Everyone wants to have a straight smile, especially teenagers. In today’s age of social media, young adults are becoming more image-conscious than ever before. Because of this, many teens are choosing to straighten their teeth with clear aligners rather than traditional braces. While these transparent trays might be more aesthetically pleasing, braces are often more suitable for teenagers. An orthodontist in Denison offers four reasons why your teen might benefit more from braces than clear aligners.
You Can’t Misplace Braces
Clear aligners must be taken out before eating, drinking, or cleaning your teeth. This increases their risks of being lost. For example, it can be all too easy for your son or daughter to remove their trays, place them on their lunch tray, and accidentally throw them away. If they accidentally toss their aligners, it might prolong their treatment time as they wait for new aligners to arrive. By contrast, traditional braces stay in place so they’re impossible to lose.
Braces Are Often More Affordable
While the costs of braces and clear aligners are often similar, dental insurance companies are generally more likely to cover the former than the latter. Even if they end up costing the same, there is always the risk that your teen will lose an aligner during the course of their treatment. In that case, you’d have to pay to replace it.
No Self-Discipline Is Required
Teenagers are so close to becoming adults, but they’re not quite there yet. They might not be responsible enough to remember to wear their aligners for the 22 hours a day it takes to finish their treatment on time. Since braces are fixed on the teeth, they don’t require much discipline on your teen’s part.
Braces Are Better for Complex Cases
While clear aligners focus on shifting just the visible part of the tooth, braces exert equal pressure on the entire tooth. This helps braces correct more complex orthodontic issues, such as extremely overcrowded teeth and significant overbites or underbites. Clear aligners can fix minor problems, but more often than not, braces are more effective.
Not everyone is born with a perfectly aligned set of pearly whites, but with traditional braces in Denison, your teen can attain a more beautiful, even smile.
About the Author
Dr. Ryan Bygness obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry more than 20 years ago. In 2013, he earned his orthodontic certificate from the American Orthodontic Society. He has undergone more than 400 hours of continuing education in orthodontics alone. At 32 and You, Dr. Bygness offers multiple orthodontic options. To find out which one is best for your teen, contact his office at (712) 263-3252.