Are you considering getting braces as an adult? It's a big decision. You want to have the attractive, professional look of straight teeth. At the same time, you may be concerned about how the look of braces will affect your career and relationships. After all, braces are usually seen on teenagers instead of grown people. The good news is that modern orthodontics have evolved to accommodate your unique adult needs. There are now several different types of braces that are invisible (or practically invisible) to the outside world. Your teeth will straighten with only you, your orthodontist, and maybe your family knowing you're wearing braces at all.

Here are the top three types of invisible braces:

1. Ceramic Braces

These are braces that are built and worn just like traditional braces. The only difference is that they are made from tooth-colored ceramics, so they blend in with your teeth perfectly. You still have the brackets and wires on the front of your teeth, but no one will notice them unless they look really closely into your mouth.

The actor Tom Cruise famously wore ceramic braces while attending movie premiers, and the audience was none the wiser. This shows you just how invisible ceramic braces can be, since a movie actor could never wear braces that were noticeable on camera.

2. Tooth Aligners

Tooth aligners are plastic molds of your teeth that are worn over them. The aligners put pressure on your teeth to subtly move them over a period of time. In most cases, treatment takes about a year, but could take less time or more time based on your unique orthodontic situation.

You will be given multiple sets of aligners, each one designed to move specific teeth at certain times. Each set of aligners will be worn for an average of two weeks at a time before changing to the next set.

The two best things about tooth aligners are that they are clear (so no one will notice you are wearing them) and they are removable. This means you can take them off to eat and to brush your teeth...two activities that are challenging with traditional braces. The most famous type of tooth aligner is Invisalign, but there are other models, as well. There is even a special model just for teenagers.

3. Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are just like traditional metal bracket and wire braces. The only difference is that they are worn on the backs of the teeth, rather than on the front. Otherwise, they work to straighten the teeth in exactly the same way as traditional braces.

Because they are worn behind the teeth, no one will ever see them but you and your orthodontist. It may take a while to get used to talking with your tongue coming into contact with the braces every time you move it. However, most people get used to this pretty quickly, and any speech irregularities are soon corrected.

Lingual braces are an impressive advancement in orthodontic technology, as they allow people to straighten their teeth very privately. The treatment time is about the same as for regular braces, and the results are just as good.

Conclusion

If you are considering getting braces and you are an adult, talk to your orthodontist, someone like Randolph S. Moore DMD, about your options in invisible braces. While not everyone is a good candidate for every model of invisible braces on the market, the chances are good that you will be able to wear at least one of them. You never know until you talk to your orthodontist, so do it today and start developing that straight smile you desire.

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