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Booking my dentist by smartphone app

I love that my family dentist is tech-savvy. It's so easy to book a dentist on his smartphone app if I have a tooth problem or if anyone in my family needs emergency problems (I can choose either my normal dentist or another dentist in his practise depending on availability). He also has some great cameras so that we can see exactly what is going on during treatment. I prefer not to see this, but my kids love to be able to see the dentist using his specialised tools to clean and repair their teeth. This blog has some tips on finding a tech-savvy dentist to help give your family the best possible dental care.

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Booking my dentist by smartphone app

What You Should Know About Dental Braces and Invisalign

by Jeff Rivera

A dentist may offer you different types of dental braces for your misaligned or crooked teeth. The most common options include traditional metal braces, porcelain/ceramic braces, lingual braces and Invisalign.

  1. Traditional Metal Braces — These are the most common types of braces. You may have seen them on many children's and even adult's teeth. They consist of metallic wire and metal brackets that are attached to each tooth. The wire is tightened to help pull your teeth in place.
  2. Porcelain/Ceramic Braces — These work like traditional metal braces, but instead of metallic brackets, ceramic brackets are used to match the colour of your teeth.
  3. Lingual Braces — This is the name given to traditional metal braces placed behind your teeth.
  4. Invisalign — These are removable braces that resemble a mouthguard. They are made in a way that fits your crooked teeth and adds pressure to them to push them back into alignment.

Here are some important things to note about what you can expect and why you would choose Invisalign.

Dental Examination

Expect your dentist to carry out a physical examination and request X-rays. This is important in determining the extent of your dental condition and which treatment method (which type of braces) is the most effective in treating you. This tells you that, at times, you may not have the privilege of choosing your braces.

What if the dentist finds out that all the braces mentioned above can effectively treat your dental condition? If that is the case, you have the privilege of choosing your braces based on preference and price.

Why Would You Choose Invisalign?

  1. Taste of metal — Traditional metal and lingual braces are, of course, made from metal. Some people don't like the taste of metal; since they are secured in your mouth for a long time, it can get uncomfortable for you. If you are among those who dislike the taste of metal, choose Invisalign braces.
  2. Ability to remove them — Out of the braces mentioned above, Invisalign braces are the only braces that are not permanently attached to your teeth. You can remove them as you wish, but your dentist recommends that you wear them for at least 22 hours a day.
  3. Aesthetics — The reason why there are many types of braces is because of people's demand for braces that are invisible or aesthetically pleasing. Some individuals find metal braces ugly, stating that they alter the way they look. If this is how you feel, look into porcelain/ceramic braces or Invisalign.

For more information about Invisalign, talk to a dentist.

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