What are the health advantages of straight teeth?
Jennifer Salzar, DDS: Well, straight teeth are healthy teeth. They are easier to keep clean. The bone support surrounding them is more intact so they'll last longer.
David E Paquette, DDS: The obvious advantage is cosmetically, it's just more attractive, and like many things in nature, when things look better, they function better. So when teeth are lined up, they are easier to clean, it's less likely that you'll have unusual wear on the teeth. If they are easier to clean, naturally, then it's less likely that you'll have gum disease. Obviously, personal habits play a big role in any of the other things you can go on.
If someone is fanatical about brushing their teeth regardless of how crooked, or malaligned they are, they can still maintain healthy gums and tissues. On the other hand, no matter how straight teeth are, if someone doesn't do anything, sooner or later the bacteria win and they'll have a gum disease. But generally speaking, it's much easier if the teeth are lined up. It makes it more efficient to chew and just overall, it's a healthier environment.
What are common patient complaints with traditional braces?
Jennifer Salzar, DDS: Well, you know, it depends; for children, usually, there is not much of a problem, but for adults, they want to do something about their teeth but they really don't want to wear braces or show other people that they are doing something with their teeth.
David E Paquette, DDS: Adults, generally, are more concerned about the social effects of wearing braces as an adult. The cosmetic impact that especially someone who is in the public eye, either in broadcasting or in sales or something that, that they won't be taking it seriously if they're wearing braces.
Jennifer Salzar, DDS: Traditional braces very often can have scratchy surfaces. Patients complain of ends of the wire poking, sometimes the braces break, the brackets can scratch the outside of the lips and the tongue.
David E Paquette, DDS: With traditional braces, when we move the teeth, we place an archwire in there, which is formed to the shape we'd like the teeth to move to. So anytime we put a new wire in, there is a sudden increase in the pressure on the teeth in certain areas. So those teeth tend to get fairly sore regardless of how gentle the wires are.
Jennifer Salzar, DDS: Braces have edges so they can cause sores on the lips and the tongue and the cheeks, and also the wire can poke out in the back causing a sore. Braces can break easily causing trauma to the lips and tongue.
David E Paquette, DDS: The little side-effects source, the sharp edges and whatnot, and where people have to put wax, we don't run into that with Invisalign.
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