the coin (and since we offer both types!), just schedule in your first appointment with us.
Dental Contouring
Sometimes, teeth are already more-or-less straight but they look crooked because of how they're shaped. It could be as simple as the edges of your teeth not being level. It could also be a chip off the tooth (which could either be filed down or filled - obviously depending on where the chip occurred and whether it'd look better one way or the other). Or, you could have teeth with protrusions. It happens! With a professional dentist-eye, why not get your teeth shaped? In many cases, it can be done in a single appointment and it's possibly one of the least invasive procedures!
Veneers
If you were wondering why we kept using the term "straighter-looking teeth" rather than "straighter teeth", this is the dental procedure that corrects the aesthetics of your smile, but not the actual location of your teeth.
Think of veneers as thin covers that go on top of your teeth - so without actually realigning your teeth, we're creating a nice set-of-teeth to cover up the natural, crooked smile.
Obviously, this won't work for severe cases of crowding and what-not, but in cases where teeth are malformed and underdeveloped and therefore look crooked and uneven, it could be beautifully corrected using veneers. If there's a gap in between two teeth and it would still look natural if those teeth were wider, then veneers could also be a great cover-up. Like with all dental procedures, it all depends on the case.
So, don't be afraid to ask your dentist which dental straightening (or cosmetic enhancement) might be the best for you. Call our office today at (416) 226-6688.
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