Are you hiding your smile from the world? You deserve to smile confidently again. Discover four ways to straighten teeth, so you can get your confidence back.

Americans hold straight teeth in high esteem. 14% believe crooked teeth affect the ability to land a decent job, 22% believe a better love life is in the cards with straighter teeth, and a whopping 78% of Americans deem people with crooked a failure.

Are you looking for ways to straighten your teeth? Straightening teeth doesn’t have to be costly; in fact, there are a few ways you can achieve a better smile without emptying your wallet. Let’s explore how to get a more beautiful smile!

4 Ways to Straighten Teeth

Metal braces are the traditional solution to getting permanently straight teeth, but not everyone needs to go that route. Here are four somewhat unconventional ways to straighten your smile.

Before you attempt any procedures, be sure to consult your dentist about a proper treatment plan at your next regular check-up.

Invisalign

Invisalign is an ever-growing method used by orthodontists to straighten teeth that are unique to the patient. The concept is the same as metal braces, but in place of metal, Invisalign uses plastic aligners to shift teeth into a straighter position. Be sure to locate a certified Invisalign provider like the one at this site.

Invisalign offers more flexibility for the patient; 20-22 hours of wear time is necessary to achieve results, compared to metal braces, which cannot be removed until treatment is complete. On average, the length of time wearing Invisalign is about a year but varies due to the severity of the condition of your teeth.

Retainers

Retainers are considered when your teeth are not in too bad of shape. The job of retainers is to shift the teeth into proper placement.

There are two types of retainers, one that’s cemented into your teeth to avoid shifting, and removable retainers which combat crowding in your mouth. Removable retainers are created from a mold of your mouth, and you can remove them for events.

Your orthodontist can decide which retainer would work best for your situation.

Contouring

Contouring isn’t necessarily geared towards straightening teeth, but it can improve your smile. This treatment works to reshape teeth to create a smoother line, so they appear more aligned, with the dentist using a sand driller or laser. The length of time is considerably shorter, with most treatments taking place in a dentist’s office in about 30 minutes.

Appliances

Malocclusion is a condition in which the jaw is misaligned. Straight teeth occur when the lower and upper jaw align.

If a jaw is imperfect and you have malocclusion, certain appliances are used to correct this, such as the Herbst appliance or headgear. Each of these appliances is used to ease the jaw into a more favorable position, such as needing to bring the jaw forward or back. Depending on the device you need, treatment can last anywhere from several months to a year or more.

Looking for Straighter Teeth?

The fastest way to straighter teeth is not always the best. If you’re interested in ways to straighten your teeth, reach out to your local dentist or orthodontist to see which treatment plan is best for you.

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