Are you considering teeth straightening surgeries or treatments? If so, you'll want to familiarize yourself with all of your options. After all, surgeries can be pricey and painful. If you're struggling to enjoy a confident smile due to crooked teeth, know that you're not alone. But an affordable and pain-free solution could be a click away, especially if you choose to try clear aligners.
Why Is a Healthy Smile Important?
Having a great smile isn't only about impressing other people. A healthy smile is often a sign of excellent oral health. And when your mouth is healthy, there's a good chance that your body is too. Additionally, a healthy smile can boost your self-esteem and help you embrace life more confidently. Everything from job interviews to time with friends could be easier if you're not worried about your smile.
Excellent Oral Health
Proper oral care is vital to your overall mental and physical wellbeing. According to researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago, poor oral hygiene can indicate other health problems, including diabetes. When you take excellent care of your teeth and gums, they also take care of you! And when your smile is bright and healthy, you're bound to exude a sense of self-confidence.
Improved Confidence
Do you know what happens when you smile? A sincere smile almost always triggers your brain to release endorphins. These are feel-good chemicals that can positively alter your mood. Additionally, a person's smile can say a lot about their personality and sense of self. After all, our oral health influences our overall health in several crucial ways. But it can also affect our mental health. If you're heading into a job interview or a first date, you'll want to make the best possible first impression. But if you're not comfortable with your smile, others might perceive you as shy or uncertain. An unflattering smile can slowly impact your self-esteem, potentially leading to depression or anxiety. Fortunately, there are several solutions to crooked teeth. For some, dental surgery is the best possible option.
Types of Dental Surgeries
There are quite a few types of dental surgeries. Most are emergency procedures, but some are cosmetic. Some examples of common surgeries include:
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Root Canal Surgery
Dental Implant Surgery
In some cases, wisdom teeth may push against the surrounding molars, causing straight teeth to shift. If the wisdom teeth are impacted or partially exposed, surgery may be the only safe way to remove them. Additionally, a dental implant could help you enjoy a fuller and straighter smile if you're missing teeth. However, these are typically only available to patients that have already undergone an extraction. Finally, there's root canal surgery. This type of treatment helps remove infected tissue and decayed enamel. Occasionally, it may also involve partial or full removal of the tooth root and pulp.
How Much Do Dental Surgeries Cost?
Dental surgeries are often quite expensive. Even with insurance, it's not uncommon for any of the previously described surgeries to cost several thousands of dollars. For example, an impacted wisdom tooth can cost between $500 and $1,000. That's per tooth. If all four teeth are impacted and causing problems, you might be looking at a $4,000 dental bill. Additionally, patients may need to spend several weeks recovering from dental surgery. During this recovery time, it's not uncommon for patients to experience pain or discomfort. Dental surgery pain can be intense. Unless your dental care provider insists on surgical treatments, it's likely better to investigate one of the dental surgery alternatives.
Alternatives to Dental Surgery for Teeth Straightening
There are quite a few alternatives to teeth straightening surgeries. In fact, only the most extreme cases require surgical treatments. For most, veneers, braces, or clear aligners are a far better option. Let's explore these common treatments in greater detail to discover how they work and why they might be a solid choice. After all, surgeries are expensive and often painful. These alternatives are far less complicated.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are designed to attach to the surface of teeth. They're a cosmetic solution to stained teeth, but they can also help you see a straighter smile. Most dental veneers are porcelain or resin. If you have moderately crooked teeth that have lost much of their natural shine and enamel, porcelain veneers could be the right solution. However, it's crucial to note that veneers are cemented to your teeth. You won't be able to take dental veneers off during the evening or after eating. As such, this treatment is a permanent or semi-permanent procedure. For best results, you'll need to take great care of your veneers.
Traditional Metal Braces
There's a good chance that you've met someone who has traditional metal braces. Until the last decade or so, traditional metal braces have been the go-to solution for crooked teeth. However, metal braces are quickly becoming a thing of the past. That's because they require multiple dental and orthodontal appointments, can be expensive, and often cause long-term pain. If you choose metal braces, you'll have small, square metal brackets cemented to your teeth. Your orthodontists will then thread a metal wire through those brackets and adjust the tension. Over time, this tension helps your teeth shift into straighter positions. However, the metal wire and brackets can rub against your lips or tongue, causing bruising or bleeding. Additionally, braces often make it nearly impossible to floss. While eating, food can get stuck between the wire, brackets, and your teeth. Avoiding tooth decay is far more challenging when wearing metal braces.
Clear Braces
If you only have minor or moderate spacing or alignment issues, you may want to investigate clear braces. Unlike traditional metal options, these are entirely removable and relatively painless. Clear aligners slip directly over the teeth and are invisible to the naked eye. Wearers can take them off while eating or brushing their teeth. And while they might fit tightly at first, they're not nearly as injurious as metal braces. Even better, you don't need to schedule multiple dental appointments when you choose clear braces. Instead, you can contact a reputable aligner provider, order an impressions kit, and send it back in! After a few weeks, you'll receive your new teeth-straightening aligners in the mail. Overall, clear braces may be the most convenient and painless way to straighten your teeth. You might also discover that clear aligners are a far more affordable option than metal braces or dental surgery. After all, when you're not paying for repeat in-person appointments, you're potentially saving a bundle.
Enjoy a Beautiful Smile With ALIGNERCO
Teeth straightening surgeries are extreme solutions that are often reserved for severe cases. However, most individuals with crooked teeth can enjoy straighter teeth with the help of veneers, braces, or aligners. Clear braces are a worthwhile dental surgery alternative, especially considering how convenient, affordable, and comfortable they are. You don't even need to leave home to start improving your smile! Are you ready to enjoy a more confident smile? If you are looking for an affordable option, you can check out ALIGNERCO now!
The Surprising Connections Between Oral Health and Well Being | College of Dentistry | University of Illinois Chicago. (n.d.). University of Illinois Chicago. Retrieved July 17, 2021, from https://dentistry.uic.edu/news-stories/the-surprising-connections-between-oral-health-and-well-being/ The Canadian Press. (2018, April 19). High cost of dental services prompting some patients to seek alternative options. CBC.CA. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/dental-service-cost-1.4626368
