Braces, of which there are many types, all provide essentially the same mechanical benefit. They are handles on the teeth, with slots through which a series of ever-increasing stiffness archwires can be utilized to align the teeth within each dental arch. Once alignment is accomplished, one arch can be pitted against the other to improve bite (occlusal) function via use of such items as elastics (rubber bands) or the Twin-Force Bite Corrector.
Aligners
Spring Aligner – used for alignment of minor crowding, usually at the lower anterior
Clear Aligner Systems
Invisalign®
- Series of clear proprietary material aligners that are computer generated
Very aesthetic and comfortable- Recommended by Dr. Campbell for minor to moderate spacing or crowding cases where the back teeth are essentially occluding correctly
- Dr. Campbell will often recommend finishing an Invisalign case in braces for a short period of time because with Invisalign or any clear aligner system, material covers the teeth, therefore the bite is separated by two “thicknesses” of aligner material (the upper and lower aligners, right?) but with braces he can interdigitate the bite fully. This gives your case perfection and renders stability to your result.
Red, White, and Blue
If all you need is a little cosmetic improvement for a great smile and you’d prefer not to have braces, the nearly invisible Red, White and Blue no-braces system may be the treatment for you.
It is similar to the Invisalign system in that a series of clear, customized aligners are designed for you. You will wear each appliance approximately 2-4 weeks in the easy-to-remember Red, White and Blue sequence. The final appliance is designed with all the corrections and can be worn as a long-term retainer.