Patients who want to work on their smile without anyone noticing they are getting treatment have started to look into straightening their teeth without anyone catching on. We get it, whether you’re someone who gives presentations for work a lot, have tons of photos out there, have kids who are into school sports and all that comes with it, or you just genuinely don’t want to draw attention to your orthodontic journey for your own personal reasons. The good news though is that with modern orthodontics we have lots of ways to get great looking results with no signs at all that you’re wearing braces. Modern orthodontics offers different types of braces, including metal, ceramic, and clear options. Each type of braces provides a comfortable and precise way to align teeth while fitting the patient’s needs and goals.
Clear aligner therapy has certainly changed the game for us when it comes to discreet orthodontic care. They use a bunch of clear trays that are custom made for your teeth and slip right over them. They apply gentle pressure to help slowly nudge your teeth into place. Honestly, unless someone really takes a close look, most people will never even notice you’re wearing them. You take them out to eat and clean your teeth then pop them back in again for the rest of the day and night. Being able to remove them makes life so much easier and oral hygiene a lot better than fixed equipment, but let’s not forget, taking care to wear them all day every day still takes a bit of discipline because the magic only happens when you do it all the time. Surgical orthodontics, also called orthognathic surgery, corrects severe jaw or bite issues that braces alone cannot fix. This treatment enhances both function and appearance, creating long-term improvements in your smile and facial balance.
At Marrecau Orthodontics we’ve seen heaps of people get great results from clear aligners, and have helped loads of people who might not have felt brave enough to give orthodontic treatment a go if they’d had to deal with metal braces. The tech behind all these devices has advanced loads since they first started out, and now they can fix a lot more orthodontic problems than they used to. What we always do is give patients the straight story, if clear aligners are the way to go for you or if there’s another option that might suit your situation a bit better.
Ceramic braces do a great job of making orthodontic treatment less noticeable. They work just like regular metal braces but with one key difference, the brackets are made from tooth-coloured ceramic. You can also get the wires coated to match the colour of your teeth which makes them even less obvious. Now don’t get me wrong, they’re not invisible like clear aligners but they’re still a great option if you don’t want the world to see that you’re wearing braces. In fact they’re a brilliant solution for when you need the high level of control that only a permanent fix can provide but you still don’t want to draw attention to yourself.
Lingual braces take the invisible treatment idea to its logical conclusion. They stick all the orthodontic hardware to the back of your teeth and voila, it’s completely hidden from view. They work in the same way as regular braces except the brackets and wires face your tongue instead of the outside of your mouth. So when you smile, chat or interact with other people your braces are never visible. This makes them a really attractive option for people with jobs in the public eye or who just can’t have any orthodontic appliances that show.
To find the best option for you we need to think about a few things. How complicated are your orthodontic needs? Some treatments need fixed braces to work properly while in other cases removable aligners are perfect. We take a good hard look at your teeth, make some notes and figure out what movements are needed to get the best results. That helps us decide which options will actually work for you.
Your lifestyle and daily habits also play a big part in which option is best for you. If you like removable aligners because you can pop them in and out when you want, that can be great if you travel a lot or have a crazy schedule. But maybe you can’t be bothered to have to remember to take them out and put them back in every day. In that case a fixed option that just works all the time might be better. And if you play contact sports or do something that requires a lot of mouthguard-wearing then one option might be more suitable than another.
When it comes to treatment times the good news is that invisible options usually take about the same amount of time as regular braces. Simple cases can be sorted out in less than a year while more complicated ones can take up to 18 to 24 months or longer. We give you a realistic view of what to expect at your appointment so you know what you’re getting into.
Prices do vary depending on which option you go for but we want to be upfront and open with you about the costs from the start. Lingual braces tend to be more expensive than metal braces because they are custom-made for you. Clear aligners and ceramic braces are usually similar in price to metal ones but we do work with most insurance policies and offer flexible payment plans to make it easier for you to get the treatment you need.
Different types of invisible braces have different comfort levels. For example clear aligners don’t bother your lips and cheeks as much because there are no brackets to rub against them. But they can feel a bit tight when you move to a new set. Ceramic braces are similar to metal ones but the ceramic can be a bit thicker. And lingual braces can take some getting used to, your tongue will have to learn to get on with them.
One thing that is really important is following the rules, especially if you’ve got a detachable option like clear aligners. You need to use them as advised or they just won’t work and you’ll end up waiting longer than you need to for results. We tell it to you straight during your appointment and work out which option is best for your personality and lifestyle.
We’ve helped loads of patients in Parkland get the smile they’ve always wanted, straight and healthy teeth that look totally natural, thanks to some super discreet and even undetectable treatments we offer. It’s a real treat to see just how much more confident people become when they don’t have to worry about what they look like in the mirror while getting braces. At Marrecau Orthodontics, staying up to date with all the latest developments in super stealthy orthodontic tech is a must and we want to make sure our patients know all the options that are out there when it comes to achieving beautiful teeth and a healthy bite. We’d love for you to come on down and let us have a closer look at what’s going on with your teeth. We can show you some examples of our invisible braces and discuss the best option for you to get the smile you want without having to compromise on looks during treatment.