How happy are you with the look of your teeth? Do you avoid open-mouth smiles in photographs, cringe at the sight of your teeth in the mirror or try to keep your teeth concealed during conversation?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, it might be time to consider doing something about it. You only get one life after all, and there doesn’t seem much sense in spending it feeling embarrassed about your teeth!
What can you do about poorly aligned teeth?
The good news is that it’s easier than ever to take positive steps to improve the look of your teeth. The orthodontic treatment programmes we now have to choose from are a world away from what many of us experienced as children.
Traditional fixed braces are still a great option for many people, but there are also more discreet treatment programmes on offer. These include invisible retainers such as Invisalign as well as lingual braces, which are attached to the back of your teeth.
What about cosmetic options?
Many dental surgeries encourage patients to consider cosmetic options for teeth alignment such as dental veneers. These are small caps that are permanently attached to the front of each tooth to create the illusion of perfect alignment.
The benefit of veneers is that they can be fitted in just one or two appointments, which means the transformation is pretty much instant. They can also cover up other dental issues such as staining.
However, there are some real downsides to veneers. The key point here is that they don’t actually address the problem, they just cover it up. They are also a big commitment as veneers will need to be replaced every ten to fifteen years, which makes them a much more expensive option over time.
Is orthodontic treatment right for you?
We believe that orthodontic treatment is absolutely worth the time investment. Not only does it address the root of the issue(!), it also doesn’t create further problems. There are no additional caps or veneers being added to your teeth, so there’s less to go wrong.
So long as you follow the advice of your orthodontist, you’ll be able to enjoy the results of orthodontic treatment for the rest of your life.
