| Orthodontic technologies have greatly
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| | The latest news in orthodontics that has
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| improved the effectiveness, comfort, and
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| | many people excited is the development of
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| aesthetic appeal of wearing braces for
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| | "invisible" braces. Instead of using
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| today's patients. Many people who were
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| | brackets and wires, the orthodontist
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| once concerned about having to wear large
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| | instead develops snugly-fitting molds of
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| metal brackets and thick bands on their
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| | the top and bottom rows of teeth. While
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| teeth for years are now enjoying healthy
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| | in place, these molds apply firm but
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| new smiles thanks to shorter, more
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| | gentle pressure to misaligned teeth,
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| discreet orthodontic care.
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| | encouraging them to move and straighten
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| New Choices for Traditional Braces
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| | over time.
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| With traditional braces, brackets are
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| | Computer technology helps the
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| glued to each tooth and held together by
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| | orthodontist to map out a progressive
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| a metal loop that goes around the entire
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| | plan to properly align the teeth, broken
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| row of teeth. Modern advances have
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| | down into multiple steps. At each step,
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| eliminated the thick steel bands and
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| | the current mold is replaced with a new
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| heavy brackets of the past. Today,
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| | one that provides slightly more pressure
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| stronger glues mean smaller, more tightly
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| | than the last. Over time, the series
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| bonded brackets. Thick bands have been
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| | successfully leads to straightened rows
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| replaced by thin wires that are not only
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| | of teeth, without any need to undergo
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| are harder to see, but also more
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| | invasive braces installation and removal.
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| effective at adjusting teeth.
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| | Generally, each mold is worn for two
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| These smaller, stronger components
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| | weeks. They must be worn all day and all
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| translate into fewer adjustment
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| | night, but can be removed for eating and
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| appointments, and ultimately a shorter
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| | cleaning. This prevents the tooth
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| treatment length. On top of that, they
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| | discoloration that often accompanies
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| also improve oral health. Thick brackets
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| | traditional braces. Most patients
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| and bands were difficult to clean around,
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| | experience slight discomfort on the first
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| and many patients suffered from tooth
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| | day of a new mold, but this disappears
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| discoloration as a result. Over time, the
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| | quickly as their teeth adjust to their
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| exposed enamel around each bracket
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| | new positions.
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| darkened from inadequate brushing, while
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| | Invisible braces cost more than
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| the color underneath each bracket was
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| | traditional braces, but for some, they
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| protected; when the brackets were
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| | are well-worth the extra investment. Not
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| removed, lighter spots could be seen in
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| | only are they easily hidden (unless
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| the centers of many teeth. Thankfully,
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| | someone is standing right in front of
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| today's braces rarely cause such a
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| | you), but they can also be removed on
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| problem, provided patients brush
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| | rare occasions, such as wedding photos,
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| regularly.
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| | where someone would otherwise be
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| Consumer demand has also led to many
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| | uncomfortable being seen in braces.
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| cosmetic choices being made available to
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| | Invisible braces cannot be used to treat
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| orthodontic patients. While stainless
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| | every case. Even if they can be tried,
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| steel brackets are still most common,
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| | traditional braces still may provide a
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| they can also be fashioned from ceramics
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| | higher degree of success. Only an
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| or plastics, making them blend in more
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| | orthodontist can tell for certain whether
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| with the teeth. (Plastic brackets are
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| | or not someone makes a good candidate for
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| discouraged for longer treatment
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| | invisible braces.
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| schedules, as they tend to discolor over
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| | Casey Morgan is a freelance writer and is
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| time.) Brackets, wires, and elastics are
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| | also a regular contributing writer to
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| all available in a rainbow of colors.
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| | SmileForLess - a website dedicated to
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| Clear components are also available,
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| | providing information about dental care
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| which make braces even harder to detect.
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| | and information about dental insurance
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| Invisible Braces
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| | and plans.
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