An Overview of Dental Appliances for Adults

More and more people want to perfect their smile with a dental appliance.

However, there are several types of treatments, and it is not always easy to understand what sets them apart.

This article aims to inform you about orthodontic treatments to help you better understand their advantages and disadvantages.

The choice of orthodontic treatment will first be determined by the level of complexity of the corrections needed — we’re talking here about simple, moderate, or complex corrections.

Only an orthodontist can tell you which type(s) of appliance are suited to your case, following an initial diagnosis at the practice.

There are nevertheless other aspects and criteria to consider, namely practical, aesthetic, hygienic, and economic aspects, as well as treatment comfort.

Understand that choosing an orthodontic treatment is not a decision to be taken lightly, as it will affect your daily life in several ways, over a period ranging from 6 to 36 months depending on the complexity of the tooth alignment corrections.

A closer look at orthodontic appliances

We can immediately divide dental appliances into 2 categories.

• 1. 1. Traditional dental appliances, these appliances are the most common among children and teenagers. They consist of metal or porcelain brackets fixed to the teeth and connected by a metal wire at the front of the teeth.
     2. “Invisible” dental appliances, so-called “invisible,” or rather near-invisible, appliances can be fixed or removable. They can be hidden behind the teeth or take the form of clear aligners.

Metal braces:

The metal dental appliance consists of metal brackets glued to the teeth and attached to a metal wire. Despite its less discreet appearance, it remains a very effective solution for so-called “complex” corrections. It is the most economical appliance, and treatment duration can range from 12 to 30 months depending on the case.