Provider
Make an Informed Choice About Your Orthodontic Treatment
At Munk Orthodontics, we're proud to offer braces, Invisalign® and Spark™ clear aligner options for children, teens and adults who are looking to straighten their teeth. But which option is best?
At the end of the day, the answer comes down to you – your orthodontic treatment needs, your lifestyle, and even your personality.
Both braces and clear aligners are highly effective orthodontic treatment options and have very similar treatment times; neither is fundamentally better than the other, and each has its own unique benefits and drawbacks.
Following a comprehensive examination of your smile and a discussion about your goals, lifestyle and concerns, your orthodontist will recommend the best treatment option to meet your needs. To prepare to make an informed decision, read on below to find out what braces and clear aligners have to offer you.
Flexible Payment Plans & Financing Options
Finances should never be a barrier to achieving a straighter, healthier smile. Munk Orthodontics, offers flexible in-house financing and CareCredit to help you achieve a smile you are proud to show off.
Benefits of Clear Aligners
Invisalign and Spark straighten teeth by applying a gentle, consistent pressure to the teeth over time.
Treatment comes in the form of a series of custom-made clear aligners. Each aligner plays its specific role and is then switched out for the next one, until the desired results are achieved.
Virtually Invisible
Invisalign and Spark clear aligners are made of a lightweight, transparent material, making them virtually invisible when worn. This makes them a great choice for people who dislike the look of braces.
Braces, with their metal brackets and wires, have a distinctive look that not everyone feels confident showing off. While we offer lower-profile alternatives to traditional braces, like 'clear' ceramic braces and self-ligating options, we find that clear aligners are definitely the most subtle orthodontic treatment option.
Convenient & Removable
Another clear benefit of aligner treatment is the convenience of being able to remove them. Clear aligners can be removed for brushing and flossing. Oral hygiene with braces can be time consuming and challenging, but with clear aligners, you can go on brushing and flossing your teeth just like you always do.
You can also take the aligners out to eat, which means you don't have to deal with any of the food restrictions that braces come with, and you can take them out for pictures, for date night, and more.
Comfortable
No matter whether you choose braces, Invisalign or Spark you are bound to experience some discomfort at points throughout your orthodontic treatment. This discomfort results from your teeth moving into their new positions.
Thanks to the smooth construction of clear aligners, though, you don't get all the friction that metal wires and brackets can cause. This can help make treatment with clear aligners more comfortable.
Braces, Invisalign & Spark Treatment for All Ages
At Munk Orthodontics, we offer treatment with traditional braces and clear aligners for children, adults and teens. Our orthodontist will help you choose which treatment option is right for you.
Benefits of Braces
Traditional braces use brackets, elastic bands and wires to gently shift and straighten teeth over time.
But orthodontic braces have evolved over recent years and are now more streamlined and comfortable than ever. Today's braces can even add a youthful edge to your personal style.
Versatility
Braces can be used to resolve virtually any misalignment, no matter how complex. This is because of their ability to apply strong, consistent pressure to the teeth.
It is more difficult for clear aligners to create the force required for certain complex tooth movements, like rotating teeth, lengthening them, or paralleling roots in extraction cases. When these types of movements are necessary, braces are often the best mode of treatment.
Efficiency & Cost Effectiveness
Braces can apply greater force than clear aligners for more efficient tooth movements, meaning treatment with braces may be shorter in certain moderate or complex cases.
In addition, the more complex the movement required, the more clear aligners aligners will be required to accomplish it. This can significantly increase the cost of clear aligner treatment if you have a complex misalignment. In these cases, braces may be the more affordable choice.
Ease of Compliance
There are lots of lifestyle benefits to removable aligners, but it's important to consider how likely it is that you'll always wear them as prescribed. It's surprisingly easy to forget to put them back in or to give yourself more 'breaks' than might be wise when you're feeling sore.
If you think you may have trouble staying compliant with your treatment plan, fixed dental braces may be the better choice. They'll keep you honest and get you through treatment on time.