Orthodontic Options
When it comes to orthodontics, there are way more options today than ever before. Between braces, retainers, and aligners (like Invisalign) the world is your teeth straightening oyster! Maybe that metaphor doesn’t work.
Regardless, when you go to the orthodontist, they have multiple options and we plan to break them down in this article, but not without talking about our favorite subject first: insurance.
What’s Covered
Before you get any orthodontic care, we recommend the following.
-Check with your insurance to see what’s covered, you might only have access to braces and there might be a time limit on how long you’re covered.
-Get a pre-treatment estimate from the orthodontist. Sometimes they can’t do this because you don’t know how long certain treatments will take, but they should be able to give you a rough estimate of a monthly cost.
-Get a second opinion. This is optional as it can be expensive. But you can always talk with your dentist about the orthodontist’s plans. Some orthodontists have deals with specific aligner brands, and because of that you might get different prices at different locations.
With that out of the way let’s look at what options you have for teeth straightening!
In-Office Aligners
Aligners or “invisible braces” are commonly called “Invisalign,” even though that’s a brand and not every Orthodontist uses them.
These are great tools to straighten teeth ambiently and do make a huge difference in straightening your teeth. Essentially you will scan your teeth at home or with your orthodontist, and they will then print plastic molds based on your mouth that you wear over your teeth, sort of like a mouth guard, whenever you’re not eating. These molds basically shift your teeth over time.
You will get several molds over time, and your orthodontist will need to scan your teeth every few months to print the next set of aligners. The benefit is that they’re somewhat invisible (more on that later) and much easier to clean.
Some people claim that these work way faster than braces, but that’s not always true. Depending on your mouth and how often you’re wearing them, and a whole lot of other factors, they could be quicker, they could be shorter.
We definitely recommend looking up the brand your orthodontist uses to get a feel for how long this process will take.
Usually when you get aligners, your orthodontist will give you an expected timeline for how long you will need the aligners, just know that if it ends up taking longer, you will have to pay more.
Additionally, not all brands are as invisible as you might expect. Some require attachments, small plastic bumps that are added to your teeth. You also will be expected to wear a retainer after you’re finished, and your orthodontist might also recommend you use rubber bands or even get braces to speed up your process.
There are also some reports that you can get headaches when you move to the next aligner.
The other big issue with aligners is that you must remember to wear them. If you don’t, the entire process will be extremely difficult, take a long time, and cost way more money.
And finally, they’re not always covered by your insurance provider. And if they are, there might be restrictions on the brand or material that is used. Always get a pretreatment estimate before signing up for any orthodontic plan to make sure you’re not going to end up paying out-of-network costs.
Good news for individuals with SDPEBA’s MetLife PPO plan. Invisalign is covered under this plan!
At-Home Aligners
These are relatively new on the market and can be very dangerous! There are a lot of videos circulating the internet of people misusing at-home aligners and it causing serious damage to their teeth. So do your research before making this choice! As always, we recommend talking with a professional before making any big decisions.
From our research, it seems that this option is really only good if you have a very mild misalignment in your teeth. With these options you won’t be getting x-rays or dental exams between scans, and so if there is a big issue it won’t be addressed.
They are a lot cheaper than in-office aligners but often do not work with insurance. If you do feel like this is a good option for you, please do your research and talk with a dentist before making your purchase!
Braces
There are many types of braces: metal, ceramic, lingual, or “self-litigating.” All of them operate under the same principle: attachments are added to your teeth, these attachments are connected via a wire, and then that wire is tightened every few weeks to adjust your bite.
Metal braces are usually the cheapest and often are the fastest. They are the standard that you think of when you think of braces. They are often noticeable and for that reason people tend to dislike them. But they get the job done!
Ceramic braces are very similar to normal braces but are way less noticeable because the ceramic is the same color as your teeth. They tend to be a bit bigger in your mouth, but are generally affordable, if they are covered by your insurance.
Lingual braces go on the backside of your teeth and are probably the most expensive option. They require a specialist to install and tighten, but if you can find them at a good price, they are the closest you can get to invisible braces. These can be hard to clean and might be frustrating to some individuals because your tongue might rest against the braces more than if they were on the other side. They also can also alter your speech (usually giving you a lisp).
Self-litigating braces are similar to regular metal or ceramic braces, but the tightening mechanism is different. Instead of using rubber bands, they use clips to hold the wire in place, because of this they are easier to adjust and require less work for both the orthodontist and the individual. These are usually reserved for people with specific needs, e.g., they have trouble going to the orthodontist or can’t manage the rubber bands themselves.
Braces tend to be quite expensive, but they’re a more exact science than other orthodontic options. Since aligners can cost anywhere from $900 to $9,500, some people prefer braces because they know the price range will be less volatile, they usually cost between $2,000 and $5,000 depending on the type, timeline, and materials.
Retainers
Retainers come after you get any form of realignment with braces or aligners. Teeth naturally move over time for everyone, but especially for someone who had some form of orthodontics. Retainers come in two types: fixed and removable.
A fixed retainer is a metal wire that is glued and set in the top of your teeth. Once it is in, it’s in. These aren’t as common as they used to be, but still have their uses. A removable retainer looks sort of like a tray with a wire on it. These go into your mouth, similar to an aligner, and stay in whenever you’re not eating. After wearing a retainer for six months, your orthodontist will most likely have you switch from wearing it full-time to just wearing it at night.
The main thing to know about retainers is that they’re usually for life. They cost anywhere between $100-$500.