Aligners have helped many adults get the smile they are looking for. Aligners have allowed more adults to straighten their teeth without the hassle of braces. Many adults prefer aligners over braces for a multitude of reasons. Here are seven top reasons why adults prefer aligners over braces.
1. Less Appointments
The biggest downside with braces are the endless orthodontist appointments. Treatments with braces can take years depending on the severity of your teeth. An orthodontist is required to adjust brackets and arch-wires at regular intervals. As an adult, attending multiple orthodontist appointments can be hard to schedule around work and family.
Most dentists and orthodontists require less office visits with aligners. Even better, there are many that have a direct to customer option. Companies such as Byte and AlignerCo make it possible for you to have aligners without any office visits.
With direct to customer options the company will send an impressions kit and instructions for you to use at home. You then send in your impressions and the company will make your aligners based off of those impressions. You will still have access to professional help, these companies have remote dentists appointments available. You won’t have to worry about months of going to the orthodontist and having all those adjustments made.
2. More discreet
If you choose to straighten your teeth with braces, there is no way to hide the fact that you are undergoing orthodontic treatment. On the other hand, aligners are practically invisible. Aligners are clear and you can go about your normal life without anyone noticing that you are undergoing any treatment. If you have a big event or party to go to, aligners are removable, so you can remove them without the worry of food getting stuck in your braces.
3. You don’t have to restrict your food
If you choose to use braces you can’t eat certain food. Things such as hard candies, corn on the cob, and gum are forbidden when wearing braces. This can be an issue when going out to eat with others you have to make sure you go somewhere that has something you can eat. Since aligners are removable there are no foods that are off limits. You always just take your aligners out when you eat.
4. Can straighten your teeth around your schedule
Unlike braces that you have to wear 24 hours every day, aligners come with multiple options. Some aligner companies let you choose between the standard “all day treatment”, which involves wearing your aligners for 22 hours a day, and “night time” treatment, which involves just 10-12 hours of daily wear. The night time option will extend the overall length of your treatment, but you won’t have to worry about your aligners while you are out during the day.. Aligners give you ultimate flexibility and you can treat your smile around your schedule.
5. Whiten your teeth as your straighten them
With braces many struggle to keep their teeth as white as they were prior to getting braces put on. With aligners, you can choose an option to whiten your teeth as you straighten them. Aligner companies have additives you can add to your aligners that will whiten your teeth as you treat your smile. You can also choose other professional whitening services since the aligners are removable. With braces you cannot whiten your teeth while you straighten them, you have to wait until the treatment is over before you can begin to whiten your teeth.
6. Better oral hygiene
When wearing braces, it is hard to properly floss, brush your teeth and maintain overall dental health. Food tends to get stuck in your braces and can sometimes be hard to get out. Braces can harbor bacteria around the brackets and wires. Since you may not be able to keep up with your normal oral hygiene routine, it can lead to other problems down the road.
However, aligners can be removed while you clean your teeth, you don’t have to worry about flossing around braces. You won’t have food particles sitting on your teeth for long hours and can know that bacteria isn’t sitting on your teeth and causing potential damage. Aligners are the best option when it comes to ultimate flexibility and proper oral hygiene.
7. Aligners provide faster results
The average course of treatment with braces lasts between 16 to 18 months. Some can even take up to 24 months, all depending on your individual condition. On the other hand, the average treatment time for aligners is around 6 months, while some may last up to 12 months. Overall, aligners take significantly less time to straighten your teeth.
The reason comes down to how the process works. Braces work to move each individual tooth by applying a small amount of pressure. Aligners apply pressure on all your teeth simultaneously. Since aligners work to shift your teeth all at once, the time it takes to straighten your teeth is reduced significantly.
