Orthodontic treatment can be of two types , with removable or with fixed appliances.
ALIGNERS are clear removable orthodontic appliance, which are used to straighten or move the teeth . FABRCATION. : These are made in the lab after dental scanning and treatment planning . TREATMENT : the patient is given a set of aligners which has to be worn for 10 to 15 days each before moving to the next set. They should be worn for 20 to 22 hours in a day .
ADVANTAGES :
1. These are invisible
2. They are considered more comfortable as compare to braces as the patient can remove them while eating food . 3. There are less complains of irritation and ulcers .
4. Few visits are required to the dental office .
5. The digital planning allows the patient to know the final position of the teeth.
6. least dietary restrictions are given to the patient .
LIMITATIONS
1. complex treatments are not successful with the aligners
2. Aligners are much more expensive than traditional braces.
3. Compliance of the patient : The success of the treatment depends on the compliance of the patient. If the patient is not regular in wearing the aligners ,the treatment will not progress as planned . . 4.Attachments. . Some treatment require attachments which are (Composite) dots put on the teeth. The improper wearing and removal of the Aligners can dislodge these attachments.
5 .Speech difficulty; some people experience speech problems but it is usually for a short period of time.
6. These are not much suitable for extraction cases.
7. The young patients often misplace the aligners . This can add to the expense of the treatment.
BRACES :
. The traditional method of alignment of the teeth. These could be metal or tooth coloured ceramic braces.
ADVANTAGES:
1. Braces are preferred over aligners for complex cases, such as crossbite or extraction cases.
2. As each bracket is fixed on the particular tooth , braces provide good control over the tooth movement .
3. It is cheaper than the aligners .
LIMITATIONS
1. Discomfort, the braces are often uncomfortable to the patient, but only for a few days till the patient get used to it
2. These are much noticeable on the face and it may be a concern to the patient .
3. There are many restrictions in eating food . The brackets get chipped off on eating hard and sticky food or even biting .
4. The patient has to have regular visits to the dental clinic
5. Dislodging of the brackets also happens which increases the number of appointments.
Whether one goes for aligners or braces can be a personal decision but the orthodontist will advise you the best after examining your teeth .
