October is National Orthodontic Month. This isn’t one of the best-known “national” months, but it’s no less important for that. Currently, more than one million adults in the U.S. are undergoing orthodontic treatment to straighten their teeth. Those adults are correcting their bite problems, closing gaps between teeth, and aligning teeth to look better, fit together better, and help them have happier lives. In the Highland Township, MI area, patients trust Dr. James LoCascio of Highland Advanced Dental Care for their orthodontic treatment.

Braces Or No Braces?

Traditional metal braces are the go-to solution for people with complex orthodontic needs. Metal braces do a fine job of slowly moving teeth into their proper positions. It’s a tried-and-true approach, but frankly it can be a bit rough on the person wearing the metal brackets and wires.

Metal braces:

  • Are hard to thoroughly brush and floss around
  • May irritate and even cut the tongue, lips, and the insides of teeth
  • Give the embarrassing “mouthful of metal” appearance that most people find embarrassing
  • Require fairly frequent and often painful tightening of the wires
  • May keep you from eating some of the foods you love
  • Move teeth slowly; treatment can take up to 3 years in many cases

Metal braces are generally the best – or the only – solution for really complex cases. For almost everyone else, there’s ClearCorrect plastic dental aligners from Dr. James LoCascio of Highland Advanced Dental Care in Highland Township. MI.

The ClearCorrect Approach

ClearCorrect is a short-term orthodontic solution. That’s not because the results are any less permanent than you can achieve through braces. It’s short-term because treatment can be completed far faster in most cases – generally, within one year. That compares very favorably to the 24 to 36 months required for metal braces.

Not only is ClearCorrect faster, it’s far more comfortable and convenient. The smooth plastic aligners won’t irritate or cut the inside of your mouth. You wear the aligners for about 22 hours every day for best results, but you remove them to eat and to care for your teeth just like you normally do.

Every aligner in your completely customized series fits securely over your teeth – so snugly, in fact, that you can and should sleep with them in place. The aligners are very hard for someone else to see while you’re wearing them, which means that you avoid the whole “mouthful of metal” thing that may make you reluctant to smile or laugh.

Roughly every two to three weeks – you have a personalized schedule – you switch to the next aligner in your series to continue moving your teeth into position. People describe the sensation from switching to the next aligner as at most very mild and temporary discomfort, if that.

Is ClearCorrect Right For You?

You can have the straight teeth you want without pain or embarrassment. Schedule a ClearCorrect consultation with Dr. James LoCascio at Highland Advanced Dental Care. Call our Highland Township, MI office today at 248-329-3552.