The Most Common Orthodontic Treatments

Orthodontics is a subspecialty of dentistry that helps straighten and correct misaligned teeth. Your smile is an important part of you and an opening to a vital section of your dental health. Not everyone has a beautiful set of teeth; misaligned, crooked, or overlapped teeth can be a source of embarrassment and may cause some to have low self-esteem because they are always afraid of showing their teeth in public.  

Orthodontic Treatments for Adults: The Benefits and Challenges

The biggest misconception about orthodontic treatment is that many people feel it’s for teenagers alone. Installing braces as an adult is becoming very common and less of a taboo. Continue reading to find out why.

Why Invisalign beats braces for holiday convenience

The holidays are so busy! No matter what holidays you and your family celebrate, this is the season of family gatherings, holiday feasts, and festive celebrations. With so much planning, shopping, traveling, and partying going on, the last thing you want to do is have to arrange your plans (or menus) because of your orthodontic treatment. If you’re looking for the ultimate in holiday convenience when it comes to straightening your teeth, Invisalign is hands-down the winner over braces. Here’s why…

Causes and treatments of an overbite

If your child has an overbite, you may be concerned that they could be teased in school. But the dangers of an overbite don’t stop with schoolyard bullies. Though mild overbites are very common and often do not require treatment, people with more severe overbites should seek overbite treatment because this condition can contribute to a host of health problems including gum disease, jaw pain and tooth decay.

Invisalign for Teens

Move over, braces. More and more teens in Buckhead and throughout the country are turning to Invisalign to straighten their teeth. Invisalign helps teens maintain their style (a MUST) while achieving a straight smile that will help them open doors both personally and professionally in the adult world. Here’s why more teens in Buckhead are choosing Invisalign…

How to Care for Retainers

Your smile is straight and gorgeous after wearing Invisalign or braces — and you want to keep it that way! So how do you maintain your movie star smile? By wearing your retainer, of course! In this article, we’ll show you how to care for your retainer so you can enjoy your perfect smile for life!

Invisalign FAQs

Thinking about getting Invisalign in Sandy Springs or anywhere in the Atlanta metro area? That’s great news! We here at Atlanta Orthodontic Specialists are the Sandy Springs Invisalign specialists, and we’ve helped countless people in and around Atlanta achieve the straight, gorgeous smiles they want with Invisalign.

3 Things You Should Know Before Getting Invisalign

If you’re self-conscious about the way your teeth look because they’re crooked, the last thing you probably want to do is get very-visible traditional metal braces. Though braces have always been acceptable and even cool for kids and teens, for adults, getting braces is a bit out of the ordinary. Yes, people will stare.

Am I too old to get Invisalign?

Whether you never had braces as a child or your once-straight teeth have crept out of position over the years, if you’re looking in the mirror and wishing your smile was straighter, you may be wondering “Am I too old to get Invisalign?”

Can children get Invisalign

teen with perfect teeth

When it’s time to get started on your child’s orthodontic treatment, you might be wondering, “Which is better – braces or Invisalign?” Without meeting your child in person, we can’t tell you which one is right for your child. So we put together this comparative list to help you weigh your options for your child’s orthodontic treatment. Curious about orthodontic options? If you’re wondering, Does Invisalign work? rest assured that Invisalign has proven to be effective in straightening teeth discreetly and comfortably.

After you read through this list, you’ll probably have some questions. We’re always happy to help. Give our office a call to schedule a consultation, and we’ll help you decide whether braces or Invisalign are the right choice for your child.

Yes, your child can get Invisalign 

As long as your child’s adult teeth have mostly come in, your child can get Invisalign. But just because your child can get Invisalign doesn’t mean they should. Read on to find out about the pros and cons of Invisalign for children.

Invisalign is faster than braces 

Most people wear braces for between 18 and 24 months, whereas Invisalign can straighten teeth in as little as 6 to 12 months. Invisalign generally straightens teeth faster, but only if there is 100% compliance from the patient. We’ll talk more about that below.

Invisalign is nearly invisible 

If your child is self-conscious about wearing braces, you may want to consider clear aligners like Invisalign instead. Clear aligners are nearly invisible and most people won’t even notice that your child is wearing them.

However, you should understand that braces are a regular fact of life for kids.Though your child may express some hesitancy about how they’ll look in braces, they may find that, once they actually have them, they enjoy matching their friends and picking out fun new colored rubber bands every month.

Invisalign aligners can get lost 

One of the biggest benefits of wearing braces is that braces are permanently fixed to the teeth. Braces can’t get lost. They won’t be taken off and forgotten on a school lunch table. Invisalign aligners are both removable AND transparent – making them very easy to misplace.

Invisalign has to actually be worn to work 

Braces straighten your child’s teeth 24/7/365. Clear aligners like Invisalign only do straighten teeth when your child is wearing them. Invisalign must be worn 20-22 hours every day to complete treatment on the right schedule. The only time they should be off is when your child is eating, brushing or flossing. If your child’s aligners get lost or are forgotten at night next to the bathroom sink, your child is missing out on critical straightening time that could set them back on their treatment schedule.

100% compliance is necessary to finish Invisalign treatment on time. If you can trust your child to wear the aligners like they are supposed to, this isn’t an issue. But many children are not yet mature enough to handle that responsibility, making braces a better bet.

Invisalign is more expensive than braces 

In the United States, treatment with braces typically costs between $3,000 and $6,000. The average treatment cost for Invisalign is between $3,000 and $8,000. Costs for both vary depending on the length of treatment, which tends to correspond with the amount of movement the teeth need to end up in their correct position.

Need help choosing between braces and Invisalign? 

Atlanta Orthodontic Specialists helps children all over the Atlanta metro area achieve the great smiles they deserve. Schedule your Invisalign or braces consultation today!