Straightening Teeth Without Braces

What to Know About Getting Straight Teeth Without Using Braces

The dream of any teenager, young adult, or really anyone is to have straight teeth and a beautiful smile. While wearing metal braces on the teeth has been the most traditional way of achieving this look, there are now a number of different ways teeth can be straightened without using braces including retainers, palatal expanders, and dental appliances. While these methods are possible alternatives to metal braces, only dental professionals are able to work with patients to determine the best treatment for them.

What Problems Can be Corrected Without Braces?

While there are alternatives to wearing metal braces, there are only certain conditions that can be treated with alternative methods. Some conditions that may benefit from alternatives to braces include:

• Malocclusion – the correction of a bite out of alignment, which often requires appliances to change the position of the patient’s jaw.
• Limited Overcrowding – if the teeth are only slightly overcrowded, leading to slight crookedness, the issue can be corrected with the use of a retainer.
• Underdeveloped Palate or Narrow Upper Jaw – widening the patient’s palate can be done with the use of expanders to help create space needed for teeth to move into their correct positions.

Information on Retainers

There are two different kinds of retainers: fixed retainers and Hawley retainers. Fixed retainers, such as bonded lingual, are attached directly to the inner surface of the teeth using dental cement to prevent them from moving over time. These fixed retainers help straighten teeth and correct bite. Hawley retainers are removable and are made from dental wire and acrylic that is formed to shape the inside of the patient’s mouth by using a dental impression. These retainers are great for those attempting to improve their smile without a permanent fixture.

Information on Palatal Expanders

Should a young patient’s mouth be too small to accommodate future “adult” teeth, his or her dentist may recommend using a palatal expander to help widen the arch of the upper teeth in the mouth. This helps to create space for the teeth to grow more naturally into their correct positions. This expander is attached to the patient’s upper molars using dental cement, and a special key is used to help place gradual pressure on the right and left halves of the upper jaw as a means to expand it.

If you have any questions about whether you qualify for alternatives for braces, consult with your dentist. Consider one of our New Hampshire Family Discount Dental Plans to save as much as 20 percent on your dental bills, especially if you or your child are in need of teeth straightening. For more information, please click here.

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