09 Jul Knoxville’s 3 Best Alternatives to Braces

Conventional braces are an efficient way to get the straightest smile possible. Unfortunately, they can also attract unwanted attention due to their metal parts on your front teeth. While metal braces may be necessary for severe issues, they’re not always necessary for milder cases of crooked teeth.  

Veneers are one great option for getting straighter teeth without metal braces since they can be custom-made to fit your smile. Invisible braces use comfortable clear aligners that gradually straighten your teeth over time. Lingual braces use the same apparatus as conventional braces, but are put on the back of your teeth to be less visible.

The Disadvantage of Metal Braces

Metal braces have plenty of advantages, from cost to the amount of control your orthodontist has over them. However, there is one big disadvantage to braces – appearance. The wires and brackets involved with traditional braces may not be the best choice for adults who don’t want to draw extra attention to themselves.

Fortunately, there are plenty of orthodontic treatment options to suit your lifestyle and needs. Wearing braces can be a literal and figurative pain, but alternative treatment options can effectively straighten your teeth without drawing unwanted attention to yourself in the process.

1. Veneers – Our Favorite Alternative to Braces

Veneers are often the ideal cosmetic dentistry solution for getting straight teeth. Mild cases of crooked teeth are quickly and easily fixed with these thin, toothlike shells. They lay over and are affixed to your original teeth, looking and functioning just like your original teeth. They’re also a much faster alternative to braces, requiring a couple of weeks rather than months.

But veneers aren’t just for correcting mild cases of crooked and misaligned teeth. They’re also ideal for teeth that are:

• Broken or chipped
• Discolored
• Worn down

Dental veneers come in two types — porcelain veneers and resin composites. Both can match and even improve the appearance of your teeth, but there are some key differences. Porcelain veneers are more durable and have a more toothlike appearance. On the other hand, they are more expensive and take a bit longer to be applied to your teeth. 

Resin composites are ideal if you’re looking for a faster solution. They are less expensive than porcelain varieties, are less costly to repair, and require less time to adhere to your teeth. However, they aren’t as durable as porcelain veneers and may need to be replaced sooner.

Dental veneer maintenance is as simple as practicing good oral hygiene. You can protect your veneers, tooth enamel, and overall oral health by:

• Brushing for two minutes, twice a day
• Flossing at least once a day after eating
• Going to your dental appointments

Keep in mind that veneers aren’t right for everyone. To learn more, click here to read our blog, Veneers: Great Alternative to Adult Braces?

Lumineers

Our Knoxville West location is proud to offer Lumineers to our patients. Lumineers are a type of veneer that offers the same toothlike appearance and the functionality of regular veneers, are perfect for fixing cosmetic issues and are easy to maintain. But Lumineers do have some important differences that set them apart from other types of veneers.

Key differences of Lumineers include:

• Virtually pain-free treatment
• No permanent changes to your teeth
• Being much thinner than regular veneers

Regular veneers require shaving off some of the enamel from your teeth to make room for them, which may result in some pain. Lumineers don’t require this step, which greatly reduces your discomfort. As our own Dr. Thompson puts it, “There’s no discomfort in any portion of the process. It’s pretty incredible how the process goes.”

Another benefit of keeping your enamel is that your original tooth retains its shape. Lumineers aren’t permanent so they don’t require shaving away enamel. This means that they’re easier to apply, remove, replace, and repair. Your teeth will also be stronger since they’ll keep their enamel.

This is all thanks to Lumineers being much thinner than regular veneers. Around 3 to 5 millimeters of the enamel needs to be removed for regular veneers, but Lumineers are about 0.2mm thick. This provides a closer fit that protects the look and durability of your original teeth without the need for removing enamel.

Want to learn more about Lumineers and how they can brighten your smile? Click here to read more on our blog.

2. Invisible Braces

Invisible braces are a wonderful way to straighten your teeth without the need for attention-grabbing metal braces. They use a series of plastic trays to gradually straighten your teeth over time. This eliminates the need for metal brackets, wires, and rubber bands that come with traditional braces. It also makes them ideal for adults and older teens.

Invisible aligners are perfect for:

• Gapped teeth 
• Crowded teeth
• Bite issues 

These clear braces are both flexible and clear, providing you with maximum comfort as well as being much less noticeable than traditional braces.

Since they’re clear, they are virtually invisible and can be taken off to make brushing and flossing much easier. You’ll need to wear them most of the day for them to be effective. However, they can be taken off for short periods of time when needed. This includes brushing, flossing, and whatever else may come up.

3. Lingual Braces

Not all metal braces are created equal. When you think of braces, chances are that you think of metal brackets, wires, and rubber bands attached to the front of your teeth. While these are still common, they’re not the only option for braces. 

Lingual braces look and work just like conventional braces. What sets them apart is that they’re attached to the back, or lingual side, of your teeth. This makes them nearly invisible and ideal for adults as well as self-conscious children and teens. They’re just as effective as conventional braces and can be customized for efficiency and comfort.

When it comes to alternatives to braces, veneers are one of the best options out there since they look and function just like your real teeth. Invisible braces are clear, allowing you to gradually straighten your teeth without attention-grabbing metal brackets and wires. Lingual braces are just like metal braces, but they attach to the back of your teeth to remain unseen.

Are you interested in an alternative to metal braces to straighten your teeth? Contact us today to schedule your appointment!

Knoxville Family Dental has two locations in Knoxville to better serve you. You can call Knoxville West at (865) 691-1121 or you can schedule an appointment online. To make an appointment with Knoxville East, call (865) 544-1711 or make an appointment online.