Having a crooked smile is never fun no matter how old you are. Not only does it make your smile look worse, it can be a health problem. Misaligned teeth can lead to more cavities, worn enamel, and TMJ disorder. That’s why people often get orthodontic treatment like braces as soon as their teeth more-or-less stop moving. That’s often in the early teens.

That’s also why adults are reluctant to get orthodontics. Because so many teens get metal braces, adults look weird with them on their teeth. But without orthodontics, your teeth will never get straight.

Call our Red Bank, NJ dental office today at 732-945-5343 to schedule your first appointment for Invisalign clear aligners. You’ll get the straight teeth you both need and deserve, but you won’t have to wear anything metal. In fact, Invisalign is almost invisible when worn. Plus, our dentists are highly trained in using Invisalign to straighten your smile.

Adults Can Have Crooked Teeth, Too

Why do adults have crooked teeth, especially when so many get braces then they were younger? There are a few reasons:

Teeth are always able to move. Just because your teeth were put in the right position years ago doesn’t mean they stay that way. All those years of chewing can nudge your teeth out of alignment.

People get injured and have accidents. If you managed to chip or crack a tooth, anything that strong can also move your damaged tooth out of position. Even if the accident wasn’t strong enough to cause damage, it can still move a tooth.

Not everybody gets braces as a teenager. There’s no rule requiring you get braces as a teen. Some families can’t afford it, while some people’s teeth aren’t bad enough at that time. They just get worse as they get older.

What is Invisalign, anyway? It’s an orthodontic treatment, so it will gently reposition your teeth over time so your smile is even and aligned. However, it’s definitely not braces! With Invisalign, there are no metal brackets or wires. Instead, you get a series of clear trays that fit over your teeth. Each tray is shaped differently, and those shapes help guide your teeth to where they belong.

The Invisalign results compare to what you’d get with braces, but there are other benefits to this modern orthodontic treatment.

– Invisalign is almost impossible to see when worn

Many adults don’t want to get braces because they fear how they’ll look. That’s not unreasonable because adults can look unusual when they smile and show metal brackets and wires. It’s just that teens wear them so much that braces look out of place with adults.

Invisalign clear aligners are made from a smooth, see-through plastic. When you put them over your teeth, someone would have to look closely to see you have orthodontics.

– Invisalign doesn’t have any eating restrictions.

When you have braces on your teeth, you have to be careful about what you eat. Hard or chewy foods (pretzels, bagels, gum, etc.) can actually damage your brackets and wires. Even if they don’t, bits of food can get trapped up against your teeth by braces, increasing your risk of cavities.

The clear aligners of Invisalign can be taken out anytime. You need to keep them on your teeth most of the day, of course. But because you can pop them out when it’s time to eat, there are no food restrictions with Invisalign.

– Invisalign is more comfortable in your mouth.

Metal brackets can catch on the inside of your mouth and cut you. And if you ever get hit in the mouth somehow, you can get really hurt. It’s just not comfortable to have all that metal in your mouth.

But Invisalign clear aligners are made from smooth plastic. You won’t get hurt any worse if you’re wearing them and get hit in the mouth, and there’s literally nothing to catch on.

–  Invisalign is finished 1-2 years sooner.

Traditional braces definitely work. However, they work slowly. Part of that is inevitable because you can’t safely move your teeth quickly. It has to be done carefully. But braces typically take 2-3 years before they are done straightening your teeth.

Invisalign is different. Most people are done with this orthodontic treatment in around one year, sometimes even earlier than that. That can save you 1-2 years of eating restrictions, discomfort, and repeated trips to the dentist.

Denise DiBona, DDS is your Red Bank dentist with the expertise in Invisalign to help adults get straight teeth without any braces. Call us today at 732-945-5343 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment.